I've had about every version of battery charger known to man (at least, within my budget). That, because besides having many diesel trucks and tractors with many batteries laying around, I also have two properties with solar electric systems and large battery-banks. Batteries in solar battery-banks are expensive and usually, high end.
My Outback and my Trace battery chargers have many features. You set them up for - total AH size, regardless if one battery or twenty. Type of battery (flooded lead acid conventional, flooded lead acid deep cycle, AGM, NiCad, etc. ). Type of charge - float, bulk, equalize, etc. They also hav thermometers that get attached to the battery to monitor temperature.
I've got two chargers with pulse-width modulation, and a two others with a simple "equalization" mode which is intended to do the same thing in a different way.
I've got high-end chargers, and cheap ones made by Shumaker, Harbor Freight Chinese, Marquette, Snap On, Iota, etc.
From what I've seen - if a battery is bad it's bad, period. If however, it's just sulfated, I don't see any difference between a cheap or high-end charger.
The only big difference I've come across in battery charger performace is - some need perfect AC current to work, and some don't. With that, there is a huge difference. You'll find out if you ever have to plug a battery charger into a portable generator. Most portable generators will not run most shop-type battery chargers. That's where the better, electronic chargers work much better. Iota is one version (I have three - a 12 volt, 24 volt, and a 48 volt model.). Even better is the Trace/Xantrex True-Charge model.
If you just want a charger for routine battery charger - and all you use is grid-power for your AC input - I'd stick with something simple and reliable.
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Today's Featured Article - My Ford Golden Jubilee - by Troy Estes. This article is about my '53 Ford Jubilee and a story that starts with taking the tractor to my brother's Starter/Alternator Rebuilding shop for a wiring fix. The generator was shot as well as all the wiring. I dropped off the tractor expecting a transformation from a 6 volt to a 12 volt system utilizing the original generator housing, and a total rewiring of the whole tractor. The front end center pin bushing was worn also so I ask that they replace it if they had time. Well, that’s wha
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