24VDC Schauer Battery Charger $74.99

[Carter]

Available from Uncle Sam's Retail Outlet.
http://www.unclesamsretailoutlet.com/Sc ... p/2074.htm

Schauer Battery Charger | New Product Code 2074
•Automatically reduces from full charge rate to a safe maintaining charge rate as the battery reaches maximum charge
•Reverse polarity and short circuit protection designed for a lead-acid battery
•Features adjustable voltage level
•12 cell, 10 amp, 24 volt, 5 in stock now.

[Carter]

I have thought about this unit and decided to order one yesterday and now they only have 2 remaining, I will provide a review once it is received and tested.

[isaac_alaska]

looks like a nice unit, not necessary since you can always just charge one battery at a time with any charger, but much more convenient for sure

[Carter]

Isaac, I have been charging one at a time for years then decided to isolate the 2 and use a set of jumper cables so both may be charged at once. It just seemed a little time consuming to wait 'til both were fully charged. With this unit connected to the trucks slave cable receptacle and charging both batteries I will not have to remove the passenger seat, lift the battery box lid and go the jumper cable route, plus I like new toys.

[isaac_alaska]

I completely agree with you!

[sturmtyger380]

Do you guys not disconnect your batteries from the ground/earth when you park your vehicles for more than a few hours? I do that each time for my M38A1 and have not had to charge the batteries for years. They keep their charge and get recharged as I drive. The batteries eventually got old and I replaced them and this set is working fine as well.

[Elwood]

Do you guys not disconnect your batteries from the ground/earth when you park your vehicles for more than a few hours? I do that each time for my M38A1 and have not had to charge the batteries for years. They keep their charge and get recharged as I drive. The batteries eventually got old and I replaced them and this set is working fine as well.

I have a battery switch to disconnect the ground, but more to prevent an electrical fire than to reduce battery discharge. Batteries will gradually internally discharge, even if they're not connected to anything, so even a ground disconnect will not prevent dead batteries given enough time.

[Carter]

Do you guys not disconnect your batteries from the ground/earth when you park your vehicles for more than a few hours? I do that each time for my M38A1 and have not had to charge the batteries for years. They keep their charge and get recharged as I drive. The batteries eventually got old and I replaced them and this set is working fine as well.

Yes I do, I rigged a negative side 300 amp solenoid activated by a low amp toggle switch fed through a circuit breaker which disconnects the negative lead to the frame. However every once in a while I forget to flip the switch to off and after sitting for a couple of days both batteries are flat dead. Need to put a small lamp in the circuit that only illuminates when the switch is in the on position to remind me.

[T. Highway]

Hi Carter,

An LED would work great for this.

Bert

[Carter]

Good idea Bert, where would I find one that is powered by 24 to 28 VDC?

[sturmtyger380]

Carter, have you checked for a carbon buildup inside your starter switch where the contacts are? Each one I have opened had tons of carbon. That carbon will let a slight current drain happen.

Alan

[Carter]

I have not check that Alan but will do so today after finishing the honey-do list that Sandy left for me.

[isaac_alaska]

Carter,

any led will work for this, you'll just need a resistor in line with it. most LED's will be brightly visible at 10-30mA of current, and most drop about .7 volts, so doing math, and assuming 25 volts on the system (it will be a little more when running, but won't hurt anything) and using ohms law arranged to R=V/I we get R= (25-0.7)/.030 = 810 ohms, but a 1kohm resistor will be much easier to find and will work just fine for an indicator LED.

Alternatively if you find an indicator led you like that's already for dash mount, it will probably say it's meant for 12V, which means it already has a resistor built into it, and you could just add another 500 ohms or so to make it 24V capable.

if you feel like ordering something, this is a nice metal-housing LED that doesn't break the bank,

or you could pick from anything in this list

the IP67 rated are the best at keeping dirt and water out, but since i doubt you plan on fording your truck any time soon, even the cheapest ones should be more than capable of what you want. The metal housing is a nice compromise between ingress protection, price, and looks.

[Carter]

Thanks for the info Isaac, I am not good with electrical work so you have helped me a lot. Again, thanks.

[isaac_alaska]

not a problem! happy to help