Battery Charger/Maintainer?

[Anonymous-0]

I have an old Wheel Horse lawn tractor that we use to pull a cart for yard work. When we mowed with it, we had no trouble keeping the battery fully charged, but now it only gets started about once a week, and then it runs for a few minutes and gets shut off. The battery just doesn't seem to ever get fully charged. What do you folks think of the little $20 trickle boxes that they sell at Wal-Mart, and can I use one with a jell cell battery? I think Black & Decker and Shaumaer (sp) are the brands. I notice that all the literature seems to only mention lead acid batteries, and I don't know enough about batteries to have an opinion of my own. . .

Thanks in advance for your advice.
Paul

 

[IH2444]

Gel Cells are lead acid.

 

[souNdguy]

1, that short run is bad onthe engine.. never lets it get hot enough to burn moisture off.

i think i'd start it and let it run till warm at least once per month.. that will ehlp with the battery too.

Harbor freight / china tool stores usually have a 12v very low amp csolar battery maintainer for about 10$.. it's enough to keep the battery topped on a decent day with only 1-start per week.. especially if you go ahead and top the battery off correctly with a good charger before starting this cycle. the extended run 1xmonth will help the battery and engine too.

soundguy

 

[bo]

Got 4 of the Walmart thingies...they work fine. I use them each winter on non use batteries and never a problem. Don't get the cheap ones from HF...had two of them melt...absolutely melt. Threw the all of them out...all 5.

 

[Anonymous-0]

A battery in good condition does not need a battery maintainer.

 

[Bus Driver]

The units sold by Northern have worked best for me. Made by VDC, as best I remember. Usually sell for about $50.00. Often on sale for about $45.00.
Northern

 

[Anonymous-0]

Thanks for your thoughts on this subject. I bought the Schumacher brand since I've already had good service with a standard charger, same brand.

I've got a homemade maintainer that I use to "winter" the little mower batteries, but it's BIG and inconvenient. Never tried it with Gell cells, but probably will this winter.

I can't seem to get the cheap little mower batteries to last over a year if I don't keep a little voltage on them over the winter. Might be cheaper to just pitch them and buy new, but not smart enuf to figure the cost of using the maintainer.

Paul

 

[T_Bone]

Hi Paul,

I bought the schumacher 2amp PWM charger, about $18 at Wally World. There also called smart charges and will recharge any type of battery without over charging, provide float charging and will recharge a deepcycle battery at 50ahr discharge in less than 24hrs.

There very fast and efficient and will make any battery last longer just because of there advanced recharge regulation. Most battery's are ruined because of over charging.

T_Bone

 

[Anonymous-0]

I got 4 years out of the lawn mower type battery on my bandsawmill.I take hydrometer reading once a month and charge if neccessary.Ive seen flames coming out the top of a battery charger so I use them as little as possible.

 

[Anonymous-0]

My ma has a key start Sears push mower. When done for the season, she brings it in the house. Puts it under a shelf, on the floor of her laundry room. She's had it 3 yr now w/no problems starting the next season.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Yeah, I've burned up a couple of battery chargers too, and now I don't trust any of them. I wish the old Wheel Horse had a recoil starter on it, but on second thought - it's battery ignition so I'd still have to maintain a battery.

I've got a huge gadget that an old ham radio buddy gave me. He used it to float charge the emergency batteries for a repeater. It's all one man wants to lift, and I've never had the lid off to see what's inside. Voltage is controlled by a variac on the primary side of what must be a HUGE transformer. It's transformed down to where the output is from zero to about sixteen volts through the rotation of the variac. Pretty easy to dial about any voltage you want, but I guess it changes a little due to the fluctuation of our line voltage on REA. Percentage-wise, not much though. I use it in the winter on batteries that don't get regular use, and I confess that I've ruined a couple with it. I know that I could do better, but I just can't seem to stay focused. . .