SMS wrote:
BetaB4 wrote:

"If I do the timer idea, could the fact that the battery charger will
still be set to "ON", and will still be connected to the battery after
the timer cuts power to the battery charger, cause the battery to
discharge and drain back through the battery charger?"

The self-discharge rate of the battery will be magnitudes greater than
any discharge back through the rectifiers of the charger.

Very surprising that your charger doesn't switch to trickle charge mode
once the battery is charged. Even the cheapest chargers nowadays do
that, i.e.
"http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=45005"
"http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=66783"

A trickle charge is supposed to compensate for self-discharge. The
2-amp trickle of those chargers will be magnitudes greater than
self-discharge.