best battery charger ? - Page 2

Chris Barnes · 06-15-2011, 10:58 AM

We use a Powermaster that I bought from Summit. It charges 12 or 16 volts. It stopped working within a couple of months so I sent it back to Powermaster and they fixed it right away and it's been fine ever since.

Chris Barnes
Wagons of Steel
Stock 6621

tim worner · 06-15-2011, 05:21 PM

I have used the Black & Decker units with zero problems. I also liked the little 2/6/10 Husky unit that is fully automatic and very light weight and small in size but does a good job. Both are available @ Home Depot Also don't forget to use the batt maintainer when your car is sitting around unused. Really helps with the life of your batterys.

Vic Santos · 06-24-2011, 12:15 PM

In my opinion any charger is good enough as long as it is big enough to do the job. The important thing is to monitor charger output VOLTAGE and not current. Voltage will tell you weather you are over charging or under charging the battery. If you are charging with the fan and water pump on unless the voltage is over 12.84 vdc you are not charging the battery. You are just providing current for the fan and pump. If you are pumping amps into a fully charged battery (because you forgot to shut it off) you will eventually damage the battery. The two things you need are: a timer that automatically shuts the charger off (part of a good charger) and a digital voltmeter to monitor volts at the battery. Until you know the voltage you won't know battery condition and weather your charger is big enough especially with two batteries.
Vic

06-15-2011, 10:58 AM	#11
Chris Barnes Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 139 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: best battery charger ? We use a Powermaster that I bought from Summit. It charges 12 or 16 volts. It stopped working within a couple of months so I sent it back to Powermaster and they fixed it right away and it's been fine ever since. Chris Barnes Wagons of Steel Stock 6621

06-15-2011, 05:21 PM	#12
tim worner Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: duncannon Posts: 838 Likes: 14 Liked 126 Times in 20 Posts	Re: best battery charger ? I have used the Black & Decker units with zero problems. I also liked the little 2/6/10 Husky unit that is fully automatic and very light weight and small in size but does a good job. Both are available @ Home Depot Also don't forget to use the batt maintainer when your car is sitting around unused. Really helps with the life of your batterys. __________________ Tim Worner SS 1747

06-24-2011, 12:15 PM	#13
Vic Santos Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 26 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: best battery charger ? In my opinion any charger is good enough as long as it is big enough to do the job. The important thing is to monitor charger output VOLTAGE and not current. Voltage will tell you weather you are over charging or under charging the battery. If you are charging with the fan and water pump on unless the voltage is over 12.84 vdc you are not charging the battery. You are just providing current for the fan and pump. If you are pumping amps into a fully charged battery (because you forgot to shut it off) you will eventually damage the battery. The two things you need are: a timer that automatically shuts the charger off (part of a good charger) and a digital voltmeter to monitor volts at the battery. Until you know the voltage you won't know battery condition and weather your charger is big enough especially with two batteries. Vic