Got a diesel, and it gets cold here. There's a block heater, but I also
have a 1A charger that could be attached to the same extension cord - would
there be any drawback/problems with leaving this connected (on the battery
side) _all_ the time? It's a cheapo transformer & diode unit.

In sci.chem.electrochem.battery jtaylor wrote:
Got a diesel, and it gets cold here. There's a block heater, but I also
have a 1A charger that could be attached to the same extension cord - would
there be any drawback/problems with leaving this connected (on the battery
side) _all_ the time? It's a cheapo transformer & diode unit.

It's probably not a good idea.
It may eventually cook the battery.

I know my local stores are selling 24 hour timers for the equivalent of
4$cn.
Put it on for an hour a day, and problem solved.

In cold weather - batteries discharge slower.
At -10C, 1/8th (or so) the rate at 20C.

jtaylor wrote:

Got a diesel, and it gets cold here. There's a block heater, but I also
have a 1A charger that could be attached to the same extension cord - would
there be any drawback/problems with leaving this connected (on the battery
side) _all_ the time? It's a cheapo transformer & diode unit.

There's a wonderful product called "Battery Tender". Many guys who own large
motorcycles own them. It's like a wall wart but it comes with lots of different
connector types including lugs, battery clamps, etc. I have a power outlet on my
bike which is designed for connecting power to heated riding clothing, said
outlet which is always connected to the battery. It's ideal for plugging in a
battery tender. Many vehicles have lighter sockets which aren't switched off
when the key is off, these are also excellent ways to trickle charge a battery.
They aren't cheap at around $50 but they work perfectly and seem to last
forever. There are indeed problems with a trickle charger being left on - if you
force current into a charged battery you will just dry out the electrolyte and
damage your battery.

GWE

"Grant Erwin" wrote in message
...
jtaylor wrote:

Got a diesel, and it gets cold here. There's a block heater, but I also
have a 1A charger that could be attached to the same extension cord -
would
there be any drawback/problems with leaving this connected (on the
battery
side) _all_ the time? It's a cheapo transformer & diode unit.

There's a wonderful product called "Battery Tender". Many guys who own
large motorcycles own them. It's like a wall wart but it comes with lots
of different connector types including lugs, battery clamps, etc. I have a
power outlet on my bike which is designed for connecting power to heated
riding clothing, said outlet which is always connected to the battery.
It's ideal for plugging in a battery tender. Many vehicles have lighter
sockets which aren't switched off when the key is off, these are also
excellent ways to trickle charge a battery.
They aren't cheap at around $50 but they work perfectly and seem to last
forever. There are indeed problems with a trickle charger being left on -
if you force current into a charged battery you will just dry out the
electrolyte and damage your battery.

GWE

The Battery Tender is a good product from the hearsay I've picked up. I put
a 1 amp. charger on a timer and let it run 3 hrs. out of 24. Works good, no
overcharging or lack of electrolyte through the winter and the battery stays
topped up.

jtaylor wrote:
Got a diesel, and it gets cold here. There's a block heater, but I also
have a 1A charger that could be attached to the same extension cord - would
there be any drawback/problems with leaving this connected (on the battery
side) _all_ the time? It's a cheapo transformer & diode unit.

When I worked for a company that had many standby generators I remember
that they used a 50 ma trickle charger for each battery. I'd try
connecting a diode or resistor in series to bring the charge rate down
to that amount.
Engineman

On Tue, 22 Nov 2005 13:07:40 -0400, "jtaylor"
wrote:

Got a diesel, and it gets cold here. There's a block heater, but I also
have a 1A charger that could be attached to the same extension cord - would
there be any drawback/problems with leaving this connected (on the battery
side) _all_ the time? It's a cheapo transformer & diode unit.

Here's a charger that's perfect for your application
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...tnumber=SE112S
Available lots of places, including WalMart.

Wayne

Battery Tender Plus... Some Motorcycle shop on the net sells them for
$20-40 sometimes. They turn off when the battery is fully charged and
"test" the battery for trickle charging every so often and cyxle back on as
needed.

I keep mine hooked up to my motorcycle 24/7 and batteries tend to last
years.
--


Regards,
Joe Agro, Jr.
(800) 871-5022
(908) 542-0244
Automatic / Pneumatic Drills: http://www.AutoDrill.com
Multiple Spindle Drills: http://www.Multi-Drill.com

V8013-R

Yep, I have 4 different brands. One stays on the jet-ski, one on the
race car, and the other "floats".
Don't use a straight cheapo 1-amp trickle charger. Be sure it's an
automatic, solid-state maintainer. Most are design to be mounted to the
vehicle and hard-wired o the battery. very good insurance for your
battery, particularly if it sees a lot of idle time.

- -
Rex Burkheimer
WM Automotive
Fort Worth TX

Joe AutoDrill wrote:
Battery Tender Plus... Some Motorcycle shop on the net sells them for
$20-40 sometimes. They turn off when the battery is fully charged and
"test" the battery for trickle charging every so often and cyxle back on as
needed.

I keep mine hooked up to my motorcycle 24/7 and batteries tend to last
years.

wmbjk wrote:

On Tue, 22 Nov 2005 13:07:40 -0400, "jtaylor"
wrote:


Got a diesel, and it gets cold here. There's a block heater, but I also
have a 1A charger that could be attached to the same extension cord - would
there be any drawback/problems with leaving this connected (on the battery
side) _all_ the time? It's a cheapo transformer & diode unit.


Here's a charger that's perfect for your application
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...tnumber=SE112S
Available lots of places, including WalMart.

