Trickle battery charger

[stevem5215]

Ctek and NOCO branded ones are my favorites. A Noco 1amp is an excellent charger and is inexpensive. You can get those on WhatNot the auction platform for $20 or so. I bought a broken NOCO 5 and was able to get it repaired under a warranty.

 

[LittleBill21]

get the noco's they are decent. People need to stop using the word trickle charger. its either a smart one, which shouldn't boil, or old piece of crap that shouldn't be used.

Amazon.com

 

[Runner]

I have Battery Tender brand trickle chargers on everything (car, truck, 2 lawn tractors, Mule, 2520 and ZTR) and love them. Machines are always ready to go and never had a problem with the batteries.

 

[jkmfarmer]

Battery Tenders. They get moved from machine to machine. They're always working. Been like that for years.

 

[grsthegreat]

i installed some permanently in dump trailer and horse trailer. used the 1 amp Noco. it keeps trailer battery fully charged so i dont have to pull it in winter.

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[billybobjimmyjoejack]

I have a NOCO GENIUS1 on my tractor that I can easily remove when not in use. I also have a NOCO GENIUS2 on a truck that gets occasional use, it is hard wired to the battery and stays with the truck. Both the truck and trailer are stored outside uncovered with no issues.

 

[SARG]

I also favor the trickle chargers & have eight machines currently hooked up for the winter.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

And another vote for the BatteryMINDers.

Have used them for decades, and when Northern has them on sale for about $20 I often buy a couple more. Probably have at least a dozen by now.

Harbor Freight? Okay, maybe in a concrete enclosure and hooked to a battery I don't care about.

 

[LittleBill21]

Harbor Freight? Okay, maybe in a concrete enclosure and hooked to a battery I don't care about.

LOL I have 9 of them for 10 years at this point they are fine. You do have to check the voltage on them when new, some were either too high or too low, other wise there fine. a constant voltage design is really not that hard.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Sounds like they're trickle chargers, not maintainers, then.

I'll gladly pay four times more ($20) for an actual maintainer, especially when it has desulfation built in.

Although, anything electric from Harbor Freight that isn't under constant supervision while plugged in bothers me. I can laugh when a $12 angle grinder starts smoking while using it (yes, I've had a few), but that won't make the garage burn down.

 

[grsthegreat]

The only harbor freight thing i own with a power cord is an air dryer. That unit is about 10 yo, and works flawlessly. But im always present when it operates.

The rest are things like hammers.

I had an apprentice that was so proud of the hole hawg knockoff he bought from HF. It melted down after the first house he drilled out. My Milwaukee hole hogs are over 25 years old and still working.

 

[LittleBill21]

Sounds like they're trickle chargers, not maintainers, then.

No, they are float chargers, they aren't meant to charge the battery, old school trickle chargers sat up around 16 volts.

They work fine for me. I own several desulfation chargers. I have never been impressed with that mode. everytime a battery gets to the point I need to use it. I have less then a month left on it.

Ironically I just bought 2 of the 1 amp noco's above, since they are on sale.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

I own several desulfation chargers. I have never been impressed with that mode. everytime a battery gets to the point I need to use it. I have less then a month left on it.

Sorry, but I don't understand that.

I hook up my maintainers and then they remain hooked up for a few days or a year or two. If the battery is in decent shape the desulfation process generally starts within 24 hours and stays in that mode until the maintainer is disconnected.

I also have separate desulfation units (Canadus and PulseTech) that are used either with solar panels, temporarily hooked up to a battery when the vehicle will be used for a while, or permanently installed on a battery. The M6040 has had a Canadus on its battery since early '10, when it and its battery were new.

 

[LittleBill21]

Sorry, but I don't understand that.

I hook up my maintainers and then they remain hooked up for a few days or a year or two. If the battery is in decent shape the desulfation process generally starts within 24 hours and stays in that mode until the maintainer is disconnected.

I also have separate desulfation units (Canadus and PulseTech) that are used either with solar panels, temporarily hooked up to a battery when the vehicle will be used for a while, or permanently installed on a battery. The M6040 has had a Canadus on its battery since early '10, when it and its battery were new.

not sure what you don't understand.

FYI desulfation mode only runs periodically, it doesn't run continuously, it would overcharge the battery as it has to raise the voltage to do it. generally it jumps between float and desulfation.

I have some of my HF float chargers over 10 years running continuously.

 

[FullMetalBucket]

I have two of these for each of my riding mowers. Amazon.com

Mower batteries always seem to last about one year, and the next year, start giving me issues until I replace them. I put the first Battery Tender on my zero turn 3 years ago, and so far, every time I go to start it, it fires right up. I did the same 2 years ago with my wife's riding mower.

I've been thinking about buying more for my other tractors, but so far, I usually use them enough in the winter to keep the battery charged.

Those are the ones I’ve used and had good luck with. I’ve used them on my motorcycles, lawn tractor and my current tractor the T25. No issues leaving them plugged in all off season.

 

[rScotty]

And another vote for the BatteryMINDers.

Have used them for decades, and when Northern has them on sale for about $20 I often buy a couple more. Probably have at least a dozen by now.

I use battery minders. The cheaper models are sufficient, The better models have higher 8 amp charging capability and automatically go into trickle and desulfation mode as needed.
I don't often need that capability, but they sure do make excellent xmas and bday gifts.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

FYI desulfation mode only runs periodically, it doesn't run continuously, it would overcharge the battery as it has to raise the voltage to do it. generally it jumps between float and desulfation.

Well, those must be different maintainers than what I've been using. Mine will turn on the desulfation once the battery is sufficiently charged, or I could turn that function on manually if so desired, and then it stays on indefinitely as indicated by lights on the maintainers.

I always thought that the desulfation process was accomplished through high frequency pulses, not extra voltage. Or at least that's what the manufacturers of various desulfation devices claim.

Also, straight desulfation units such as Canadus and PulseTech can't possibly raise the voltage in a battery since they are powered by it.

 

[LittleBill21]

Well, those must be different maintainers than what I've been using. Mine will turn on the desulfation once the battery is sufficiently charged, or I could turn that function on manually if so desired, and then it stays on indefinitely as indicated by lights on the maintainers.

I always thought that the desulfation process was accomplished through high frequency pulses, not extra voltage. Or at least that's what the manufacturers of various desulfation devices claim.

Also, straight desulfation units such as Canadus and PulseTech can't possibly raise the voltage in a battery since they are powered by it.

well according to this guy, it doesn't work period, even on the noco. which I can kind of relate to.

 

[Duds13]

HULKMAN Sigma 5

- Free 3-5 Business Days Shipping - 5 Amp adaptive charging and five tailored charging modes - Well-designed 3.2'' user interface screen displays up to 13 icons - 9-Step Charge Optimizer ensures the correct level of power is sent to the battery - Automatically detects and recovers battery...

www.hulkman.com

 

[LittleBill21]

HULKMAN Sigma 5

- Free 3-5 Business Days Shipping - 5 Amp adaptive charging and five tailored charging modes - Well-designed 3.2'' user interface screen displays up to 13 icons - 9-Step Charge Optimizer ensures the correct level of power is sent to the battery - Automatically detects and recovers battery...

www.hulkman.com

that's even more then a NOCO its only a 5a vs to 10a on the noco. And i Thought the noco was a touch pricey.

Amazon.com