Car battery chargers

[sylcat23]

I have always removed the battery cell covers and covered the cells with a wet rag while charging the battery.
Other internet searches say removing the cell covers is not required.
Any ideas on this subject?

 

[seber]

I've never done that. All my batteries now are sealed so I can't do that. Pop top batteries have a vent in each cap so I don't know why you would take the tops off.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

If possible, on a questionable battery, I may remove caps to verify the proper level of the electro-lite and test it's strength. But otherwise, the caps generally stay in place

 

[PelicanPines]

I use a NOCO charger... I never open the battery. All my cars and my lawn tractor have permanent connectors installed to hook them up to a charger during the winter.

Since it's a smart charger... it can be left on long term. It also conditions the battery.

 

[Outahere]

I have always removed the battery cell covers and covered the cells with a wet rag while charging the battery.

Why?

 

[theoldwizard1]

In the "old days" the primary reason you removed the caps was to check that there was sufficient fluid in each call. Not really required.

I do recommend cleaning the outside of the battery at least once a year. That would be a good time to check fluid level?

 

[Sumboodie]

I haven't seen auto batteries with removable tops in years.
Not common.

 

[mrvm]

Whatever product you choose stay far away from HF $5-10 battery charger/maintainers

 

[RTM]

Back in the day when all batteries had pop tops, you were supposed to remove them while charging or jumping to allow the gas to escape, preventing battery damage. My vehicles over the last 20 years have all had sealed batteries, never worried about it.

Decades ago, when I was still a teen, the druggie across the street was jumping a car, covers open, and tried to use a match to check the fluid level in the battery. I was too far away to stop him. Quite a flare up, in his face. He ran inside, never heard the end of the story.

 

[F-22]

If you need a quality charger, I am really happy with my ctek charger. It occasionally really does revive a problematic battery. I leave it on my bike through the winter and I have saved a bunch of money by not having to replace batteries every couple years.

 

[FMB4]

I have a number of different batt chrgs that, in some units, go back to the early '80s (6amp, trickle, etc). That said, I'm a fan of modern high frequency chargers. Such can charge a batt in minutes compared to hours.

 

[Jeepster04]

Ive never heard of or seen someone remove the caps to charge battery. If the caps are vented, why would you need to do that?

 

[theoldwizard1]

I haven't seen auto batteries with removable tops in years.
Not common.

If it is not an AGM, it is probably removable, you just need a screwdriver to pry the caps off.

 

[Sumboodie]

If it is not an AGM, it is probably removable, you just need a screwdriver to pry the caps off.

Most are non removable

 

[theoldwizard1]

Most are non removable

I have not seen one yet on a non- AGM that I could NOT remove.

 

[65ranchero]

Whatever product you choose stay far away from HF $5-10 battery charger/maintainers

Why not? I have one ( I think it was $5.99 on sale) use it on my garden tractor since new (2013) got 7 years out of the original battery.
I just went out to the shed and started the GT for the 1st time since it was put away in Oct. ant it's been in the negitives 10 to 20 below for the last week.
That little charger is a good maintainer.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

I use a NOCO charger... I never open the battery. All my cars and my lawn tractor have permanent connectors installed to hook them up to a charger during the winter.

Since it's a smart charger... it can be left on long term. It also conditions the battery.

I am trying to adapt a “leave-it-hooked-up” extension to attach to my car battery. I can’t find forked connectors large enough to fit my terminals. It is a side post battery and the screws won’t come out of the cable ends so i can use the ring connectors.
Anyone know where I can get such a forked terminal lug?

 

[unslow1]

I have had very good luck with my HF maintainers. I also have a few Ctek. Then some Schumacher, Diehard and a few other brands. This fall I traded in 6 batteries for new ones when I got a deal on a bunch of them. There were 4 between 8 and 10 years still starting cars.

 

[Sumboodie]

I have not seen one yet on a non- AGM that I could NOT remove.

I've gone through about 2 dozen batteries this last year. Mostly group 65 and 31. Don't think any of those had pop tops.

