Author	[Modern View]
leon 02-20-2013 03:21:51 173.30.193.163 Report to Moderator	Anyone here know enough about batteries to render a judgement regarding Batteryminder's claim, and other brands too I suppose, of, after the charge is complete, going into a de-sulphating mode to clean and prolong the life of the battery/plates? [Reply]   [No Email]
George Marsh 02-20-2013 18:39:47 50.104.195.160 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to leon, 02-20-2013 03:21:51   Leon, A year ago Christmas, I purchased a batteryminder 12248. Cost over $100. Is it worth it? Hard to say. Will it bring back a battery from the dead? NO I also recently purchased a battery conductivity tester, Midtronics Advanced Battery, Starter & Charging Tester, 300 series. It can measure the acutal cold cranking amps of the battery. Many times better than a load tester. After using the batteryminder, there isn't an increase in the cold cranking amps. The temperature of the battery has a greater influence on CCA. SO, if the batteryminder desulfates the plates it has to be a very small amount and there is very little if any change in cca. Again, the temperature does change the cca more then batteryminder. However, it is a good battery charger that doesn't over charge and cook the battery. Sometimes it takes weeks on a battery before it's done with the desulfating mode. Because I spent a pant load on the batteryminder, it is always connected to a battery in the pole barn. I keep many batteries in the work bench, rotate it between tractors, mowers, mule, truck, car, trolling battery, and dump trailer. I'm hoping the batteryminder will keep a healthy battery healthy longer. Only time will tell. I was expecting more for from batteryminder. George [Reply]  [No Email]
Jon Hagen 02-20-2013 19:04:35 69.26.17.61 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to George Marsh, 02-20-2013 18:39:47   The batteryMINDer, atleast the little $40, 1.3 amp model will slowly desulfate a sulfated battery, although it can take months on a severly sulfated one. I had one in a rolled over Hough payloader I bought. Big 12V battery that laid upside down for several hours when the machine rolled and killed the operator. All the electrolyte drained out while it laid upsidedown then the battery and machine laid in a salvage yard for a year, so the battery was sulfated almost beyond hope with the plates exposed to air for a year. I bought the machine , refilled the battery with new electrolyte and put it on the desulfator. after a week it would put out enough to engage the starter and roll the engine about 1/2 turn. After a couple more weeks it would start the engine. After several months of use and desulfating it would crank much longer than the starter could safelt take. I would guess that battery regained 90% of new capacity. bottom line, is that a charger with the desulfate feature will slowly remove the sulfation from a sulfated but otherwise healthy battery. It in no way will magically restore a shorted or worn out battery. I see the latest BatteryMINDer model now has temperature compensation so it better maintains full charge without overcharging in temps from -40 to +130. [Reply]  [No Email]
George Marsh 02-21-2013 09:22:59 50.104.195.160 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to Jon Hagen, 02-20-2013 19:04:35   Jon, A year ago, my GMC was 5 years old. The dealer told me my battery had a full charge but failed the load test. That's when I bought the batteryminder. It can charge gel, flooded and AGM batteries at 2,4 & 8 amp rate. My truck had the original Delco Agm. I bought a new battery for the truck and put the batteryminder on the old battery for 3 months. No change in battery's condition. On other batteries, it may take weeks or a few days to run through the complete cycle, but when it's done, the charger goes in to a default, gel and 2 amp light flash. I do have a mower battery made on 2008. It's rated at 340 cca. My battery conductive tester shows it's bad. Battery makes 240 cca. My batteryminder has spend a lot of time on this battery the past winter with no noticeable change in the cca. However, you can buy a new cheapie mower battery rated at 200 cca. So I've learned to buy the bigger battery and even though it's shows bad, it can still out preform a new battery. I will install the 2008 battery in a mower that is close to home, so I can keep an eye on it. My farmall, IH C, has a very old 12v battery, can't say just how old, but old. It has one cell that is weak, battery conductive testor shows battery is bad. However when you hit a 6v starter with a sick 12v battery, the starter flips the engine over like it's a healthy battery. Had I not used a hydrometer or the battery conductive testor, I would think the batteryminder was doing GREAT. I just moved the batteryminder to the IH C this morning. The way I feel about the batteryminder it won't reverse the aging process of a battery, but hopefully it will slow down the aging process. I have a very old 12v battery on the Jubilee too. Same as the IH C. An old wimpy 12v can move a 6v starter faster than a good 6v battery. You slow down the aging process of a battery by keeping it fully charged even if you use a trickle charger. Just don't over charge it or you will damage it. Just my $.02 worth. I won't spend $100 on another batteryminder. I like my battery conductive tester. It lets you know your battery is about to take a dump, so you can do something before you get stranded. George [Reply]  [No Email]
John G. Hasler 02-20-2013 19:26:34 174.124.25.60 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to Jon Hagen, 02-20-2013 19:04:35   > I see the latest BatteryMINDer model now has > temperature compensation Disappointing that they haven"t all always had it. That"s an essential feature: it isn"t much of a "minder" without it. It"s also trivial to implement. [Reply]  [No Email]
point3dave 02-20-2013 18:13:02 216.66.73.62 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to leon, 02-20-2013 03:21:51   Just my 2 cents worth, I use a 12volt cell phone charger with alligator clips on my battery twice a month and the tractor starts good. Dave K [Reply]  [No Email]
