Battery charger

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Battery charger

Postby TomS » Sat Sep 24, 2005 8:39 am

I'm about to by a charger for my TD. I was looking at this BatteryMinder charger for my Optima yellow top battery.

According to the description it sounds like an ideal unit for my application. However, I don't have enough electronics knowlege to separate the truth from marketing B.S. I'd appreciate any thoughts and/or ideas regarding this or any other charger.
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Postby Cutterpup » Sat Sep 24, 2005 8:59 am

Tom from Optima's web site

6. Can you trickle charge an OPTIMA? Solar card charger?

Yes, you can use any charger on an OPTIMA as long as the voltage is regulated properly. If your charger will remain on indefinitely the voltage should be at 13.8 volts maximum with a one amp maximum current.


Web Page FAQ
http://www.optimabatteries.com/publish/optima/americas0/en/config/product_info/technology/faq.html#000100010006

Now from Battery Minder web page
Specifications
Input 105-130 Vac 50/60 Hz
Output 12 volts @ 4.0 Amps
Charge Voltage 14.4 Vdc
Float Voltage 13.2 - 13.6 volts
Desulphation Pulse 4.0A @ 3.26 MHz
Float Current 5 mA - 1 Amp *
Size/Weight 4-3/4" L x 3-1/2" W x 3" H / 4 lbs.


So from all this I say it will not harm the battery, but calling Optima and asking them which charger they recommend is the best way to go. After all if they tell you xyz charger is the best and after using it the battery quits working then you can a case to have optima replace your battery, if you get just any battery charger and it fries the battery you are s.o.l.l.( that is sorry out of luck loser). Right now I an charging my blue top with a 5 watt solar charger thats only gets sun about 4-5 hrs a day and keeps the battery fully charged and ready to go. However since winter is coming I need to get another charger on it as the solar charger keeps my pool cover pump battery charged.

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Postby GeorgeTelford » Sat Sep 24, 2005 9:52 am

Hi Tom

Yes that will charge the battery OK, for use as a battery charger and maintainence its very good, the only problem that I can foresee is that if you intend using Hook up (shore power) these are no good as an on site power supply.
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Postby bdosborn » Sat Sep 24, 2005 8:57 pm

Tom,

I'm on my third charger. I'm using the Cabela's Prosport 6 and I think I finally found one that works well. I started out with a Walmart special and it died just maintaining the battery. I upgraded to a Minn Kota charger and I broke it by turning on the fluorescent light while the battery was disconnected. It wouldn't stop charging which will kill the battery lickity split. So far so good with this one.
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P.S. The Prosport is configurable for AGM batteries so it should work with the Optima battery.
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Postby asianflava » Sun Sep 25, 2005 1:36 am

bd-

I think that is the same charger that I have. Cabela's must be sourcing it from Pro Mariner. It even has the same name, I bought the Pro Sport 6 for my Optima Blue Top. I got mine from Boater's World for the same price.

http://www.pmariner.com/Chargers.php
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Postby bdosborn » Sun Sep 25, 2005 12:24 pm

Yup, one and the same. I got it from Cabelas because they have a good return policy ;) Did you cut the jumper for the Optima?
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Postby asianflava » Sun Sep 25, 2005 5:50 pm

I saw the jumper but was wondeing what it was for. I haven't gotten around to reading the directions. I only hooked it up once to see if it worked.
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Postby DestinDave » Sun Sep 25, 2005 6:24 pm

I have a Schumacher deep-cycle marine charger that I had intended to use but it wouldn't fit in the box with the battery(ies) so I looked through some marine catalogs...

Here is what I am looking at using for my battery box: http://store.wmjmarine.com/w2608a.html
It's small enough to fit in the box along with the battery.
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Postby TonyCooper » Sun Sep 25, 2005 11:17 pm

I picked up this automatic charger unit from BatteryMart. It's a waterproof, 4 stage intelligent charger and it is reasonably priced from these guys. I've seen it priced twice as much as they sell it for. It's also packaged quite small. Perfect for a teardrop.

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Postby TomS » Mon Sep 26, 2005 6:27 pm

Thanks for the recommendations. I just ordered the Battery Tender.
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