Analog battery charger?

[robert6715]

Does anybody still make an old-school analog battery charger that is not a wheeled unit?

I am sick of these new smart chargers & want something I can have faith in. Just yesterday I threw away another 3-year-old Schumacher SC1357 because it supposedly charged a battery to full charge & was flashing green [maintaining]. The battery was reading 3 volts & it charged up just fine with my old wheeled NAPA unit & tested perfect with my Midtronics tester.

Thanks in advance
Rob

 

[matt_i]

My best charger is a Battery Minder, it won't even start the job if the voltage is too low. That said it won't pull up a deeply discharged battery. However that is where I connect another good battery in parallel and the minder will bring both up.

It sounds odd but I think a really good simple charger that a person could build would be a v-belted motor-alternator setup. E.g. AC motor driving a 3 wire light truck alternator, the voltage regulator is built right in and it won't shy away from anything deeply discharged. Classic shunt ammeter so a person can visualize what's happening.

Another option is a Honda eU series generator - has an optional 12v output for "remote charging" of vehicles when no AC power source is near.

 

[64C10]

Atwood Marine makes one. P/N 11901-4.

I had to buy one after finding out that once my trolling batteries were low enough, the electronic onboard charger would never bring them up to voltage. It would do the sam thing and “maintain” at around 5-6 volts.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Find a used one (Craftsman, Schumacher, etc) on Ebay.

 

[bonneyman]

Find a used one (Craftsman, Schumacher, etc) on Ebay.

Big 10-4

With so many folks going to electronic types the older analog version can be had fairly cheap at estate sales and the like. I snagged a real old selenium unit for $5 at an estate sale, and use it all the time for all sorts of jobs.

 

[robert6715]

Find a used one (Craftsman, Schumacher, etc) on Ebay.

Ebay is where I have been looking, it is crazy what old chargers are selling for. Something I suspect would be $5 or $10 at a yard sale is selling for $75 with $50 shipping [shipping to Alaska]

 

[Mechanical Noise]

Harbor Freight still lists a dumb charger:

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

I'd think any of the float chargers/battery maintainers would get a car battery up to a minimal voltage within a few hours.

 

[AA/FC]

Harbor Freight still lists a dumb charger:

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

I'd think any of the float chargers/battery maintainers would get a car battery up to a minimal voltage within a few hours.

I have that charger.... it just stopped working one day for no good reason.

 

[Ashgrove]

Associated 6010B. My go-to for farm and excavating equipment. Many days I wish it had wheels.

 

[robert6715]

Associated 6010B. My go-to for farm and excavating equipment. Many days I wish it had wheels.

That looks like one heck of a good charger. My wheeled NAPA charger is very similar. After reading the specs I could see it being very handy around heavy trucks & equipment.

 

[Hermann-the-german]

Was it a 12 V lead battery which had 3 V left?

 

[robert6715]

Was it a 12 V lead battery which had 3 V left?

Yes

 

[dogdog]

I have that charger.... it just stopped working one day for no good reason.

Not sure about these newer style ones, the older one have problem with the automatic reset fuse that is attached to the Neg cable inside the unit... riveted in kinda of PITA to change but once changed it's flawless for a long time. still better than the craftsman manual one I have that wheels around... that one kills batteries fast.

 

[Hermann-the-german]

Yes

You may have recharged it, but the plates probably are mechanically damaged and will fail soon.

 

[torqueman2002]

If you happen upon a Heathkit GP-21 charger, I can recommend it highly. I built one from a kit, over 40 years ago and it works perfetill this day.

 

[AA/FC]

Not sure about these newer style ones, the older one have problem with the automatic reset fuse that is attached to the Neg cable inside the unit... riveted in kinda of PITA to change but once changed it's flawless for a long time. still better than the craftsman manual one I have that wheels around... that one kills batteries fast.

I still have the charger in my shed for some reason so I will check that out. Thanks for the information. The charger I have is probably from 2017...... Do you consider that "older" or "newer"?

 

[IndyGarage]

Tool section in the pawn shop often has a couple along side a bunch of the crappy "smart" chargers.

 

[dogdog]

I still have the charger in my shed for some reason so I will check that out. Thanks for the information. The charger I have is probably from 2017...... Do you consider that "older" or "newer"?

Newer than mine. Mine is a square looking one...

Basically there is something like these looking automotive auto reset fuse on the negative cable. if you probe the meter before the fuse and shows 12Vdc - 14Vdc... then your charger is most likely still good. this fuse used to be $5... I guess inflation is that bad. Might be round looking. I haven't opened the craftsman die hard one that is transformer base. Pretty sure it have that also. If you turn off power and test continunity / ohm it should beep or tested 0 ohm on that fuse. normally.

https://www.autozone.com/starting-charging-and-miscellaneous-electrical/circuit-breaker/p/bussmann-circuit-breaker-bp-cbc-30hb-r/

 

[AA/FC]

Newer than mine. Mine is a square looking one...

Basically there is something like these looking automotive auto reset fuse on the negative cable. if you probe the meter before the fuse and shows 12Vdc - 14Vdc... then your charger is most likely still good. this fuse used to be $5... I guess inflation is that bad. Might be round looking. I haven't opened the craftsman die hard one that is transformer base. Pretty sure it have that also. If you turn off power and test continunity / ohm it should beep or tested 0 ohm on that fuse. normally.

https://www.autozone.com/starting-charging-and-miscellaneous-electrical/circuit-breaker/p/bussmann-circuit-breaker-bp-cbc-30hb-r/

I will check it out. Thanks again.

 

[cstmg8]

Hello there,



I am working on a long-term project and am in need of your help. I have bought a 18650 battery charger that takes 12v in and charges the battery pack boosted to 14.4v. I want to install it in my car as a primary power source for the project so it won't kill the main car battery because it only runs when the car's engine is off. Now I need help with the next one. I want to make a simple circuit (not a microcontroller) that will check the 18650's voltage and if it is less than 10 volts it will start to charge the pack from the main battery by turning a MOSFET or something on and then stop the charge once it fully charges (14.4v). Is it possible to make such a circuit? If yes can anyone help or point me to a website that already did anything similar?

Look up "voltage protection module", lots on Amazon.
Voltage Detection Charging Discharge Monitor Switch Control Module DC 12V Relay https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0775LNBKJ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Showkey]

The obvious other side of the charger compromise ……..a dumb charger left on to long might cook a $100-$250 battery.

The market place is full of marginal smart chargers ……..just buy a good one