Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 13:05:13 -0800
Reply-To: Barry Cotter <barry@ADVANTAGEBC.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Barry Cotter <barry@ADVANTAGEBC.COM>
Subject: Re: Westy battery charger
In-Reply-To: <58855065-9C87-4B04-9D72-999740B9E7C8@eoni.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Wondering if it makes a difference... we have an aux battery under the drivers seat that was installed years ago by a PO... I believe it is connected to the main starter battery via a Sure Power. I know that when the ignition is off it drives the radio, 12v adaptor, kitchen wiring etc...
I would like to put a battery charger/maintainer on the starter battery for winter storage but am not sure how that interacts with the aux battery or vice versa if I was to attach same to the aux battery. Left the van idle for a couple months and went in this week to find both batteries dead. Can anyone comment on whether having these batteries combined/separated affects or is detrimental to the use of a maintainer?
Barry
Jim Arnott <jrasite@EONI.COM> , 1/10/2015 10:02 AM:
When my 2/10 amp trickle charger died ~20 years ago, I bit the bullet and bought a real battery charger. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? YES! I can start an American diesel engine with completely flat batteries in about 5 minutes. I can start a Vanagon with a completely flat battery in the time it takes to slide the seat forward and attach the leads. I can charge my 7.5 AH Honda 70 battery without boiling the electrolyte. I can test a starter motor on the bench. (Which I intend to do in about an hour.) Spend the money and never worry about a battery charger again.
Mine is similar to this: <http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SE-4022-Wheeled-Battery-Charger/dp/B00030BFQA/ref=sr_1_1?i>
I use a booster battery (hot start) when I’m traveling.
A real battery charger is one of the best tool purchases I’ve ever made. I use it at least every couple months. It turns what was a couple day job into a couple minute job.
Jim
Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own mind.
-- Franklin D. Roosevelt
> On Jan 10, 2015, at 3:26 AM, Dennis Jowell <dennisjowell@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> Good morning to all
> My 20 year old Sears craftsman battery charger went south yesterday trying to trickle charge my Westy main battery! Does anyone have a recommendation for a new charger? Reading all the reviews of all the ones out their sure is confusing. Many horror stories of the Chargers burning etc. batteries exploding etc. any thoughts? Any suggestions?
> Dennis
>
> Dennis Jowell
> Scotch Hollow Farm
> Newbury Vermont
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