can constant trickle charging be bad?

RUFme · 11-12-2009, 12:07 AM

Since I don't get my garage queen out as often as I would like I keep my 86 Carrera on a trickle charger all the time. I have a new Optima red top in the car. After the car sat for a couple of weeks my alternator went out - coincidence? I don't know the age of the alternator that went but it's at least 5 years old with perhaps 1000 miles per year. Thanks

twistoffat · 11-12-2009, 01:39 AM

I wouldn´t have thought so. The trickle charge is only a problem when you are not macthing the rate at which the battery is losing juice. To much or too little is bad for the battery especially too much. The alternator may have a broken coil or through the lack of use the bearings might be siezed.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 11-12-2009, 02:45 AM

If what you're talking about is truly a "trickle charger," yes, it will be bad for your battery. There's a difference between a trickle charger and a float charger; this came up on a thread just last week. A trickle charger is designed to slowly and gently take the battery to full charge, but it doesn't then shut off. A constant charge, no matter how "trickle-y" it is, will eventually kill a battery.

A float charger is also designed to fully charge a battery, but when it senses that full charge, it shuts off and only re-animates if the battery's charge drops. It can therefore be left on a battery full time.

Many people improperly use the terms interchangeably, so you may in fact be talking about a float charger. But if you aren't, don't leave that thing on your battery once it's charged.

twistoffat · 11-12-2009, 03:17 AM

Stafan I presume that a trickle charger with a so called regulator is actually a float charger. I was of the understanding that the regulator will measure the charge loss of the battery and keep it level without overcharging. A trickle charger without the regulator should be removed when full?

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 11-12-2009, 05:00 AM

That's my understanding. A true "trickle charger" should be used to charge and then be removed. Let me find the thread I was referring to above, and I'll post the link in a minute.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 11-12-2009, 05:04 AM

Here's what a poster a few days ago said to read for info re. the difference between trickle and float chargers:

Flot vs. Trickle Charger - ADVrider

If you want to read more, do a search for "trickle chargers" and you'll see a thread a few lines down titled "tricke [sic[ chargers."

kodioneill · kodioneill's Garage

I would use a "Battery Tender" for your needs.

prebordao · 11-12-2009, 05:07 AM

I believe more sophisticated trickle-chargers stop charging after awhile and don't need to be removed. They monitor the battery condition and start trickle charging again if and when needed.
I have a Ctek XS 3600 which I believe does that.

GaryR · GaryR's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by kodioneill

I would use a "Battery Tender" for your needs.

+1. You can leave a "Battery Tender" hooked up all winter and have nothing but a perfect battery in the spring. I know for sure as I use one on my race car with Odyssey 925 battery.

Dai · 11-12-2009, 05:51 AM

I have Ctek 7000 and it is one of the best battery charger/maintenance device. All you do is to plug in and forget about it. It does everything automatically.

nineball · 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prebordao

I believe more sophisticated trickle-chargers stop charging after awhile and don't need to be removed. They monitor the battery condition and start trickle charging again if and when needed.
I have a Ctek XS 3600 which I believe does that.

That is a float charger not a trickle. As stated trickle chargers do not shut off on their own.

I need to pick up a couple more so I did some searching. The best price I found was for the battery tender jr from amazon for just over $23. Order $25 worth of stuff and shipping is free. The link is below but you will have to remove one of the "A" from the beginning of the url. For some reason the word is banned on here.

http://www.AAmazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0123-Junior-Charger/dp/B000CITK8S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1258038093&sr=8-1

tchanson · 11-12-2009, 06:24 AM

I've used this Schumacher 10/2 amp float charger almost continuously on one infrequently driven car with the same Optima red top for more than 10 years now with no issues or problems.

Tim

rick-l · 11-12-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prebordao

I believe more sophisticated trickle-chargers stop charging after awhile and don't need to be removed. They monitor the battery condition and start trickle charging again if and when needed.
I have a Ctek XS 3600 which I believe does that.

This is a float charger harbor freight 42292 battery maintainer The current it puts into the battery as a function of battery voltage s shown in the bottom chart.

SpyderMike · 11-12-2009, 08:24 AM

I use several Battery Minders and they have a feature that desulphate the batteries for longer life. They work great - leave them plugged in and forget about it.

Battery Chargers by BatteryMINDers.com

rick-l · 11-12-2009, 09:30 AM

Sulfation.... From what I understand lead reacts with sulfuric acid and forms lead sulfate in the electrolyte when the battery discharges. If it sits too long (as short as 24 hours in some cases) it forms more stable crystals, harder to turn back into lead. Keeping the battery fully charged will prevent this.

I would be skeptical of any desulphation claim with out seeing what current level pulses are applied and seeing some test data.

911pcars · 11-12-2009, 10:24 AM

Maybe temperature dependent. If the trickle charger doesn't increase the temperature beyond specs. (evaporates electrolyte), I think it should be fine.

Sherwood

SpyderMike · 11-12-2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick-l

Sulfation.... From what I understand lead reacts with sulfuric acid and forms lead sulfate in the electrolyte when the battery discharges. If it sits too long (as short as 24 hours in some cases) it forms more stable crystals, harder to turn back into lead. Keeping the battery fully charged will prevent this.

I would be skeptical of any desulphation claim with out seeing what current level pulses are applied and seeing some test data.

Check it out - let me know what you think:

http://www.batteryminders.com/batterycharger/press_room/batteryminder-desulfation-method-unique.pdf

rick-l · 11-12-2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpyderMike

Check it out - let me know what you think:

http://www.batteryminders.com/batterycharger/press_room/batteryminder-desulfation-method-unique.pdf

The patent cited makes no claims as to rejuvenating a battery or sulfation, it just says

Quote:

What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus that recharges a battery, comprising:
a recharger circuit that provides a rail Voltage to the
battery that is modulated by a noise signal.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, Wherein said

SpyderMike · 11-12-2009, 08:57 PM

I don't get your point, the patent isn't required to...

rick-l · 11-12-2009, 09:43 PM

The cited reference number didn't patent a method to reverse sulfation i.e. x frequency, y current level, z period. Their "truly unique" U.S. Patented methods don't address how they “dissolve” the sulfate. Looks like a lot of hype not backed up by fact.

Quote:

Our U.S. Patented methods are truly unique. We “dissolve” the sulfate rather than “destroying” or shaking it loose. By generating just the needed range of frequencies and avoiding high voltages, we eliminate potential damage to the batteries storage plates known as “flaking”. The sulfuric acid, the major ingredient in a sulfate crystal, can then easily pass into the electrolyte (liquid, gel or absorbed type). This immediately raises its specific gravity and frees the storage plates to now accept a fuller charge. It does this in the shortest possible time, without developing excessive heat. No loss of electrolyte takes place in this process, thus ensuring sealed batteries, as well as “wet”, never die due to loss of electrolyte..