According to Battery university... "Not all chargers feature equalizing charge. If not available, the service should be performed with a dedicated device".Question... So what "dedicated device" performs a equalizing charge?I bought a Schumacher model #sc11 "automatic battery charger". Manual says zero about "equalizing" charge.My old battery charger still works but does not shut off when battery is fully charged. That was reason for buying new battery charger, old charger kept charging until all water boiled out. Can I use my old charger and just disconnect when battery level gets around 15 or so? (My elec level is about 2 out of 10, so please use elec words/terms a lay man can understand)

Sure, but what will you do with the new charger?

Your old charger will probably work unless it is just a 2 amp trickle charger. It needs some oomph to get a deep cycle battery up to equalizing levels.The old one is a "manual" charger, which you must turn off instead of an "automatic" charger, which shuts itself off when the battery reaches a certain voltage, say 14.4v.First--make sure the fluid level is just below the split rings or else it will rise to overflow when you get the battery charged up and overcharging. It will rise but should not overflow. if too high to start, suck some out with your hydrometer.Use the new charger to get the battery "full" (according to the charger--which is really about 97% full with most of those kind) Then put the manual charger on the job and let the voltage rise to 16ish volts. You should spot check the SG with your hydrometer. Once the SG stops rising you are done. The charger will likely "stall out" in the 16s or at least slow down in voltage rise a lot, so you can let it keep going for a time there, but stop if it tries to keep climbing.If the electrolyte overflows right away or the voltage rises to 16 right away, then the battery might be sulfated too much. It should take a little time for the voltage to rise from 14.4 to 16.

What is the voltage on the new charger ? If it finishes at anything above14.4, its all you need,....depending on who ya believe.

2oldman wrote:Sure, but what will you do with the new charger?To late to take back. And new charger only charges up to 12.05 volts then shuts off. Kind of disappointed in it.

Equalizing charge ...help | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
May 04, 2017
Yes.
From 12 - 16 volts that bulb limits current. It would overamp at 20 volts zmd blow up and of course would not work at all 10 - 14 volts but your MANUAL charger will work fine. Set it to 50 amps boost if it has that feature.

Trust this. It works. It works light years better thsn its closest competition. Just shut it down when battery voltage reaches 16.0
Joel_T
Explorer
May 04, 2017
Mex, reading that just once doesn't work for my small mind. I'll try a few more times but for now...can you expand on what this means. "The light bulb is an AMPERAGE REGULATOR."
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
May 04, 2017
Measure manual charger voltage disconnected. Can the charger put out more than 5 amps? Is it a ten amp charger? Good.

Go to hardware store. Buy old fashioned ceramic base for screw in light bulb.

Buy 10 feet of #14 wire

Next go to NAPA parts store

Ask counterman for FIFTY WATT 12 VOLT BULB FOR DROP LIGHT.

Return home

Connect NEGATIVE charger clip direct to battery.

Cut new wire in two.

Strip all 4 ends 1"

Turn lamp base over

Connect one wire to one screw terminal

Connect 2nd wire to other terminal

Connect battery charger to one or the other wire stripped ends

You have one unoccupied wire end left

Connect it to the battery positive terminal.

Screw in the 12 volt light bulb into the base

Plug in the charger and set it on HIGH. Even if it has a 50 amp boost circuit set the charger on HIGH.

The light bulb is an AMPERAGE REGULATOR. Absolutely vital.

Congratulations. You know have a battery equalizing circuit far superior to anything on the market.

Allow voltage to slowly climb to 16.0 then shut off charger and let the battery soak it up for a half hour.

The almost 5 amp rate works perfect for a 100 amp hour battery.

No true battery engineer would dare challenge this methedology.

I just hope you have a 10 amp charger.

Bigger is better. This would work perfect with a 200 amp manual charger.

The charger CAN NOT BE A SMART CHARGER. They are too stupid to do this.
time2roll
Nomad
May 03, 2017
Lab DC adjustable power supply $30

Set for 16.5 volts and 1 amp per battery and let it rip.
path1
Explorer
May 03, 2017
2oldman wrote:
path1 wrote:
And new charger only charges up to 12.05 volts then shuts off. Kind of disappointed in it.
Kind of? It's defective.

I'm hell on chargers I guess. Here is post I started in Oct last year. Guess I'm still on square one. Might be cheaper for me to just buy new batteries than chargers at this point.:)

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29062621/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1
path1
Explorer
May 03, 2017
.
path1
Explorer
May 03, 2017
time2roll wrote:
Use your solar :B

I've got solar on right now. Problem is 5 watts doesn't go very far.:B My 8" by 10" panel can't be removed, it's keeping my cracked a/c cover together.
2oldman
Explorer II
May 03, 2017
path1 wrote:
And new charger only charges up to 12.05 volts then shuts off. Kind of disappointed in it.
Kind of? It's defective.
path1
Explorer
May 03, 2017
BFL13

Thanks very informative. I'll try that.
time2roll
Nomad
May 03, 2017
Use your solar :B