Battery Charger -“Hold”

[8pack]

I bought a Napa battery charger. It has a rotary mechanical timer. My old charger had a setting where you could move the dial to “Hold” so it would run continuously. This one will only run for 135 mins.

Can I just tape the dial in place or put a vice grip on the post and tie it off so it can’t move/rotate or will that strip the gears and ruin the timer?

I plan to plug it into a WiFi switch so I can set the time it runs from my phone instead of the dial on the machine.

Any and all suggestions welcome!

 

[driftpin]

How will plugging it into a WIFI switch make it run continuously? The charger timer is still going to function. You would have-to disable the timer: good-bye any warranty.

This says right-on the can, "must-be monitored." I suggest that you do that. Buy another unit which can run continuously if that's what you need. Battery Tender has many models which will do that and will move to a 'float' charge once the battery is fully-charged, something like 0.05 amps. The Battery Tenders also have settings for Li-ion batteries. Using the incorrect charger can shorten the life of your battery, and possibly cause a fire. I saw that before during a career in fire-rescue.

 

[PCustoms]

You using this for electrolysis?

 

[8pack]

You using this for electrolysis?

EXACTLY!

It needs to run continuously and it can’t be an electronic charger. Old school battery charger. I am running it now all day, I just have to keep going out to twist the timer dial every 2hrs. 12v 10amp

 

[PCustoms]

It will void the warranty. But I bet you can jumper that timer easy enough.

 

[8pack]

Definitely not worried about the warranty. I want to avoid taking it apart. Really just wanted to see if I can stop the timer from rotating without breaking it.

 

[PCustoms]

Definitely not worried about the warranty. I want to avoid taking it apart. Really just wanted to see if I can stop the timer from rotating without breaking it.

No idea, but I'm pretty sure your method will break it it time. I guess try and see what happens? Then you can take it apart, assuming it's just a 2 wire mechanical timer easy to jump out.

this post is worth what you paid for it and if it catches fire I am in no way responsible.

 

[8pack]

No idea, but I'm pretty sure your method will break it it time. I guess try and see what happens? Then you can take it apart, assuming it's just a 2 wire mechanical timer easy to jump out.

this post is worth what you paid for it and if it catches fire I am in no way responsible.

Lol. Understood!

 

[Shiftless]

That’s a really nice charger capable of 200 amps. Don’t mess it up.
Why not pick up a much smaller (non-automatic) old school 6 or 10 amp charger at a garage sale for your electrolysis work? Should be 5-10 bucks.

 

[nadogail]

Rather than removing or locking the timer, add a switch in parallel to bypass the timer for your electrolysis projects.

 

[8pack]

Hmmm. More good ideas. I am trying to avoid taking it apart but I may end up there.

Garage sales take time to find what you want. I looked on FB marketplace locally and didn’t turn anything up. Will keep looking.

 

[Shiftless]

Ask your friends and neighbors. I bet one of them has one you could either buy or borrow for a few days to finish your electrolysis project until you find one for yourself on C/L or FB.