Automatic Battery Float Charger - $3.99
10-02-2010, 11:46 PM
#1
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Automatic Battery Float Charger - $3.99
Winter (storage) is just around the corner.
Can anyone confirm that the following charger will work on our cars? How do one find out whether the Vette uses an AGM battery?
Can anyone confirm that the following charger will work on our cars? How do one find out whether the Vette uses an AGM battery?
10-03-2010, 03:49 AM
#4
Safety Car
Winter (storage) is just around the corner.
Can anyone confirm that the following charger will work on our cars? How do one find out whether the Vette uses an AGM battery?
Can anyone confirm that the following charger will work on our cars? How do one find out whether the Vette uses an AGM battery?
10-03-2010, 07:46 AM
#5
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
it's good to hear that it works on cars because I would have thought the pic shows it working on motorcycles. my schumacher is larger, and about 20 from advance or autoz, can't recall which. I would think one that works for cars would work for the smaller motorcycle's battery, but not vice versa. guess I'm wrong.
10-03-2010, 08:03 AM
#6
Safety Car
I have several, for the Vette, Lawn tractor, and my golf cart. I have used them for several years and they do the job. No, the Vette does not have a AGM battery, it uses the standard design lead acid battery.It is not too small (current capacity) as it is not made to charge a dead battery (it will given a day or two) but to maintain a charged battery which it does very well. The ones I use (Harbor Freight for $3.99 when on sale) have a similar current rating as the Battery Tender model. If you feel more comfortable spending 8 or 10 times the money, go for it.
10-03-2010, 09:52 AM
#7
Team Owner
Same here. I have four of them, one for the 09 Z06 during the winter, one for the 56 year round, one for the 64 year round, and the last one for the mower. Been using the Harbor Freight units for 9+ years and they have done the job, well. Never had a dead battery.
10-03-2010, 10:41 AM
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
it's nice to be so gently corrected.
mine's only 5 times more expensive. and what a clunker it is. 
mine's only 5 times more expensive. and what a clunker it is.
10-03-2010, 10:59 AM
#9
Melting Slicks
It indicates its a Smart charger (goes to float charge current to prevent over charging) and good for all type vehicles with 12v systems. We don't have AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat.) batteries. So your good to go and can't go wrong for $3.99
10-03-2010, 11:15 AM
#10
Team Owner
As long as it is capable of putting out more current than the Corvette draws from the battery during storage, then it is of adequate size. The problem with this one is that it breaks the forum rule of spending as much as possible, not as little as possible.
10-03-2010, 11:35 AM
#11
Melting Slicks
I had one that looked like that that I bought from none other than Harbor Freight. The thing charged allright but would not shut itself off. Pitched it and got a unit made by Schummacker unit at WalMart. 
10-03-2010, 11:40 AM
#12
Safety Car
How did you know it didn't shut off? The Harbor Freight units have a red light that is always on (at least the ones I have) which is the one negative as you can't tell when the battery is full charged and the charger in the float mode.
10-03-2010, 11:45 AM
#13
Safety Car
10-03-2010, 01:26 PM
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
10-03-2010, 03:06 PM
#15
Burning Brakes
The problem with a tender/maintainer is a fault in the circuitry could cause the float voltage to go above 13.8v without you knowing it. This would cause the battery to gas and over time expose the plates and ruin it. Depending on the voltage this could happen in a few weeks. The only way to be sure is to check the voltage with an accurate meter. (You cannot check this by using the voltmeter on the dash or the DIC.)
Most manufacturers cover themselves by stating their unit can be left on a battery indefinitely but s**t happens so check it regularly.
I personally had this happen to me. It was with one of the "cheap" units but thats not to say it couldn't happen with an expensive Battery Tender or Ctek brand.
Most manufacturers cover themselves by stating their unit can be left on a battery indefinitely but s**t happens so check it regularly.
I personally had this happen to me. It was with one of the "cheap" units but thats not to say it couldn't happen with an expensive Battery Tender or Ctek brand.
10-03-2010, 03:17 PM
#16
Burning Brakes
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I have one battery tender and four Schummackers I bought at Wally World. They all work great. Personally I prefer having a charger that shows me when it's charging and when it's in "float" mode, but that's just me. To each his own. 
10-03-2010, 10:18 PM
#18
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My Dad uses these on his 1964 Mustang and 1985 Thunderbird --- they work just fine. For some reason he does not use a float charger on his 1956 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria.
10-04-2010, 09:18 PM
#20
Melting Slicks
I had it hooked to a wet aircraft battery. It boiled the crap out of it, so much that the acid boiled right out the top vents - it never quit no matter what the voltage was. Trashed it and got a decent unit that's worked well for 2 years.