I drive my pick-em-up truck every few months. So the battery is dead when I go to use it... like today :-( I'm looking for recommendations for the _best_ (*) float charger I can buy to just plug the truck into when it's parked. (*) Cost no object. ...Jim Thompson -- | James E.Thompson | mens | | Analog Innovations | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | | San Tan Valley, AZ 85142 Skype: skypeanalog | | | Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat | | E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.
OT: Lead Acid Float Charger
Started by ●March 30, 2016
Reply by ●March 30, 20162016-03-30
On Wed, 30 Mar 2016 13:07:21 -0700, Jim Thompson <To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon@On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote:>I drive my pick-em-up truck every few months. > >So the battery is dead when I go to use it... like today :-( > >I'm looking for recommendations for the _best_ (*) float charger I can >buy to just plug the truck into when it's parked. > >(*) Cost no object. > > ...Jim ThompsonThe Battery tenders are popular. Not expensive either. <http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dtn-021-0123> Lowes has a 1.5 amp Shumacher <http://www.lowes.com/pd_595175-41462-XM1-5_1z0x524__?productId=50256403&pl=1&Ntt=charger> They both have good reviews. Smart chargers are another story. Cheers
Reply by ●March 30, 20162016-03-30
On Wed, 30 Mar 2016 16:23:13 -0400, Martin Riddle <martin_rid@verizon.net> wrote:>On Wed, 30 Mar 2016 13:07:21 -0700, Jim Thompson ><To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon@On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote: > >>I drive my pick-em-up truck every few months. >> >>So the battery is dead when I go to use it... like today :-( >> >>I'm looking for recommendations for the _best_ (*) float charger I can >>buy to just plug the truck into when it's parked. >> >>(*) Cost no object. >> >> ...Jim Thompson > >The Battery tenders are popular. Not expensive either. ><http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dtn-021-0123> > >Lowes has a 1.5 amp Shumacher ><http://www.lowes.com/pd_595175-41462-XM1-5_1z0x524__?productId=50256403&pl=1&Ntt=charger> > > >They both have good reviews. > >Smart chargers are another story. > >CheersNow all I need is some kind of magnetic power plug that gracefully disconnects when I drive off >:-} ...Jim Thompson -- | James E.Thompson | mens | | Analog Innovations | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | | San Tan Valley, AZ 85142 Skype: Contacts Only | | | Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat | | E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | The touchstone of liberalism is intolerance
Reply by ●March 30, 20162016-03-30
I've used several of the cheap float chargers from Harbor Freight for over 30 years on various vehicles; trucks, lawn mowers, tractors, etc. Never had a failure on any of them. Never lost a battery (except due to age) either. http://www.harborfreight.com/automatic-battery-float-charger-42292.html I see that they have another "Deluxe" model http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-deluxe-battery-maintainer-and-float-charger-62813.html. Don't see what the Deluxe model does that the other model does, except cost more. Dave M Jim Thompson wrote:> I drive my pick-em-up truck every few months. > > So the battery is dead when I go to use it... like today :-( > > I'm looking for recommendations for the _best_ (*) float charger I can > buy to just plug the truck into when it's parked. > > (*) Cost no object. > > ...Jim Thompson >> James E.Thompson | mens | >> Analog Innovations | et | >> Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | >> San Tan Valley, AZ 85142 Skype: skypeanalog | | >> Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat | >> E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | > > I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.
