Wards Battery Charger Question

[timm1]

I remember Wards came out in the mid 60's with a square looking battery charger which was 6 and 12 volts and it had a switch for boost start on it. Does any one know what model and what company made it thanks.

 

[mikegt4]

I had the same features on an old Sears charger, Schumacher usually made them for Sears.

 

[finn]

I have a Schumacher like that. Maybe fifteen years old.

Probably got it at Farm and Fleet.

 

[timm1]

I have a Schumacher like that. Maybe fifteen years old.

Probably got it at Farm and Fleet.

How many boost amps does it have and is it ten amp charging?

 

[finn]

How many boost amps does it have and is it ten amp charging?

50 boost, 110 and maybe 2.5 amps charging. It’s a three position switch.

It’s a manual, old school charger. I suspect it was on clearance when I bought it, as “automatic “ chargers were becoming popular at the time. The automatic chargers available then wouldn’t charge if battery voltage, or maybe resistance was below a threshold. The manual chargers don’t have that issue.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

They still make these manual chargers everyday.

 

[timm1]

They still make these manual chargers everyday.

Thanks the 110 you mensioned that is for high charge?

 

[finn]

Thanks the 110 you mensioned that is for high charge?

No, it’s a fat finger. Should be 10.

 

[timm1]

No, it’s a fat finger. Should be 10.

If it is only 50 amps boost not too much starting power. Thanks. I found a century k3153-1 with 100 amps boost but too expensive over 200.00 on amazon but it has manual and automatic setting also.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

They have 200 amp boost models. A 10 second search on the internet showed like 3 different brands.

 

[timm1]

They have 200 amp boost models. A 10 second search on the internet showed like 3 different brands.

I am looking for a bench charger with boost.

 

[firebirdparts]

I have the typical schumacher. 2/10/60, 12 volts only. 60 doesn't really do much except melt down your charger in about 2 minutes.

my dad has the 6 and 12 volt Wards from the 1960's but no boost on his. I've never seen that. I don't see it using google either.

But anyway, I know you don't really care about wards. You do need to tell us whether or not you care about 6 volts, though. I would think finding a charger with 6/12 volts and also boost might be tough if you want it under $100.

 

[timm1]

I have the typical schumacher. 2/10/60, 12 volts only. 60 doesn't really do much except melt down your charger in about 2 minutes.

my dad has the 6 and 12 volt Wards from the 1960's but no boost on his. I've never seen that. I don't see it using google either.

But anyway, I know you don't really care about wards. You do need to tell us whether or not you care about 6 volts, though. I would think finding a charger with 6/12 volts and also boost might be tough if you want it under $100.

Yes I need 6 volts also. I found the charger on centuruy web site under 200.00. Maybe I will try that one if I can't find one cheaper.

 

[firebirdparts]

Just googling, it looks like Westward is the cheapest at $105. I've never heard of them. It only goes to 100 amps in 12V mode, so I guess I'm not surprised at the limitations.

 

[timm1]

Just googling, it looks like Westward is the cheapest at $105. I've never heard of them. It only goes to 100 amps in 12V mode, so I guess I'm not surprised at the limitations.

I just ordered one for that price from zoro thanks.

 

[timm1]

I got the westward charger but did not last long. It kept tripping on the breaker in the charger when charging a good battery. I found a wards charger with boost which works well. The model is 61-81061 and it has 50 amp boost and it will charger a battery that is almost dead where the westward would not turn on if a battery is dead. I am not sure who made them for wards because I called shumacher and they did not make them for wards.

 

[Stuart in MN]

My guess is also that Wards sourced them from Schumacher. I have one I got at Sears nearly 50 years ago and it still works great.

Edit: I just saw your last post saying Wards did not get them from Schumacher so I guess I'm wrong... whoever they did source battery chargers from, I would assume it was a reputable brand, back then they sold high quality items.

If you were to open up the case there may be some identification on the circuit board inside.

 

[GrayFlattop]

IIRC, Schauer produced battery chargers for Wards.

 

[finn]

I have one with the Schumacher label. Got it from Farm and Fleet twenty years ago.

Used the boost feature yesterday to jump a bad battery. Left it on for maybe ten minutes. The car started, just barely, but it did start.

Drove the car a mile, and idled it some. After I pulled it into the garage, the three year old battery wouldn’t start it again. Guess it’s a trip to town for a new battery.

 

[BurtEggley]

something that old be sure to check the diode type and capacitors. Most of the chargers of that era used selenium rectifiers and by now those have deteriorated well enough to leak AC into the battery. Those diodes can be replaced with modern ones. The problem will be that selenium rectifiers had much more resistance than modern diodes, so one needs to add a ballast resistor to drop voltage enough to charge properly. This subject comes up once in awhile on several different forums. Don't use an old charger with selenium rectifiers without first looking at the voltage on an oscillscope for AC ripple.