What's a decent battery charger?

We use a small charger for everything. I charge the rhino with it, and the hauler batts. I can charge the hauler with it while the genny runs, including the on board charger, effectively using two sources. I've had to charge the trucks dual 1000amp batts, but that was tough on it, heated up A lot but still works.

Cydog15 wrote:
Do you want a converter charger or a battery charger. I've burned up a couple Shumackers and don't recommend them but there are some good ones out there like the Intellipower units. Bestconverter has them and they do well but I'd also look at the Boondocker chargers unless you are strictly looking for a battery charger not for continuous duty. Looking again at your post you might be in the Walmart range if that is all you are looking for. I love Harbor Freight but won't buy ANYTHING that plugs into an outlet for power.

Op here...I want a battery charger that I can use around house for cars and rv's. Not pay a fortune and have it last for years. Tossed my old Sears Robuck couple years ago because I fried to many batteries. It was so old it didn't turn off after it full charged a battery. Think I got it in the 70's. What I did have of Harbor freight was 10/2/50 amp 12 volt. But some parts of it will come in handy though. Reason battery was down in first place was because I was installing a gauge in tow vehicle. The door was open most of day. But now I have enough wire to complete install. Certainly the 120 a/c Harbor freight wire can hold up to 5 DC amps? but maybe not:)

Mex, the Vector is out of business and the ones made by Black and Decker are hard to find anymore too.

They and other chargers normally shut down when they get the battery to about 97% ("Automatic" charger) How long that takes depends of course on the size of the battery in AH and the charging amps size of the charger.

To get from 97% to 100% you need a different sort of charger that stays on past that 97% like a converter does (except note that they mostly drop to a Float voltage before reaching 100%, and get to the 100 sometime later while on Float.

If you want to remain at Vabs till you get to 100% and then drop to Float, you need an adjustable voltage power supply type of charger.

Battery charger. I disassembled a MooSchmucker 10-amp and just about gagged. Two flat sheet aluminum plates, right? Spring tension smacking them together. Sandwiched in between were a pair of 25 amp button diodes. Aluminum to tin copper pressure fit. Absolutely ignorant.

Pretty obvious the poster wants a battery charger. All the PWM solid state chargers I see are inoperable plastic scrap. I believe BFL13 recommends a Vector brand. Can a Vector bring a battery 100% charged in 4-hours?

For a maintainer I recommend Battery Minder 1.5 amp with temperature compensation.

http://www.batteryminders.com/12-volt-maintenance-charger-desfulator-1500

If you expect reasonably fast charging of an RV size battery you really need 10 to 40 amps. 5 amps minimum.

Do you want a converter charger or a battery charger. I've burned up a couple Shumackers and don't recommend them but there are some good ones out there like the Intellipower units. Bestconverter has them and they do well but I'd also look at the Boondocker chargers unless you are strictly looking for a battery charger not for continuous duty. Looking again at your post you might be in the Walmart range if that is all you are looking for. I love Harbor Freight but won't buy ANYTHING that plugs into an outlet for power.