Float charger

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

May 2, 2006 | 07:11 PM

srercrcr

Thread Starter

Postmaster

Joined: May 2004

Posts: 2,854

Likes: 0

Float charger

I've been using a 1 amp trickle charger to keep my trucks battery fully charged, since I don't drive it enough.
I see on ebay what are called "float" chargers.
Do they somehow cut off charging when battery is fully charged?
Worthwhile?
Thanks.

May 2, 2006 | 08:35 PM

Franklin2

Moderator

Joined: Jan 2001

Posts: 56,984

Likes: 2,738

From: Virginia

They almost do. They still monitor the battery and keep it topped off. Some are more sophisticated than others. You pretty much get what you pay for like everything else.

May 10, 2006 | 07:40 PM

Kajtek1

Postmaster

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 3,524

Likes: 2

From: CA Bay Area

The float means they go to preset voltage (usually 13.5V) and maintain it.
Trickle and regular charger can go as high as 18V eventually boiling dry the battery.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42292
I've been using those for years, what saved me lot of money on replacing the batteries every season on my toys. Even it says the limit is one mid-sized battery per charger, I had it hooked up to dual battery bank in my motorhome whole winter.

May 10, 2006 | 11:07 PM

lsrx101

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 1,776

Likes: 5

From: Lorain County, Ohio

I was told many years ago by an instructor in a"battery class" that the best way to store a "good" lead-acid battery is to fully charge it and store it in a deep freezer. It supposedly slows down the chemical reaction. I tried this with a garden tractor battery for 4 years. It seemed to work. I used to get 2 years from a battery, With the deep freeze I got four. It failed late in the season on it's 5th year after purchase. You need to let it set and come up to ambient before using it. I've never had the chance to try this with an automotive battery.