Battery Charger

[David Paul]

I’m looking for a new battery charger for my 12 volt cars. Not looking for a maintainer, but something to replace my old Schumacher. I don’t want one of those small inline units that I know I’ll just loose.
Thanks,
David

 

[SGKent]

David, you can easily buy a Schumacher unit or equal today. I rarely use mine anymore to charge a battery because the car should do it for me. We have a 77 VW bus that sits more than we drive it - mostly camping etc, and I bought one of those CTEK chargers to keep it charged. It is awesome, not only does it keep the battery charged, it pulses it occasionally to keep it from sulfating. There is a small cable that goes on the battery and you plug and unplug it in 10 seconds. I added one of those cables to each of our cars, and once in awhile I throw it on them in case we haven't driven it in awhile or it has been on a lot of short trips. I'd take it any day over the Schumacher. Really. In fact I'll probably sell the Schumacher when I clean the garage out. It just takes up space.

Steve

 

[tez929rr]

David, you can easily buy a Schumacher unit or equal today. I rarely use mine anymore to charge a battery because the car should do it for me. We have a 77 VW bus that sits more than we drive it - mostly camping etc, and I bought one of those CTEK chargers to keep it charged. It is awesome, not only does it keep the battery charged, it pulses it occasionally to keep it from sulfating. There is a small cable that goes on the battery and you plug and unplug it in 10 seconds. I added one of those cables to each of our cars, and once in awhile I throw it on them in case we haven't driven it in awhile or it has been on a lot of short trips. I'd take it any day over the Schumacher. Really. In fact I'll probably sell the Schumacher when I clean the garage out. It just takes up space.

Steve

I also have a CTEK and all the cars and motorcycles (and generator and anything else that sits in the shop get a charge monthly. I bought it because the Schumacher wouldn’t charge Optima batteries.

 

[oldmxracer]

Hell, I have no idea if they are still made but been using My Schumacher SE-1275A for years 2 amp 12 amp 75 amp (start) compact size and does the job !

 

[SILVERPLATE]

WalMart normally has a nice selection of Schumacher chargers.

 

[JamesW84]

I have two of these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EV1CTY8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Optimate 7 Select. I bought them for my 24 volt scissor lift. I use one charger on two 6-volt batteries. I also like the power supply feature. I've had them for 2 years. The lift stays on the charger when I'm not using it. I keep the chargers on the lift out of the rain for the most part, but they stay outside 24/7 through winter and summer and have been great as far as I can tell.

They were $200 a piece when I bought them, but I got a deal on them for $120 each on ebay new. They desulfate, charge 14.4V for lead acid batteries and 14.7 for AGM batteries.

 

[Bretny]

Gesus those are expensive for everything that a $99 promariner does. Waterproof, 12/24v and upto 8a i believe. I have had one of these pluged in for about 2yrs charging my radio battery.

 

[Buckaroo5]

I have a Clore Pro-Logix PL2320 - both 6 & 12 volts and range of 2-20 amps charging rate. Smart Charger with AGM capability is a must these days - they are less than $70 and well respected in the auto repair industry.

https://cloreautomotive.com/product/pl2320/

Buckaroo

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I have the DeWalt benchtop charger/starter and it is just great! I think the cost at home depot was right under $100.

 

[David Paul]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I wanted to try something a little different so I went with the Clore Pro.
David

 

[SGKent]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I wanted to try something a little different so I went with the Clore Pro.
David

you'll be happy with it. The newer style maintenance chargers are literally a plug and forget charger compared to the old ones. The CTEK one I have is always plugged into one battery or another. The older Schumacher unit is always in its box up on the shelf unless I need to quick charge a battery. It takes so much monitoring to get a battery to full but not over-charged.

 

[Scout3918]

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I wanted to try something a little different so I went with the Clore Pro.
David

where you get it and cost if you don't mind me asking.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

I have a Clore Pro-Logix PL2320 - both 6 & 12 volts and range of 2-20 amps charging rate. Smart Charger with AGM capability is a must these days - they are less than $70 and well respected in the auto repair industry.
https://cloreautomotive.com/product/pl2320/ Buckaroo

I'm on the GJF trying to fugure out what to replace my Clore Pro-Logix PL 2310 with. I've had it for three or four years, use it when a battery in one of the vehicles is dead.

Went to use it yesterday on the HHR (I left the lights on all day, foggy in the morning). Seemed like the battery wouldn't take a charge. Voltage on the Clore bounced around, jumped from charging to charging complete, got intermittant error messages, etc. I thought the battery was bad. Brought my neighbors Durango over, jumped the HHR, started it, now have it running to charge the battery. Battery is probably three years old, car is driven regularly.

Then tried to start the Suburban that has sat for two or more months. Battery dead (was new in Nov 2018). Put the Clore on it, same thing as the HHR.

So now I think the Clore is shot. I understand things like this might now last forever. In general the 178 reviews if fond on the Clore Pro-Logix PL 2310 & 2320 were very good.

So boys and girls ... should I buy and another Clore Pro-Logix PL 2310 or 2320 from NAPA? Or should I look at buying another battery charger? My basic mission is the HHR, Suburban, lawn mower, friends/relatives vehicles, and the house AGM batteries on the motorhome if I accidentally drain them and have to bring them back from the dead. The Clore was good for that.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The Rizk National Model 1262 is about a plain vanilla as you can get ! "Old School !" Charges at 12A the cuts back to 2A. It is NOT one of the fancy "smart" chargers so it will charge a completely dead battery.

Not cheap, but built like a brick **** house and made in the USA !

One bad thing, is that it does NOT have a timer built in. If you walk away overnight, it probably will boil the battery dry.

 

[brownbagg]

i wired a battery maintainer into my car, and just have the plug sticking out under the grill, i got the weather proof model. i never understood while car dont have built in solar panels

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

i wired a battery maintainer into my car, and just have the plug sticking out under the grill, i got the weather proof model. i never understood while car dont have built in solar panels

Probably because until recently solar panels were not cost effective.

 

[Jeepster04]

Not sure why I did it but in college my vehicle would sit all week. I would also hook up a solar charger and lay it in the windshield on the windshield sun shade. Surprised someone didnt break into my jeep and take it.