Thread: Automatic Battery Charger at Aldi

Originally Posted by isuzu110

Hi Ron

I'd like to put one on my camper trailer battery, but don't want to leave it on 24x7, put it on a 240V timer to run for say 1-2 hours a day.

If the unit gets 240V, will it start charging straight away or do you have to hit some start type button for it to start charging ? I'm looking for something that does not need manual intervention everytime it starts up.

There is an issue with this idea, I'ts actually better to trickle charge (hold battery at a fixed "float" voltage) than it is to start a 3 stage charge cycle every day, as during the charge cycle the "bulk" and "absorbtion" part of the cycle, the battery voltage is actually above what you need to keep the battery fully charged, and you are really just overcharging it for that time.
with wet cells, it just uses water and produces gas, in AGM and Gel cells it can contribute to the early demise of the battery.

The recommended float voltage varies with battery type and manufacturer.
but generally 13.8 is okay however some go as high as 14.1 (that's the highest I've actually seen)

Cheers,
Fraser

Originally Posted by p38arover

Bugger. I should have known someone would ask!

It'll be up shortly.

Had to be me eh?

;-)

It had to be yoooouuuuuu!

Thanks Ron, sounds good for the camper over winter.
I wouldn't have seen it otherwise.

Cheers,
Fraser

Originally Posted by fraser130

There is an issue with this idea, I'ts actually better to trickle charge (hold battery at a fixed "float" voltage) than it is to start a 3 stage charge cycle every day.

;-)

Yes, I take your point, except that I'm not convinced it is a 3 stage charger. From reading the manual, it appears that 'pulse' charging only occurs below 10.5V otherwise it just trickle charges. In my thinking, 3.6A is not really bulk charging if the battery is like mine at about 100AH.

Yes, I could leave it on 24x7, but my last experience with another trickle charging boiled off a enough electrolyte in the first month to kill the battery. I'm more cautious now.

This is probably a good unit, but I probably will not consider it as it needs someone to press the button to start it.

bought one just on the fact that its listed as 3.8A on the box has a battery voltage indicator on it and is cheaper than the cheapest dumb as a post charger from supercheap.

also bought the inhex/torqz bit set, screwdriver set (I like the feel of the handles on them) and 2 bundles of the zipties.

I've just been and splashed out on one of these as well, it doesn't look too bad at all.

Have to wait until this evening to get home and try it out - if you hear of an explosion and a large smoking crater in the Jindalee area - don't buy one!

Originally Posted by isuzu110

Yes, I take your point, except that I'm not convinced it is a 3 stage charger. From reading the manual, it appears that 'pulse' charging only occurs below 10.5V otherwise it just trickle charges. In my thinking, 3.6A is not really bulk charging if the battery is like mine at about 100AH.

Yes, I could leave it on 24x7, but my last experience with another trickle charging boiled off a enough electrolyte in the first month to kill the battery. I'm more cautious now.

This is probably a good unit, but I probably will not consider it as it needs someone to press the button to start it.

I'm with you, it's all about the voltage it's floated at, your otherone must have been too high.

Fraser

It would appear that this is not happening in Victoria, my local Aldi didn't have any :-(

Fraser