Reply by ●March 30, 20162016-03-30
In article <rjdofbhb1f0lknmaa6eec52995kdi7hm35@4ax.com>, Jim Thompson <To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon@On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote:> Now all I need is some kind of magnetic power plug that gracefully > disconnects when I drive off >:-}I have a small charger keeping my Z28 topped up as that gets driven every couple of weeks. I have a 1/4" Audio Jack on the charger and a 1/4" Socket socket wired up just poking out at the side of the headlights. If i forget to unplug it, it just pops out. Mitch -- Terminal_Crazy Mitch - 1995 Z28 LT1 M6 terminal_crazy@sand-hill.freeserve.co.uk Lancashire England http://www.sand-hill.freeserve.co.uk/terminal_crazy/
Reply by ●March 30, 20162016-03-30
On Wed, 30 Mar 2016 13:27:23 -0700, Jim Thompson <To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon@On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote:>On Wed, 30 Mar 2016 16:23:13 -0400, Martin Riddle ><martin_rid@verizon.net> wrote: > >>On Wed, 30 Mar 2016 13:07:21 -0700, Jim Thompson >><To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon@On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote: >> >>>I drive my pick-em-up truck every few months. >>> >>>So the battery is dead when I go to use it... like today :-( >>> >>>I'm looking for recommendations for the _best_ (*) float charger I can >>>buy to just plug the truck into when it's parked. >>> >>>(*) Cost no object. >>> >>> ...Jim Thompson >> >>The Battery tenders are popular. Not expensive either. >><http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dtn-021-0123> >> >>Lowes has a 1.5 amp Shumacher >><http://www.lowes.com/pd_595175-41462-XM1-5_1z0x524__?productId=50256403&pl=1&Ntt=charger> >> >> >>They both have good reviews. >> >>Smart chargers are another story. >> >>Cheers > >Now all I need is some kind of magnetic power plug that gracefully >disconnects when I drive off >:-} > > ...Jim ThompsonHow about those cheap trailer connectors, 2 or 4 pins, a fuse to the battery. Put one on the Tender and plug it in. They come apart faily easily. Cheers
Reply by ●March 30, 20162016-03-30
On Wed, 30 Mar 2016 13:07:21 -0700, Jim Thompson wrote:> I drive my pick-em-up truck every few months. > > So the battery is dead when I go to use it... like today :-( > > I'm looking for recommendations for the _best_ (*) float charger I can > buy to just plug the truck into when it's parked. > > (*) Cost no object. > > ...Jim ThompsonPick a day of the month, and on that day start it up and idle it for five or ten minutes. Problem solved. -- www.wescottdesign.com
Reply by ●March 30, 20162016-03-30
On Wed, 30 Mar 2016 15:47:23 -0500, Tim Wescott <tim@seemywebsite.com> wrote:>On Wed, 30 Mar 2016 13:07:21 -0700, Jim Thompson wrote: > >> I drive my pick-em-up truck every few months. >> >> So the battery is dead when I go to use it... like today :-( >> >> I'm looking for recommendations for the _best_ (*) float charger I can >> buy to just plug the truck into when it's parked. >> >> (*) Cost no object. >> >> ...Jim Thompson > >Pick a day of the month, and on that day start it up and idle it for five >or ten minutes. > >Problem solved.I know, I know, I should drive it to the grocery once a week. One other thing I learned... 15 year-old original equipment tires are _not_ a good thing... they "shed" :-( ...Jim Thompson -- | James E.Thompson | mens | | Analog Innovations | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | | San Tan Valley, AZ 85142 Skype: Contacts Only | | | Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat | | E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | The touchstone of liberalism is intolerance
Reply by ●March 30, 20162016-03-30
On 3/30/2016 4:27 PM, Jim Thompson wrote:> On Wed, 30 Mar 2016 16:23:13 -0400, Martin Riddle > <martin_rid@verizon.net> wrote: > >> On Wed, 30 Mar 2016 13:07:21 -0700, Jim Thompson >> <To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon@On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote: >> >>> I drive my pick-em-up truck every few months. >>> >>> So the battery is dead when I go to use it... like today :-( >>> >>> I'm looking for recommendations for the _best_ (*) float charger I can >>> buy to just plug the truck into when it's parked. >>> >>> (*) Cost no object. >>> >>> ...Jim Thompson >> >> The Battery tenders are popular. Not expensive either. >> <http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dtn-021-0123> >> >> Lowes has a 1.5 amp Shumacher >> <http://www.lowes.com/pd_595175-41462-XM1-5_1z0x524__?productId=50256403&pl=1&Ntt=charger> >> >> >> They both have good reviews. >> >> Smart chargers are another story. >> >> Cheers > > Now all I need is some kind of magnetic power plug that gracefully > disconnects when I drive off >:-}The military uses connectors that release when the cable is snagged so they won't be hung up by their gear. -- Rick
Reply by ●March 30, 20162016-03-30
"Jim Thompson" <To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon@On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote in message news:08hofb1g9iq65t5riiktp9tmfcrr9uvinj@4ax.com...> > I know, I know, I should drive it to the grocery once a week. > > One other thing I learned... 15 year-old original equipment tires are > _not_ a good thing... they "shed" :-( >I have read that tires should be ran so often so they get hot and they will last longer as far as the dry rot types of problems. For about 10 years I had an old beater of a truck that I seldom drove. About every 2 weeks I would drive it to work which was about 15 miles each way. Seemed to solve a lot of problems.