Battery Charger

Granny

Granny

One day at a time...
Joined
Jun 12, 2007
Location
Cabarrus County (Rimertown)
OK guys... it's "stoopid quarstion" time... and it probably isn't the first one I have ever asked:
Will a regular "plain-jane" battery charger (Walmart, Harbor Freight, etc.) work OK for charging a deep-cycle battery? I will be using the battery the same as if it were in a pop-up camper. I have read some things that prompt me to ask... as always... Appreciate Ya! :beer:
 
It should have a proper deep cycle charging curve for best results, and so it won't take forever to charge if it's a small charger. The most important thing is that the charger is matched to your battery type and/or chemistry type. A standard lead acid charger won't always be that great for a AGM battery like an optima yellow top for example, unless it is designed to do both.

Basically, get something with enough product information to determine if it will work for your needs.
 
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Don I have used my regular charger to charge deep cycles for many years. TO charge I just always set it at lowest amps , and let it sit for a day or so.
 
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upnover said:
Don I have used my regular charger to charge deep cycles for many years. TO charge I just always set it at lowest amps , and let it sit for a day or so.
Click to expand...

Me too, Chip. However, these days it just seems that everything that worked perfectly for many years just isn't quite right anymore. So, thought I should ask. Truth is... I will probably go back to doing it the old way 'till the damned thing blows up on me! :lol: Hope you're well ole buddy! :)
 
Wont blow up.
If anything it just wont charge as well or will charge too fast and build a sulfur layer that reduces the life cycle.


Battery Chargers used to be made with nice heavy components. Now microprocessors took the place of, well, lot of stuff.
So you werent doing it wrong before, they just cheapened up what you are doing it with.
 
Ron said:
Wont blow up.
If anything it just wont charge as well or will charge too fast and build a sulfur layer that reduces the life cycle.


Battery Chargers used to be made with nice heavy components. Now microprocessors took the place of, well, lot of stuff.
So you werent doing it wrong before, they just cheapened up what you are doing it with.
Click to expand...

I won't disagree with the cheap part, but microcontrollers have made it possible to make better and more effective chargers than were ever possible before now. Old chargers were heavy, but they were very crude and very simple and could only do very simple things.

Sure, if you've got flooded lead acid deep cycle batteries, a cheap charger is fine. Slow and simple will work fine if that's all you need. You didn't say what you actually had, just that it was deep cycle.. :p
 
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