Charging a battery

[DrRod]

I'm sure I should know this but alas I just don't.

I have a Sears battery charger that surprisingly had no instructions in the box. So I am hoping the good people of this site can answer a few questions.

1. It has a 2 amp and 10 amp setting. Why would I want to use the lower setting? Does a slow charge make for a more complete charge?

2. It has two settings: Conventional Low Maintenance and Maintenance Free Deep Cycle. I normally use it to charge ATV batteries and they are sealed and labeled "Nonspillable." So I don't know whether I have a Conventional or a Maint Free battery and so I don't know which setting to use.

Greatly appreciate your thoughts on this.

Thanks,

Dr. Rod

 

[holeycow]

Quick, layman answer: use the 2amp setting for the maintenance-free ATV batteries. As far as I know, the "maintenance free" thing means you can't/don't-have-to add water. That's all. Small batts should be charged at the low setting. The longevity of small batteries is increased when they are initially charged at 1amp, not even 2amps.

I only use higher settings if I am forced to be in a hurry. Otherwise it is 2amps or less.

Maybe someone knowledgeable will let you know the reasons why....

 

[hosspuller]

Quick answer to charging current... A high current relative to battery size is like a hot grill searing the outside of the steak. Only the surface gets charged. This leads to plate buckling and material drop out. Both bad news for batteries.