On Thu, 28 Jan 2021 07:37:43 -0800 (PST), trader_4
wrote:

On Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 11:35:43 PM UTC-5, Xeno wrote:
On 28/1/21 2:51 pm, Clare Snyder wrote:
On Thu, 28 Jan 2021 00:11:15 +1100, Xeno
wrote:

On 27/1/21 8:39 am, trader_4 wrote:
On Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 2:59:21 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On 1/26/21 2:44 PM, alan wrote:
My 40 year old steel case 6 amp automotive battery charger finally died.
I only want to replace it (and I don't want a contraption that jumps cars).

I just want a new 120VAC simple sturdy 12VDC automotive car battery
charger.
And I don't get out to the stores much lately.

Mine had an analog meter, and a 6V/12V switch (which I never used at 6V).
If they still come with an analog amperage needle, that would be nice.

Any advice where to get a good simple sturdy 12VDC battery charger online?
Here is Amazon least expensive charger with meter

https://www.amazon.com/Automotive-Ba...dp/B07NVHBPDV/

URL says motorcycle but it's also for autos. 5 amp w/digital meter for
more than just amps

If he wants something that's low amp, that's the kind of thing I would get,
ie a charger/maintainer that you can leave on to keep unused batteries
fully charged, eg over winter. The other choice is a higher amp one that
is more useful for quickly charging a dead battery, getting a car going, etc.
I have an old sears one that does 2A/10A/50A, the latter is short term to
start. IDK if there are higher amp ones like that which can also be left
on indefinitely and have the functionality to safely maintain, thought there
is no reason they could not.

If you want a charger that can be left on indefinitely then you need one
that is capable of trickle charging. The one you have is *capable* of
trickle charging on the lowest setting and a normal charge is the mid
setting. The high setting should never be used to charge a battery if
you want a good life from it.
Not if you want any life from the charger either. It's goof dor about
60 seconds )for cranking smaller displacement engines with geared
starters) 50 amps for any length of time melts the ammeters.
sharging a low battery at 50 amps won't hurt the battery - in the car
it can charge at 100 amps on many of tofay's cars (150 amp alternators
are not uncommon)

Whilst the alternator is capable of charging at rates of 30amps and
upwards, It is never recommended that you let the alternator charge the
battery if it has been flattened to any degree.

Maybe it's not idea, but millions of people do it. Battery drained, they
get a jump start and drive off. I bet most of them don't get it charged
by other methods. Even if it shortens the life by a small amount, the
cost of that seems insignificant. Certainly is for those that can't charge
it themselves and would have to go somewhere, pay them, have the car
sit there for the charging duration, etc.


If you took it to a mechanic shop they would hook it to their fast
charger so it is a wash.