Thread: Basic 12v Battery Charger - Confused

As has been said many of the so called "smart" chargers won't look at a dead flat battery including Ctek's, I have two of them ;-)).
Find an old transformer based charger at garage sales, etc and it will serve you well for many years including charging FLAT batteries that the newer chargers refuse to do.
Picked up an old Projecta 2 amp job yeatserday for a mate for the princely sum of $2!
I've got an old Arlec transformer based charger that pumps out 7 amps, approaching 40 y/o and still going strong. Remember though the old chargers can't be left on a battery indefinately, YOU must monitor voltage and charge levels!

I use a Projecta 7 stage I bought for about $150 some time ago. The camper has a 3 stage cheapie that does the job.

If a battery is so flat the charger won't recognise it I put it on a 15 watt solar panel and leave it for a few weeks.

An AGM that was flat has had 2 months on the panel and now seems to be holding 13 volts, but I havent tried putting a load on it yet, so we'll see what happens.

Using solar means it is agitated during the day and rests at night, which is a good pattern, as Drivesafe points out. Its similar to what happens to vehicle batteries, which get charged when the engine is running and then get a rest.


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I've had the same 7 amp Projecta for a few years. It's been good. However the neighbour has the bigger amp version and he reckons it fries his batteries and now refuses to use it.