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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Battery Charger Recommendations

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Ohiohills

08-22-2007 15:06:39




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I had an older Schurer (spelling may be screwed up!) that I recently killed - a result of my abuse of the poor machine. I spend $75 for a new Century charger that lasted for a total of 6 uses - then it died. I don"t think that I did anything to kill it, it just gave up the ghost!! What a POS!!

So ... what are your recommendations for a replacement that will give decent service? I"d like an automatic charger, portable (shoebox size, more or less) that will charge 6v and 12v batteries and provide some level of starting capability (maybe about 70-100amps).

Use will be mostly for my old 6v tractor batteries and occasional 12v use on car and pickup.

Thanks in advance, John

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CRUSADER

08-28-2007 18:57:31




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 Re: Battery Charger Recommendations in reply to Ohiohills, 08-22-2007 15:06:39  
I know that opinions are something everyone has. We've used the Craftman chargers over the years, but if your looking for one and have a few extra dollars to spend my vote would either be for a Schauer or Schumacher. Another good choice would be to look at your NAPA Auto Parts Store and see what the selection of NAPA chargers they have. I don't know who makes them anymore but when I was working in the garages many years ago they seemed to hold up for us the best. (I think back then they were made by Schauer)

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Bob - MI

08-24-2007 17:31:02




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 Re: Battery Charger Recommendations in reply to Ohiohills, 08-22-2007 15:06:39  
I have a Schumacher and a Craftsman. The Schumacher is about 15~20 years old and has a dial to set the charge time with. It"s a 12V 2/10/50 amp unit and has automatic drop off as the battery comes up. It is heavy and made of metal. works great and is my first choice.

The Craftsman is a newer fancy automatic plastic unit that is 6/12V/deep cycle and is also 2/10/60 amp (got a good deal on a close-out $35.00). It will do a good job on the 6V tractor battery but it is finicky and seems to be kicking off and on a lot when I am using it on 12V. I only bought this because of the 6V capability. I really wouldn"t be able to use this as my only charger.

All I can say is to look around. TSC and some of the auto stores may have what you are looking for.

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John in Ct

08-23-2007 16:02:10




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 Re: Battery Charger Recommendations in reply to Ohiohills, 08-22-2007 15:06:39  
I killed my old charger a few years ago by hitting the cable to a running spark plug. I bought a new Snap-On. My friend had one for many years using it all the time in a shop and it never let him down. I like it a lot. I am sure it is made by another company but don't know who. It will charge all types of batteries with no problem. I hardly use it but when I need to charge a battery it gets it done with no problem.

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Vern-MI

08-23-2007 05:13:38




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 Re: Battery Charger Recommendations in reply to Ohiohills, 08-22-2007 15:06:39  
Try this reading from Japlar Schauer for more info.



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jack12345

08-22-2007 20:33:14




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 Re: Battery Charger Recommendations in reply to Ohiohills, 08-22-2007 15:06:39  
Your old one maybe repaired if the transformer is still good just replace diodes. easy job once you get diodes. check output of transformer with volt meter.



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Bob

08-22-2007 19:31:25




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 Chinese in reply to Ohiohills, 08-22-2007 15:06:39  
That sad thing is that 'most ANY new charger you will find today is from "the land of ALMOST right".

I don't know if ANY brand is US-made anymore.



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Ohiohills

08-22-2007 19:40:37




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 Any Experience with Dayton in reply to Bob, 08-22-2007 19:31:25  
Bob, That is really a depressing observation. I hope there is still some US company out there that makes their own product here at home. But you are correct that the new Century that failed was made in China!!

I see that WR Grainger sells the Dayton brand - anyone have experience with Dayton chargers?



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Charles (in GA)

08-22-2007 18:41:36




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 Re: Battery Charger Recommendations in reply to Ohiohills, 08-22-2007 15:06:39  
Its a shame you messed up the old one, I have one of that brand (Schauer) about 35 years old, a 4 amp, but it charges batteries better than any other charger I have. I have a 10 amp 6/12v manual Schumacher and a 10 amp 12/24v automatic Schumacher and I really don't like the automatic, spends too much time kicking off and on. The ten amp manual seems to take longer to top a battery than the old 4 amp does, I don't know why, but I reach for the 4 amp every time.

Charles

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JT

08-22-2007 16:48:29




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 Re: Battery Charger Recommendations in reply to Ohiohills, 08-22-2007 15:06:39  
Schumacher all the way, we use them every day and they are far the best we have ever found



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oldrustycars

08-22-2007 15:51:24




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 Re: Battery Charger Recommendations in reply to Ohiohills, 08-22-2007 15:06:39  
Schumacher makes an excellent unit. I have one...its been dropped, hood slammed on it, rained on, still going strong after 6 years.



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dan hill

08-23-2007 04:06:32




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 Re: Battery Charger Recommendations in reply to oldrustycars, 08-22-2007 15:51:24  
Beware of new chargers that dont have a transformer in them.They are light weight, have a lot of led lights and shut off automaticly.Friend bought one, complained it didnt charge his battery.I tried it on my sawmill battery.After it shut down I checked the battery with my hydrometer.It was 1/2 charged,took 4 more hours with a 4 amp charger to test full charge.His new charger was made in China.It was one of the above mentioned brand names.Avoid any charger the says automatic on it.The old chargers dropped to 2 amps when the battery reached full charge.I repair chargers and suggest you pass on any new charger that has multi colored blinking led lights.Brand names mean little now, if its made in China dont buy it.You will be better off keeping old chargers repaired.I still use a charger I bought in 1960.

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