[AT] Battery Charger recommendations

[Ron Cook]

When Dean discovered those Harbor Freight float chargers, I jumped right 
on those things.  Man, they were cheap and were supposed to do exactly 
what I was wanting done.  I think out of six, maybe one will still 
work.  Dunno.  It has never been used, as after ruining one battery and 
two or three of the units quit working, they went to the trash.

I have not been satisfied with one purchase from Harbor Freight. All 
junk.  Period!

Around 40plus years ago I bought a portable Dayton Battery 
charger/booster.  6 or 12 volt.  Settings are: Low charge, high charge, 
boost.  I would have to go look, but on 12 volt I think the low is 10 
amp, high is 30.  boost is 300.  It reduces charge rate as the battery 
charges up.  Increases charge rate as use demands.  Cost was right at 70 
bucks.  Everyone I knew at the time had a complete fit that I would 
spend that kind of money on a battery charger.  Guess what?  It has been 
used extensively, as for about 35 years it was my only battery charger 
with no need to replace it.  I did add a charger due to needing one at 
another location 200 miles away.  My Dayton is on a battery as I write 
this, working perfectly as it has always done.  You can get what you pay 
for, sometimes.

Ron Cook, Salix, IA

on 4/25/2016 9:04 AM, Mike M wrote:
> I can't comment on the Harbor Freight ones; the ones I use are made by
> Deltran and it's their Battery Tender Jr model. I have one for almost
> all my batteries.  Those that sit over the winter are especially prone
> to draw down. The charger keeps them in tip-top shape.
>
> Mike M
>
> On 4/24/2016 10:52 PM, Dean VP wrote:
>> 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
>>
>>