Wayne

That's a Battery Tender clone, should work fine, little cheaper.

GWE

On 22 Nov 2005 17:13:21 GMT, Ian Stirling
wrote:

In sci.chem.electrochem.battery jtaylor wrote:
Got a diesel, and it gets cold here. There's a block heater, but I also
have a 1A charger that could be attached to the same extension cord - would
there be any drawback/problems with leaving this connected (on the battery
side) _all_ the time? It's a cheapo transformer & diode unit.

It's probably not a good idea.
It may eventually cook the battery.

I know my local stores are selling 24 hour timers for the equivalent of
4$cn.
Put it on for an hour a day, and problem solved.

In cold weather - batteries discharge slower.
At -10C, 1/8th (or so) the rate at 20C.


The chances of a 1 amp battery tender damaging the battery are
extremely remote at best.

The charger will help (not much - less than 12 watts) keep the battery
warm and fully topped up. A cold battery looses it's ability to
provide power right when you need it most.

On 22 Nov 2005 17:13:21 GMT, Ian Stirling
wrote:

In sci.chem.electrochem.battery jtaylor wrote:
Got a diesel, and it gets cold here. There's a block heater, but I also
have a 1A charger that could be attached to the same extension cord - would
there be any drawback/problems with leaving this connected (on the battery
side) _all_ the time? It's a cheapo transformer & diode unit.

It's probably not a good idea.
It may eventually cook the battery.

I know my local stores are selling 24 hour timers for the equivalent of
4$cn.
Put it on for an hour a day, and problem solved.

In cold weather - batteries discharge slower.
At -10C, 1/8th (or so) the rate at 20C.


I should have qualified my statement - on a daily runner, the 1 amp
charger will not damage the battery - However, I would NOT leave it
connected over the winter if the vehicle was in storage----

Joe AutoDrill wrote:
Battery Tender Plus... Some Motorcycle shop on the net sells them for
$20-40 sometimes. They turn off when the battery is fully charged and
"test" the battery for trickle charging every so often and cyxle back on as
needed.

I keep mine hooked up to my motorcycle 24/7 and batteries tend to last
years.

Anybody have experience with the Harbor Freight equivalent of this
device? They go on sale for $5-$6 occasionally.

--
Gary Brady
Austin, TX
www.powdercoatoven.4t.com

Gary Brady wrote:
Joe AutoDrill wrote:

Battery Tender Plus... Some Motorcycle shop on the net sells them for
$20-40 sometimes. They turn off when the battery is fully charged and
"test" the battery for trickle charging every so often and cyxle back
on as needed.

I keep mine hooked up to my motorcycle 24/7 and batteries tend to last
years.


Anybody have experience with the Harbor Freight equivalent of this
device? They go on sale for $5-$6 occasionally.

I have one, and use it quite a bit, but I don't really trust it.
I have no way of verifying how well it works, compared to the Solar
brand that I have. I also have a 2.5-amp model from HF that cost about
$12 IIRC. I give that one a bit more credibility, but I won't go off and
leave it running for months like I do the Solar.
I have a couple of big gel-cells that I'm pretty particular about.

Rex B

On Tue, 22 Nov 2005 13:07:40 -0400, "jtaylor"
wrote:

would there be any drawback/problems with leaving this connected

Yes. You have a small charger, not even a trickle charger. What you
really want is a "float" charger. This is a lower voltage output,
accurately regulated, and it really ought to be temperature sensitive
too.

Using one of these very simple transfomer / diode chargers permanently
is definitley a bad idea - their voltage is high enough to be distinctly
harmful long-term.

"Joe AutoDrill" wrote in
newsnKgf.9285$r96.2524@trndny05:

Battery Tender Plus... Some Motorcycle shop on the net sells them for

Will these units maintain a larger battery? We have a wheel loader (a
Weatherill L61D if I remember the designation correctly) with a six
cylinder Perkins diesel engine. It has two large 6 volt batteries in
series. It is used infrequently. I am about to replace the batteries and
would like to do anything I can to keep them useable as long as possible.

Rob

It has two large 6 volt batteries in series. It is used infrequently.

I think it will work. I use one on a diesel vehicle with two 12 volt
batteries in parallel. The one I have uses a very simple algorithum.
It applies a 1.5 amp charge until the battery reachs 14v. It then
shuts off until the battery voltage drops to 13V. I just plug it
into the cigarette lighter when the vehicle sets more than a few days.

chuck

Buy one of these for $30 instead:
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...tnumber=SE112S

Keeps 12 volt batteries charged. Fully automatic. Turns on and off as
needed. Allows safe charging of RV, deep-cycle or most batteries that
may have a long storage period. "On Board" feature allows mounting of
charger next to battery on collectibles, street rods and other
infrequently used vehicles. Hardware and mounting brackets are included.

Chuck Sherwood wrote:
It has two large 6 volt batteries in series. It is used infrequently.

I think it will work. I use one on a diesel vehicle with two 12 volt
batteries in parallel. The one I have uses a very simple algorithum.
It applies a 1.5 amp charge until the battery reachs 14v. It then
shuts off until the battery voltage drops to 13V. I just plug it
into the cigarette lighter when the vehicle sets more than a few days.

chuck

I believe this is exactly the right product. The first chargers turned
on and off depending on the level of current flow. They will continue
to charge regardless of battery voltage which is what eventually will
dry out and kill a battery.

The newer styles instead turn on and off dependant on the voltage level
of the battery, much better for battery life.

dennis
in nca