ClassCRV
Valencia, CA
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Joined: 07/21/2005
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I'm looking at buying a 3 stage, high current, portable battery charger for charging a single deep cycle battery which I bring on trips to run my TV. I realize its not good for the battery to charge at a high rate, but I would still like the capability to maximize charging within a shorter generator run time.
Xantrex, Vector, Black and Decker, and Schumacher appear to be the choices.
The B and D is the cheapest at $55 from Amazon.
Anyone have any troubles with these models? Only real negative reviews I've read have been regarding the inability to charge a completely dead battery. I never let mine got down that far.
Thanks.
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oujoker
Monterey, CA
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I believe most of the B & D units were made by vector last time I looked, those are very good units with battery reconditioning and user selectable charge rates. I have had very good results with vector/B&D chargers.
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Beartoo
Perham MN
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I have all kinds of BD products from bread makers, can openers, to power and hand tools and they have always be reliable.
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Norm K.
Destin, FL or on the road!
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I've got 2 B&D chargers. One is a compact 10a and the other goes up to 25. Less than $40 at a B&D Outlet. Very pleased with both.
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smkettner
Southern California
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Get the 40 amp BD.
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OnaQuest
Raleigh, NC
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It's refreshing to hear people NOT knocking Black&Decker for a change.
I have a BD/Vector 3-stage charger and it works great. I leave it in place of my converter most of the time. lou
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MNtundraRet
Bloomington, MN
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I have the Schumacher Model 12000A. It is a heavy duty unit that can variable fast charge batteries (40 to 15 amp) with float mode monitoring to maintain batteries after charging.. Has 120 amp engine start and 2 amp slow charge. It will charge any type of battery (6 or 12v) and automatically adjust settings for each. It works as a battery & alternator tester, and will diagnose whether a battery needs desulfation, and will run the procedure automatically. The 2amp mode will bring up voltage on a very discharged battery, to allow normal charging. I use a 55 amp Optima Battery for my HD Television. The charger can recharge battery in less than 70 minutes max. Normal 50% recharge less than 30 minutes. Charger can easily take batteries to full 100% charge. The portable gives me an excellent backup if my 3-stage converter/charger ever failed.
Mark
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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You could always put a PD 9280 in a plastic tool box with vented ends
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
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jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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If I were doing what you want to do I would connect a pair of 4-6ga wires to your house batteries that you could clamp onto your TV battery. With your generator running your converter is powered so you could get some charge to your TV battery from it -- and also connect the portable charger. Using two charging devices on the same battery works fine and will charge quicker the either one by itself.
I have at times had up to four different charging devices charging one battery bank at the same time - no problem.
Jim
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ClassCRV
Valencia, CA
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jauguston wrote:If I were doing what you want to do I would connect a pair of 4-6ga wires to your house batteries that you could clamp onto your TV battery. With your generator running your converter is powered so you could get some charge to your TV battery from it -- and also connect the portable charger. Using two charging devices on the same battery works fine and will charge quicker the either one by itself.
I have at times had up to four different charging devices charging one battery bank at the same time - no problem.
Jim
Wow, I thought having the house and another portable charger connected in parallel, and both charging, would cause problems.
Also, just recently I learned that its OK to use devices running off a battery while its charging. Seems a little scary to do so when charging at a very high rate.
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