Portable Battery Charger

[Rick Davis]

When I get home next I just know my batteries will be deader than a doornail. I have all disconnects flipped off but they will still be dead since it is not plugged in. All I have ever owned is a little battery charger for autos, so I need to buy a real man's Tim the Tool Man charger. Arrr Arrrr. What suggestions do you guys have? What is the minimum amps capacity that I should get to charge Bird batts within a day.

[Rick]

Rick, I have a great Snap On portable Charger. Several settings from "Trickle to Start. Don't have a clue what they sell for now but way too much.

I carry a 70 dollar solid state unit I picked up at Wal Mart the year we went to Q. It works well and should put enough juice in your starting bank in a couple of hours. The less time you want to wait the higher the charge rate will need to be.

[Ed Wimberley]

Rick
What Rick said is correct. My suggestion is to jump start the generator then the on board chargers can put enough in to start the 6V92 to top off.
I fail to remember what chargers you have.

[Rick Davis]

They're the original battery boilers. And the OFF/ON doohickys on the charger's timer in the closet do not always shut it off and on. So I didn't even hook the coach up to the 20amp we have at the storage. Once I get it started and charged up then I will be off to get the new inverter installed (and maybe new deep cycles), and I can leave it plugged in then the next time I leave town.

[78bbird]

Rick: I have one of Tim the tool mans chargers, This should do it fast! 26.4 volts @ 100 amps. I also found in my shop 3 or 4 120 V AC to 12 Volts DC, and 1 or 2 12 V to 120v AC units. Its old stuf out of AMR. so they can make you that last margarita before the hospital. Last trip to Q I stopped and got 4 bat for about $ 500.00 so I know to keep them charged!

[Rick Davis]

I saw where Wally World has a 200 amp Diehard model for around $120. Might go that route unless someone has better suggestion.

[Rick Davis]

Mark that BB Inn of your's is soooo cool. Actually, both your Birds are, but especially that one.

[78bbird]

Thank you Rick! I will fix a few things and use it as a weekender.
I have playing with battery chargers for a long time now, but the new one are just too much. The one in the BB is good for it, but I like the one in the shop that has a timmer so I set and lock up the shop (walk away) for the night.

[Rich Johnson]

Hi:

Been guilty of previously boiling out several batteries. My old Sears 15 was a real killer. Finally tried a Harbor Freight float charger for awhile - worked OK. But 500 MA is a bit low in the recharge capacity if you ever should use the 12VDC system for anything. So I tried a Schlumberger low end charger. 10Amp capacity from Walmart. about 30 bucks. So far so good. Multi capacity, Multi battery type, auto float mode. So far seems to be the answer to my battery problems. No meters, no need, just plug, it chugs, you forget.

[Buckeye Bird]

I bought and used this $80 Shumacher charger from Wally World for a couple of weeks this past winter when my inverter/charger started acting up.

I carry it with me now as a backup. Has settings for AGM and GEL and multiple charge rates.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher...arger/15140198