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Hunter74
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Topic: Looking for the best battery charger Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 9:56am |
I am running dual 6V Interstate Deep Cycle Extreme Batteries in my 183G. GC2-XHD-UTL 122mins @ 75 amps and 232 ah <--I have no idea what any of this means.
I originally was going to use a NOCO G3500 charger on each battery. But the AH on that only says for batteries up to 120AH. So then I was going to keep them connected in series to the NOCO G7200 but it is listed at only 230 AH. Does the extra 2 AH on the battery makes a difference.
I was also looking into the Deltran Battery Tender Junior 6V 1.25 amp high efficiency charger. NBut it doesn't list an AH rating for the charger. I keep the trailer in a storage place so plugging in is not an option, I have to bring the batteries home to charge.
I have no idea about amps or AH or anything like that, I have tried to google and understand but it seems to go straight over my head.
So I am asking for help in what is a good charger or one that i can leave plugged in so the batteries are already to go everytime I need them
thanks
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Hunter74
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Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 10:24am |
Or is it good for the batteries if I just plug them in before I go camping to top them off, or charge them up once a month or so during winter season while in storage. Then could I use this charger from Costco The Schumacher 15A speed charger
http://www.costco.ca/Schumacher-15-A-SpeedCharge-Marine-Battery-Charger.product.100041455.html
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furpod
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Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 10:50am |
No issue directly with that charger. I would hook them up every 45-60 days, leave them on for a day or so.
Understand, if you are using 6v's, you will need to have them wired in series, in the garage, when you use this charger. It is a 12v charger. It needs to be hooked up to a "12v battery"..
Also, if your batteries are "dead", your 6v deep cycle batteries are going to need +200aH of charge. At 15A max charge, and knowing that once they reach 80% SOC they are going to slow their charging rate dramatically, it will take 36-48 hours or so to reach 100% SOC.
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Hunter74
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Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 10:57am |
You are refering to the Schumacher charger?
Charging with this one every 60 days or so (when in storage?) and what about if I go camping for a weekend and when I get home they are at say 60% charge, it doesn't do harm to the battery to charge them up to go camping again the next weekend? And yes that is one thing I actually understand is the need to charge in series cause they are two 6 volts. lol
And also to clairify your estimate of 36 to 48 hours is when/if the batteries are completely dead?
Thanks for your help
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furpod
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Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 11:12am |
Originally posted by Hunter74
You are refering to the Schumacher charger?
Charging with this one every 60 days or so (when in storage?) and what about if I go camping for a weekend and when I get home they are at say 60% charge, it doesn't do harm to the battery to charge them up to go camping again the next weekend? And yes that is one thing I actually understand is the need to charge in series cause they are two 6 volts. lol
And also to clairify your estimate of 36 to 48 hours is when/if the batteries are completely dead?
Thanks for your help
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Sorry, yes the Schumacher. If the batteries are in storage, not under any load, then charging every 60 days or so will be fine. Charging from a partially discharged state won't hurt a thing. and yes, when completely dead, they will take a long time. BTW, dragging a pair of GC-2's in and out of the truck and hooking unhooking is going to get old fast.
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john in idaho
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Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 11:19am |
Some of the trickle chargers can be left hooked up for extended periods of time. You need to get a digital volt meter and check your batteries yourself. A fully charged 6v batt will be around 6.3 v. and a 12 v - 12.6v. I have a couple of trickle careers that can be set for 6v or 12v and some of my old cars have 6v systems. Been using them for years. Beware of the battery that reads 12.0v or 6.0v - it is almost toast. And keep the water topped up.
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Hunter74
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Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 11:20am |
Originally posted by furpod
Sorry, yes the Schumacher. If the batteries are in storage, not under any load, then charging every 60 days or so will be fine.
Charging from a partially discharged state won't hurt a thing.
and yes, when completely dead, they will take a long time.
BTW, dragging a pair of GC-2's in and out of the truck and hooking unhooking is going to get old fast.
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It will get old fast, but as I live in a townhouse complex I do not have storage at my place, so my only option is a storage lot. I guess its a sacrifice I have to make to camp in style lol Thanks again for your help.
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Hunter74
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Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 11:36am |
Originally posted by john in idaho
Some of the trickle chargers can be left hooked up for extended periods of time. You need to get a digital volt meter and check your batteries yourself. A fully charged 6v batt will be around 6.3 v. and a 12 v - 12.6v. I have a couple of trickle careers that can be set for 6v or 12v and some of my old cars have 6v systems. Been using them for years. Beware of the battery that reads 12.0v or 6.0v - it is almost toast.And keep the water topped up. |
Thanks for the help. I will keep the water topped up. I was also looking at the Deltran Battery tender as they have a 6volt one. http://www.batterytender.com/Chargers/Battery-Tender-Junior-6V-1-25A-High-Efficiency.html But I assume being 1.25 amps this is only good if they battery is almost fully charged? As according to my math (which isn't the best lol) if would take 186 hours charge my battery? (232 AH at 1.25amps) So basically for camping season I should have a charger with about 15amp charge to charge them to go camping, and then in the winter storage season have this Battery Tender to keep them charged and ready to go? thanks Just read up on the Battery Tender, it says even though its 1.25 amps it charges at a rate of a 3 amp charger (so then more math 232ah / 3 amps) it should take this charger around 77 hours to charge?
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Hunter74
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Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 11:54am |
I do have another question if it isn't much trouble explaining to this "rookie" But why do some chargers list AH and a lot from what i can see do not. for instance the Noco G3500 I was going to use cause it does 6V. But it says for batteries only up to 120 AH so I returned it. then was going to charge them in series with the Noco G7200 but it has a rating of up to 230 AH batteries. Where my batteries says they are 232 AH (Does this make a difference) Wondering why NOCO lists AH on their chargers while others do not.
Thanks again
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CharlieM
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Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 1:54pm |
No clue what they're saying. With reason any charger will charge any size battery. A too small charger will take a longer time; a too large charger will take more careful monitoring. The 7.2A charger should work for the dual 6V golfers, but it will take a while if seriously discharged.
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Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
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