Battery Charger Recommendation?

Anyone have a battery charger they really like and has been reliable? It's time for me to buy a replacement and I thought I'd ask for some recomendations.

 

Can't tell you about current models [https://www.centurytool.net/Battery_Charging_Equipment_s/237.htm], but my portable Century model 87106 has been very good for my needs. It has 55 amp. boost/jump start & 10 & 2 amp charge.

Picture is borrowed from the 'net, my unit is same---minus the orange & green.

 

I use a C-Tec Battery maintainer to keep batteries alive. I've had it at least 5 years of close to continous use.
-Donny

 

I should probably pick up a couple of maintainers for the things that get used infrequently or in storage over the winter. Any recommendations there are also appreciated.

I'm looking to replace the charger I use when a battery is already low and I need to charge it up fairly quickly. Dave, do you have a manual or automatic one? Looks like all the new ones have digital displays.

 

I have 2 Battery Tenders. One I have used for years with no trouble.

 

Got a Genius 7200 when lightening struck my garage and took out my Battery Tenders.
It can charge AGM severely discharged batteries.

Has worked very well. 12 and 24 V,

https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-G7200-U...hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583726540424925&psc=1




Dave

 

Referring to post #2>>Old automatic as described in the manual, but I believe the function works in both 6 & 12 volt

MODEL 87106 This charger is equipped with Auto On-Off Technology. After connecting to a 12 volt battery, the charger needs to sense a minimum voltage condition to begin charging and it will stop charging when it reaches the maximum voltage condition, but it will continue to monitor the battery charge level. The charger will "hum" as it monitors. If the battery charge level drops, the charger will begin charging again.
>>>>>http://www.centurywelding.com/manuals/87102-87105-Bench-Charger-Manual.pdf

I also have a "modern to me" Schumacher model SC-600A-CA automatic charger/maintainer (12 volt only). I've used it so little I can't give it a review other than seems to work. Measures approx. 7" across the face; 2-3/4" deep; 7" high including handle and weighs next to nothing--a couple pounds???

--Picture from 'net--looks like mine.

 

I don't have a suggestion for a battery charger but I would suggest considering a solar unit to maintain your batteries. I have two, one for stored jeep in garage during the winter and one for utility shed where lawnmower and such are stored. They work very well.

 

+1 on the Genius, though at 7A max it's not exactly going to get you going in a hurry. I think it's time to move beyond the transformer and rectifier in a box mindset as those can be hard on your battery if you leave them hooked up for too long or run any of the exotic mechanical types.
I appreciate the 24V mode, power supply mode (13.7v) for powering radios, doing fuel pump tests, etc, and it's "repair" which does seem to improve long-dormant batteries ability to hold a charge.

 

Seems like if a battery sits dead long enough there is just no way to get it back. In the process of trying to restore a period battery I've even tried draining the battery, etching the plates, and changing electrolyte and had them stay dead.

 

Had 2 AGM batteries that had been dead for a long time.
The Genius G7200 brought back one. The other one no go.

They work well and I like the 12/24V modes.


Dave

 

Battery Tender or Noco. I use them on both my Jeeps, they've done a decent job at bouncing back batteries.

 

I ended up with a Noco Genius 10. Got it on sale plus $'s off at our local Fleet Farm. Only used it a little, but seems to work good so far.

 

I've used my Deltran Battery tender for the last 7 years without an issue.