Jon Hagen 02-20-2013 15:16:24 69.26.17.61 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to leon, 02-20-2013 03:21:51   I have 4 BatteryMINDer brand charger / desulfator / maintainers that I rotate among aproximatly 20 units during off season storage. They do a good job and will remove sulfation from battery plates over time. The BatteryMINDer brand is also safe for sealed AGM batteries, while some cheaper charger / maintainers are not designed for AGM or GEL batteries and will over time dry them out and ruin them. [Reply]  [No Email]
uncle henry 02-20-2013 09:07:47 67.223.201.52 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to leon, 02-20-2013 03:21:51   i got/use four of these Schumacher Automatic Microprocessor Controlled Charger/Maintainer, 6/12V [Reply]  [No Email]
CNKS 02-20-2013 06:24:19 216.144.104.128 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to leon, 02-20-2013 03:21:51   I don't know about the desulfating, I have the same ones as mkirsch, leave them connected all the time. Far as I'm concerned they are excellent. There are also regular chargers that change to the maintenance phase once charged rather that overcharging. I have 7 tractors, and without the maintenance charger, if I want one to move snow, etc, the battery is dead, the one usually in the way that I have to move is also dead. Mine are all inside. If outside you have to have access to electricity within a reasonable distance and make sure the units are waterproof. [Reply]  [No Email]
MN Mike 02-20-2013 05:10:58 216.77.154.39 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to leon, 02-20-2013 03:21:51   First let me say that my 340 tractor battery is my old pickup battery so it's not new by any means. I keep a battery tender on it all winter and I've been able to start my 340 a lot easier in sub-zero temps. I notice it if I don't have that battery "topped off". Like cowman, I don't put a tender on equipment that's going to stand still all winter. I pull a battery cable and call it good. [Reply]  [No Email]
DanR 02-20-2013 05:52:11 67.236.13.198 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to MN Mike, 02-20-2013 05:10:58   Desulfation is not a new idea. I doubt that a small charger is capable of this. The idea is to hit the plates with a very high amperage charge for a short time. This knocks off some of corroded lead that sinks to the bottom of the case. This is done at the beginning of the regular charge. If enough lead is collected in the bottom of the case it can short out the plates. I don't think reinventing the battery is a good idea. [Reply]  [No Email]
John G. Hasler 02-20-2013 07:53:36 174.124.25.60 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to DanR, 02-20-2013 05:52:11   > Desulfation is not a new idea. I doubt that a > small charger is capable of this. It"s quite capable of it. You charge a capacitor from the line and then discharge it quickly through a transformer, producing a short high-current pulse. The average power can be low. [Reply]  [No Email]
nebraska cowman 02-20-2013 05:03:22 66.252.116.102 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to leon, 02-20-2013 03:21:51   I think they are a waste of time. I never have used one. Have batteries that set all winter without being charged and they seem to last a long time. [Reply]  [No Email]
MisterT 02-20-2013 06:46:16 216.248.71.226 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to nebraska cowman, 02-20-2013 05:03:22   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see I used to have the same opinion, but it seems that batteries are not of the same quality as they used to be, even though the prices have gone through the roof. I have 2 of the Schumakers and use them. They are a whole bunch less costly than a new battery. I haven't needed to replace a battery since buying and using the maintainers. [Reply]  [No Email]
Phil Tibbetts 02-20-2013 16:12:25 208.93.14.38 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to MisterT, 02-20-2013 06:46:16   I can't agree on battery quality. I remember when you were lucky to get 3 years out of a battery. I have a 2004 JD and a 2004 Kubota and they both still have the original battery in them. Same thing with car batteries, they last a lot longer. A good battery has a 84 month warranty and 3 years free replacement. [Reply]  [No Email]
CNKS 02-20-2013 18:45:37 216.144.104.128 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to Phil Tibbetts, 02-20-2013 16:12:25   I ran the original battery in my 2002 Grand Cherokee for about 7-8 years if I remember correctly, 2005 GMC pickup for 6 or 7. However I have mostly 6V on the tractors, they don't last more than a couple of years, longer if I want to jump start them every time. Going to see what I get with the maintainers. [Reply]  [No Email]
IH fan 02-20-2013 17:06:21 108.238.231.63 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to Phil Tibbetts, 02-20-2013 16:12:25   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see I'm not sure about today's quality... my wifes car, '05 (build date in April) Lincoln LS with 53K is on it's 3rd "quality" battery. [Reply]  [No Email]
Phil Tibbetts 02-20-2013 17:56:43 208.93.14.38 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to IH fan, 02-20-2013 17:06:21   May be a problem with the electrical system. I remember back in the 60s I bought a new Pontiac and went through 3 batteries in a bout 6 months. That is when they first came out with idiot lights. I put in a regular amp gauge and noticed that the meter was jumping all over the place. With my brother in law's mechanical skill he found the ground wire from the engine to firewall was loose. Tightened it up and problem solved. [Reply]  [No Email]
Jon Hagen 02-20-2013 16:52:03 69.26.17.61 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to Phil Tibbetts, 02-20-2013 16:12:25   I think a big part of longer battery life is the much superior alternators with solid state regulators. The batteries no longer have to deal with over / under charging and deep cycling that is so common with a generator with an inaccurate mechanical regulator or no regulator at all. [Reply]  [No Email]
mkirsch 02-20-2013 05:01:46 64.80.110.74 Report to Moderator	Re: Trickle chargers, batteryminders? in reply to leon, 02-20-2013 03:21:51   If the product actually works as advertised, desulfation is actually beneficial to the battery. I just use the $20 Shumacher automatic battery maintainers. Good for 6V or 12V. Tractors always start right up. [Reply]  [No Email]