[AT] Battery Charger recommendations

[Dean VP]

Mike,
 I agree with that with one caveat. I bought 3 or 4 of the cheapo Harbor
freight versions and they seemed to do the job until I found one where the
plastic caser had melted.  Now I don't trust any of them unattended. If you
can't use them unattended they are worthless in my opinion.  I just plain
have lousy luck with any electrical from Harbor Freight. 


Dean VP
Snohomish, WA 98290

It's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6. 

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Mike M
Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2016 7:34 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Subject: Re: [AT] Battery Charger recommendations

I'm a fan of battery tenders that are left on all the time. Batteries are
getting more expensive all the time. they seem like a good investment to me.

Mike M


On 4/24/2016 3:32 PM, Dean VP wrote:
> Bill,
>
> I usually have one of battery boosters around and have found them helpful.
> I think I'm on my second one, both purchased at Costco. I don't remember
the
> brand right now.   I didn't have very good luck with either, the 1st one
> failed in that it was only putting our 6 to 8V anymore and on a 6 V
battery
> it didn't work very well either.   So I purchased another and it worked
> awhile but now it puts out 0V even though the meter shows over 12V 
> available ,  My guess it  has blown a fuse internally and after 
> calling the manufacture they won't help me fix it myself.  They want it
sent in.  They
> wouldn't even admit there was a fuse inside.   The shipping cost of
> returning it, getting it repaired and sent back exceeds the cost of buying
a
> new one.   Someday I might try to take it apart and see if it is fixable.
> So I've not had very good luck with battery boosters and I have sworn 
> off buying anything electrical from Harbor fFreight.  I've just had 
> too much trouble with Harbor Freight Battery powered tools.  I'll buy 
> a wrench or so from them if I only need it once in a while otherwise 
> if I want something good I go elsewhere.  Just am very down on Harbor
freight right now.
> r
> Snohomish, WA 98290
>
> It's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
> [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Bill Bruer
> Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2016 10:10 AM
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group 
> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Subject: Re: [AT] Battery Charger recommendations
>
> Dean,
>
> You might get by with a more reasonably priced battery charger if you 
> can use one of these power pack/battery boosters for the starting chores:
> http://www.harborfreight.com/3-in-1-portable-power-pack-with-jump-star
> ter-62
> 306.html
> Very portable & relatively cheap, though I see the price has gone up.  
> At least you can get the 20% off coupon on the website.
>
> I got one a couple of years ago to aid in starting an IH D312 Diesel 
> that has to sit too long between uses.  It works as advertised if you 
> follow the directions to hook it up and wait a full 5 minutes before 
> cranking the engine.  My only gripe is the very short cables.
>
> Bill Bruer
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dean VP
> Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2016 11:59 PM
> To: 'Antique tractor email discussion group'
> Subject: Re: [AT] Battery Charger recommendations
>
> Cecil,
>
> Right now I'm trying to get 6 acres of lawn under control after coming 
> back from AZ 2 weeks later than normal and this area had 90 degree 
> weather for a week.  Broke every record in April since God was a kid.  The
pasture grass
> was over 2 ft tall.    I got it mowed with a garden tractor today, maybe
> knocked down is a better description.  I just don't have any extra 
> time right now getting ready for Knee replacement surgery on May 11th. 
> Have to get the 6 acres under control so the lawn maintenance people I 
> hire to do the lawn won't charge me a fortune while I am recovering from
knee surgery.
> I should have mowed it with a sickle bar mower, raked it and baled it. 
> But in our normal wet weather that probably wouldn't have worked either.
>
> So repairing Battery chargers is just not in the cards right now.  
> They will get put on a shelf to be looked at later to determine if 
> they are worth repairing. I have an electronics background so fixing 
> them is not an issue but time to do it is short right now.  We had my 
> wife's car in AZ for 3 1/2 months this winter. No problems at all. 
> Drove it 1600 miles back home and the second morning after we returned it
appeared to have a completely dead
> battery.  That was unexpected.   Was going to hook up a battery charger
and
> both were DOA so hooked up battery cables to my truck.  Let it charge 
> for 15 minutes or so and her car started right up.  Went to remove the 
> Jump cable and the car's positive cable came off of the post with the 
> jumper cable clamp.  The stinking clamp was loose on the post. Problem 
> solved.  Wonder how long that clamp had been loose. Might have been 
> that way since last April, 2015 believe it or not and just now acted 
> up.  Vely weird. My wife did have the oil and filter changed in AZ at 
> a Honda dealer but I sincerely doubt they removed the positive battery 
> cable while doing that. Always mysteries to wonder about.
>
> Dean VP
> Snohomish, WA 98290
>
> It's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
> [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Cecil 
> Bearden
> Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2016 2:12 PM
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group 
> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Subject: Re: [AT] Battery Charger recommendations
>
> Dean:
> If your old one still has a good transformer, you can upgrade it to
> solid state rectifiers.   The old ones had 2large square diode plates
> that would go bad if they got rained on.  I replaced them with a 
> bridge rectifier or more than one if I needed the amperage.  I used to get
them
> from Surplus Center in Lincoln Neb.    If not, them an electronics
> supply, not Radio Shack, a real electronics supply house would have
> them..    You probably should mount them on a aluminum plate with some
> conductive grease to give it a heat sink, or Surplus center had some 
> heat sinks also...  I never have had a transformer go bad unless it got
> hit by lightning while it was charging.   I usually could fix a large
> one for less than $25 including shipping...
>
> Cecil in OKla
>
>
>
>
> On 4/23/2016 2:37 PM, Dean VP wrote:
>> Bruce,
>>
>> I would suspect that a good charger would have a heavy duty 
>> transformer in it and be heavier. Kind of like a welder or so.  
>> Weight might be a good indicator of goodness.  This reminds of the 
>> days when the better audio bass speakers could be determined somewhat 
>> by their coil weight.  Haven't been out to touch and feel units yet. 
>> Once I get a few targets in mind the store visits will begin.
>>
>> Dean VP
>> Snohomish, WA 98290
>>
>> It's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
>> [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Bruce 
>> Fallon
>> Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2016 7:15 AM
>> To: 'Antique tractor email discussion group'
>> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>> Subject: Re: [AT] Battery Charger recommendations
>>
>> I remember the roll around units that were heavy and heavy duty,  a 
>> friend bought a new one with digital readout etc. and it is so light 
>> you can pick it up with one hand.  Just a light charger in a big 
>> metal box.  Check them out before you buy one.
>>
>> Bruce Fallon
>> Langley, WA 98260
>>
>>
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