 

[unslow1]

I've gone through about 2 dozen batteries this last year. Mostly group 65 and 31. Don't think any of those had pop tops.

It's too bad you don't live close to me. A friend that runs a few auto parts stores asked if I knew where he could get rid of a pallet of size 31 batteries. He ordered them in for a customer and they backed out after they were in transit. He said he would let them go below cost.

 

[Qualitytools]

New non AGM Batteries look sealed but they are not. One can pry the recessed covers off, check electrolytes and top off with distilled water if needed before charging. I always charged a dead battery with the caps off, habit from the 70's

 

[PelicanPines]

I am trying to adapt a “leave-it-hooked-up” extension to attach to my car battery. I can’t find forked connectors large enough to fit my terminals. It is a side post battery and the screws won’t come out of the cable ends so i can use the ring connectors.
Anyone know where I can get such a forked terminal lug?

I built my own cables with connectors I got from Amazon. I used ring connectors on the battery. Possibly you can find the connectors you need there. If I had larger fork connectors, I'd send them to you... sadly I don't.

 

[M635_Guy]

My CTEK does a nice job

 

[mrvm]

Why not? I have one ( I think it was $5.99 on sale) use it on my garden tractor since new (2013) got 7 years out of the original battery.
I just went out to the shed and started the GT for the 1st time since it was put away in Oct. ant it's been in the negitives 10 to 20 below for the last week.
That little charger is a good maintainer.

Perhaps they’re ok with the tractor but some of the Hf reviews point towards overcharging issues and these pics are from a recent melt down (not mine) ymmv

 

[seber]

When my father died nine years ago he had half a dozen HF maintainers in his garage. I claimed them all before the auction. All but two were DOA. One of the two overcharged and got tossed. The other one lasted less than a month before it died. I don't know how old they were or any history, but I'm not buying any more from HF.

 

[RTM]

. I can’t find forked connectors large enough to fit my terminals. It is a side post battery and the screws won’t come out of the cable ends so i can use the ring connectors.
Anyone know where I can get such a forked terminal lug?

Cut the rings into question marks?

 

[csp]

I haven't seen auto batteries with removable tops in years.
Not common.

I have at least a dozen batteries with removable caps, from daily drivers to tractors, to toys. Every one of them is less than five years old. Just bought an Interstate group 34 at Costco a few days ago for my daughter's Jeep and the caps are removable. There's even a slot for the screwdriver blade.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

Cut the rings into question marks?

IMO there is not enough strength or surface area for that to work. But I considered it.
Thanks for the idea.

 

[Bert_]

There is no reason to remove the caps while charging. They are vented.

I haven't seen auto batteries with removable tops in years.
Not common.

I haven't seen any without removable caps, I know the three in my garage have caps. Haven't actually opened them on a car battery for a long time though.

 

[Indexmill]

Ya shoud add you age when answering this question. Just saying "I never saw batteries with removable caps" does not answer the OP's question. If your are young enough, then, of course, you have never seen them...

 

[Sumboodie]

Ya shoud add you age when answering this question. Just saying "I never saw batteries with removable caps" does not answer the OP's question. If your are young enough, then, of course, you have never seen them...

~40

 

[theoldwizard1]

I've gone through about 2 dozen batteries this last year. Mostly group 65 and 31. Don't think any of those had pop tops.

You should be able to get a screwdriver underneath and gently pry them off. The way the caps are designed, they should capture the liquid and return it to the cell. It is more important to keep the outside clean even if you just spray it with a garden hose.

 

[csp]

Ya shoud add you age when answering this question. Just saying "I never saw batteries with removable caps" does not answer the OP's question. If your are young enough, then, of course, you have never seen them...

Except batteries are still widely used with removable caps. Posted a picture of one above with a manufacture date of 1/22.

Most of mine were manufactured by Johnson Controls. One vehicle has a Duracell (made by East Penn), and it doesn't have any caps.

 

[engineer2]

I have four type 51R batteries, 3 in cars, one for the backup sump pump. Only one looks to be sealed (Duracell).
I pop the tops off a couple of times a year to check the water levels.
The regular Interstate batteries Costco sells have removable tops.