2/12 charger

[mike10]

can I use a 2/12 battery charger on my new battery or will it kill it? I don't have a 1/10.

[GateKeeper]

does it not say on your battery

like this

[Steve]

The biggest thing to worry about is whether it is a MANUAL or AUTOMATIC charger or a CHARGER//MAINTAINER.

The difference is whether it tapers off the charge, how much and how soon.

You would really prefer a charger/maintainer. You can get a Schumacher unit at Wal-Mart for about $20.
If you want to avoid Wal-Mart for some reason, you can get an identical unit at Sears with the DieHard name on it, but it will cost you $30.

.

[mike10]

Charger maintainer

I'm going to buy one of those Charger Maintainers. I guess the last few years I had the Gel batteries that came charged. This is a new wet cell. When the batteries got low I just used the charger I had on them. A green light comes on when the battery is charged. I may have shortened their life doing that.

[mike10]

does it not say on your battery

like this

Yes my batteries have the labels like that. I read the charging directions this time. On youtube I saw a guy charge a new battery for a 750 Honda with a charger like mine. I'm as dumb as the next guy I thought maybe it would just charge faster with a 2/12.

[GateKeeper]

It would charge it faster, but you could ruin it by doing it that way, you could basically cook the battery, and that is something you don't want to do....

your better off with your lower powered charger, it will take longer, but will be safer...

.

[eil]

By 2/12, do you mean it has the option of charging at either 2 or 12 amps?

I think you would be okay charging it at 2 amps for a little while. That's the maximum recommended current for these small lead acid batteries.

Agree with Steve and mike10 about getting a charger/maintainer. I'm a big fan of the Battery Tender brand chargers. I have the junior model which is a wall wart that charges at 750mA. Can often find it on sale for $20, the larger one is around $40 and charges at 1.5A.

[mike10]

Schumacher 2/12/75

I think the 2 means amps and the 12 means volts, then it has a 75 setting I guess for the boost start. I never use the 75 for anything. I hooked the schumacher to the battery while I read the directions to kill time. (Charge at 1amp with motorcycle specific battery charger 3 to 5 hours) IT said. I had used my charger on other batteries but not dead new just when they were low, so I thought 1amp or 2amp could it make that big of difference? It looked like it was doing fine. After about an hour it was showing fully charged. So at the risk of looking like a total A$$. I went to the GSR site. Now after about 20 min. The Charger/Maintainer 1.5amp is indicating the battery is charged. CRAP! guess I'll try and use it.

[koolaid_kid]

First, if it is a Schumacher 2/12/75, I recommend not using it at all. I have a similar model and I use it on cars only. There is a switch on the front where you select the current mode you want.
2 Amps is for slow charging a car battery, sort of an older version of a battery tender without the fail safe.
12 Amps is for faster charging of a dead car battery.
75 is for starting only; never tried that mode.
Your gauge on the front shows the amount it is charging in each mode.

Walmart carries the Schumacher that Steve suggested. It is about half the price of the Battery Tender brand and does the same job. I have both Schumacher models and they work great, btw.

[michaelj_444]

I found 2 on Walmarts website and at 19.95 seem like a good buy. But which is better? Here`s the link. Both are on the first page. 1. Schumacher Automotive SpeedCharge Battery Maintainer and Charger 2. Schumacher XM1-5 Maintainer, 1.5-Amp

Mike

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=Schumacher&ic=16_0&Find=Find&indexId=13e1c28e56ec&cdnHost=search-cdn.walmart.com&searchdropdowndiv=com.wm.module.305715.constraint&search_constraint=0&_be_ssV2=on

[mike10]

Its Installed

It started and ran. I'll just put the Charger maintainer on it when it sits. I'll see how long it lasts.

[koolaid_kid]

I found 2 on Walmarts website and at 19.95 seem like a good buy. But which is better? Here`s the link. Both are on the first page. 1. Schumacher Automotive SpeedCharge Battery Maintainer and Charger 2. Schumacher XM1-5 Maintainer, 1.5-Amp

Mike

http://www.walmart.com/search/search...=0&_be_ssV2=on

I would select the first one. The wires on top of the charger bolt onto the battery for a permanent connection. Hang the end somewhere easy to reach but out of sight.. Then plug the tender into the end of the cable and you can charge the battery. You no longer have to access the battery directly. Works great.