The last ten years I'v only had to buy 2 batteries for 8 different vehicles/garden tractors/motorcycles. I've learned to slowly charge each one to a trickle charger every couple of months to get each one fully charged. I've had to use battery packs a few times for the diesels to get started, or where I've left keys on, but I haven't used my regular fast charger in years. It may have been a sales gimmick at the time I bought my trickle charger, but they said fast chargers would kill a battery faster than a trickle charger. I need to start looking for a newer advanced trickle charger.
Anyone got suggestions on the new ones?
Sorry if this took a right turn from your post.
NOCO Genius. .75 W. I must have ten of them and keep them on everything that's not running. Including my '53 Farmall Cub that's 6 V positive ground.
And for the record, I like my Odyssey I got for my EB.
My understanding is that they also require either a trick alternator regulator or a DC-DC charger, either of which isn't particularly cheap.With all this talk about Batteries. Has anyone converted to the iron/lithium. Lots of choices out there and the batteries have much more amp hours per size than lead acid. No, I have not done any research. I bet the cost will be a drawback?
PaulW
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My understanding is that they also require either a trick alternator regulator or a DC-DC charger, either of which isn't particularly cheap.
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Refering to Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4)
I am not smart about these things, but they are going into off road race rigs with stock charging systems.
Quoting from https://www.powerstream.com/LLLF.htm
A LiFePO4 battery can be safely overcharged to 4.2 volts per cell, but higher voltages will start to break down the organic electrolytes. Nevertheless, it is common to charge a 12 volt a 4-cell series pack with a lead acid battery charger. The maximum voltage of these chargers, whether AC powered, or using a car's alternator, is 14.4 volts. This works fine, but lead acid chargers will lower their voltage to 13.8 volts for the float charge, and so will usually terminate before the LiFe pack is at 100%. For this reason a special LiFe charger is required to reliably get to 100% capacity.
PaulW
Pulse Technology reverses sulfate crystal buildup on the battery plates extending battery power and life up to 3 times.
Interstate makes Walmart batteries
Johnson controls make them both.