Can a 1 amp charger overcharge a battery?

[skip]

My battery died and I bought a new one. I have it hooked up to a 1 amp charger. I don't have a battery tender. Can I ruin or overcharge the battery by leaving it hooked up to the 1 amp charger while it sits in the garage waiting for the next ride during the winter? I ride about once a month during the winter.

 

[spyug]

Yes i believe so. If the device does not self regulate ( like the Battery Tender) it can boil the fluid right out of the battery as it is continually pushing a charge to the battery. With this type, you need to charge for 5 to 6 hours max then let the battery sit for a few weeks then repeat.

Depending on the manufacturer, these types of chargers can also be a safety hazard as they can over heat and cause a fire. It almost happened to me but luckily the charger self destructed before bursting into flame.

Just be careful with it and it should be fine.

Cheers,
Spyug.

 

[nert]

I would just charge it once a month for a couple hours. Continuous charging can ruin a good battery.

 

[Griffin]

My batteries sit in my utility room over the winter. I also have a constant 1 amp charger. The way I tend them is to check voltage on them every week or so until the indicated voltage trickles down to 12.4v, then I charge for a few hours until voltage is back up to 13.3v with the charger removed. Then I just let them sit until indicated voltage trickles back down to 12.4v, which usually takes about three or four weeks.

 

[Grandpa]

Just stop being such a cheapskate and get yourself a Battery Tender, and stop worrying so much.

 

[Guest]

The instructions with my battery said to charge it at not more than 1/2 ampere. I actually used a "wall wart" that ran at about 150 mA and let it run for a couple of days. It worked fine.

 

[nert]

My batteries sit in my utility room over the winter. I also have a constant 1 amp charger. The way I tend them is to check voltage on them every week or so until the indicated voltage trickles down to 12.4v, then I charge for a few hours until voltage is back up to 13.3v with the charger removed. Then I just let them sit until indicated voltage trickles back down to 12.4v, which usually takes about three or four weeks.

i love you vigilance. you the man. you got it right!! don't let em talk ya out of it.

 

[jay66]

You can try harborfreight.com I picked up 2 automatic float chargers from them this fall for $4.99 each. So far they are working great. They have been running since Nov and the price is hard to beat.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42292

 

[Buddy]

Lamp timer

Lamp timer

Got a lamp timer? I used one on model airplanes with good results. Set it to come on for one hour a day, Hope that helps.
See Ya,
Buddy

 

[Eli69]

hey skip, i am living proof that a one amp charger can ruin a battery (or two). i had planned on charging my batteries an hour or two every couple weeks but then i forgot about them and left them plugged in for a couple days. yes, i wasn't happy frying one and went ahead and fried the other also. so, i bought a battery tender. if you can remember that you have to unhook them the charger's probably fine. i'm not wired that way i guess.

 

[Steve]

You can try harborfreight.com I picked up 2 automatic float chargers from them this fall for $4.99 each. So far they are working great. They have been running since Nov and the price is hard to beat.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42292

Another good choice is the Schumacher charger/maintainer available at Wal-Mart. I saw one there just a couple of nights ago for $18.44. I have one of them and two more just like it, but they have Die Hard labels from Sears on their faces. All are working well. \\/


.

 

[Guest]

Another good choice is the Schumacher charger/maintainer available at Wal-Mart. I saw one there just a couple of nights ago for $18.44. I have one of them and two more just like it, but they have Die Hard labels from Sears on their faces. All are working well. \\/.

I have that same wal-mart charger, bought for under $20. Working great so far!

 

[skip]

Just stop being such a cheapskate and get yourself a Battery Tender, and stop worrying so much.

Unfortunatly money is tight and I have to pick and choose what I spend mine on. I just bought a battery and that is my bike allowance for a while. I still need some other stuff for the bike that is a higher prority like a clutch. I will be happy to except donations from worry free big spenders like yourself Crampa

 

[bakalorz]

Got a lamp timer? I used one on model airplanes with good results. Set it to come on for one hour a day, Hope that helps.
See Ya,
Buddy

This will work if the charger is isolated. (uses a diode)
Some chargers (the harbor freight cheapy for example) don't use a diode, and will discharge the battery if connected to the battery and not to power.

 

[bakalorz]

My battery died and I bought a new one. I have it hooked up to a 1 amp charger. I don't have a battery tender. Can I ruin or overcharge the battery by leaving it hooked up to the 1 amp charger while it sits in the garage waiting for the next ride during the winter? I ride about once a month during the winter.

Unregulated trickle chargers WILL kill a battery.

There are 2 acceptable ways to store a battery.

1) Fully charge it, and then put it on a float charger which provides a regulated float voltage (like the battery tender)

2) Fully charge it, and then top up the charge every month or two.

Riding for half an hour or more counts as topping up the charge \\/

If you don't ride for more than 2 months, then put it on the charger for a couple of hours, and then disconnect it for 2 more months.

 

[Guest]

Being called a cheapskate by Grandpa was his way to shame you into getting a tender. :-D

 

[Grandpa]

Being called a cheapskate by Grandpa was his way to shame you into getting a tender. :-D

Exactly, Chef. If Skip wants to keep a battery charged in a worry-free manner, he should stop moaning and get himself a Battery Tender or equivalent.

 

[Grandpa]

Unfortunatly money is tight and I have to pick and choose what I spend mine on. I just bought a battery and that is my bike allowance for a while. I still need some other stuff for the bike that is a higher prority like a clutch. I will be happy to except donations from worry free big spenders like yourself Crampa

No, thanks, Skip.

Worry-free, big spender, Battery Tender owner Grandpa

 

[bubba]

Bought a Black & Decker trickle charger at Wally World for less than $20 and it shuts off when the battery is fully charged. It has worked great so far.

 

[Joe Nardy]

Skip,

There are a couple things you can do to make your battery charger be more gentle to your battery. One is to splice a small 12 volt light bulb in series with one of the battery leads. Something like an automotive dash light works well. This will drop the current to a much lower level (you can check it with an ammeter).

Another is to plug the battery charger into an electric garage door opener light circuit. You can get an adapter that screws into the garage door light socket to add electrical outlets, like this for just a couple bucks. Plug the battery charger into the outlet and the battery will charge for a few minutes each time the garage door is opened or closed.

Thanks,
Joe