Home battery charging
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vinnytruck
- SGT
- Posts: 177
- Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2011 8:46 am
- Location: NEW JERSEY, USA
battery charging
Hi Guys, Good morning. Does anyone do this? charge 2 12v batteries at the same time, Question #1 how to do this and #2 can I use a sears battery charger 10/2/50amp 12v mod# 608.718351 #3 what do I put the switch on? 2amp ,10amp ,50amp start. #4 how long to recharge (in time hours) The guage on the unit states 0-5-10 #5 would any of these #s indicate a full charge on both batteries. THANKS IN ADVANCE. Please help. vinnytruck P.S. I hope I didnt set the record in asks on one topic.
vinnytruck
Re: battery charging
Hi Vinny,
Sure, you can charge two batteries at the same time using one charger. Just two things....it's going to take longer than charging just one....and you need to wire the batteries in parallel, not series. Series is bad (except when installed in your M).
So let's call one battery "Battery A" and the other battery "Battery B". You connect the positive (+) terminal of Battery A to the positive (+) terminal of Battery B, and the negative (-) terminal of Battery A to the negative (-) terminal of Battery B. You now have a twice as big 12V battery. Same 12 volts, just more amp-hours. Then connect the red positive (+) lead from the charger to the positive (+) terminal of either battery.....let's pic Battery A.....and connect the black negative (-) lead from the charger to the negative (-) terminal of Battery A. Then turn the charger on and cook the bitches.
Can you use the Sears battery charger?.....I don't see why not. What setting to you charge at? Depends on how much time you have. Slower (lower amp setting on charger) is better, but the 2 amp setting is really for smaller batteries like lawn mowers and motorcycles, so use the 10 amp or 50 amp setting. Before you charge them check the water level in each cell. If the batteries have caps on them....pull them off and make sure each cell is full of water. If not get some de-ionized or distilled water to add. I just use tap water, but that makes battery people cringe, so I'll be politically correct here and tell you to make a special trip to the supermarket for a gallon of distilled or ionized water that you won't use more than a quarter cup's worth, and then will probably use the rest to water your plants. But I guess it will make you feel good every time you look at your batteries.
Don't fill the cells to the top of the battery.....that's overfilled and the water/acid combo will bubble out when charging. I just make sure they're all the same as the highest cell. And if you use the 50amp setting....it will bubble out a lot more. If it's a sealed battery.....it's not really sealed unless it's a gel-cell (and they have different charging requirements than normal lead-acid batteries) and it has two large rectangular covers on top of the battery instead of the two narrow caps....you can pry those off to add water if needed. If it's truly sealed and there's no provisions to add water then charge it SLOWLY. There will be a single or two vent holes somewhere on the battery and you don't want to put anything near those holes while charging.....they vent acidic gas. Also....if it is sealed.......if you bubble out the water/acid mix you can't put it back.
How long does it take to charge? Heck, I don't know....how discharged are your batteries? Seriously, look at the amp gauge when you first turn the charger on. When the gauge drops to half that initial reading....they should be fully charged. Or pull out the old hydrometer you bought years ago and stuck in the toolbox and forgot about. That will tell you too. Just make sure you keep an eye on the charger, as once the batteries are fully charged you're just turning charger current into heat and bubbling out your battery acid.
Sure, you can charge two batteries at the same time using one charger. Just two things....it's going to take longer than charging just one....and you need to wire the batteries in parallel, not series. Series is bad (except when installed in your M).
So let's call one battery "Battery A" and the other battery "Battery B". You connect the positive (+) terminal of Battery A to the positive (+) terminal of Battery B, and the negative (-) terminal of Battery A to the negative (-) terminal of Battery B. You now have a twice as big 12V battery. Same 12 volts, just more amp-hours. Then connect the red positive (+) lead from the charger to the positive (+) terminal of either battery.....let's pic Battery A.....and connect the black negative (-) lead from the charger to the negative (-) terminal of Battery A. Then turn the charger on and cook the bitches.
Can you use the Sears battery charger?.....I don't see why not. What setting to you charge at? Depends on how much time you have. Slower (lower amp setting on charger) is better, but the 2 amp setting is really for smaller batteries like lawn mowers and motorcycles, so use the 10 amp or 50 amp setting. Before you charge them check the water level in each cell. If the batteries have caps on them....pull them off and make sure each cell is full of water. If not get some de-ionized or distilled water to add. I just use tap water, but that makes battery people cringe, so I'll be politically correct here and tell you to make a special trip to the supermarket for a gallon of distilled or ionized water that you won't use more than a quarter cup's worth, and then will probably use the rest to water your plants. But I guess it will make you feel good every time you look at your batteries.
Don't fill the cells to the top of the battery.....that's overfilled and the water/acid combo will bubble out when charging. I just make sure they're all the same as the highest cell. And if you use the 50amp setting....it will bubble out a lot more. If it's a sealed battery.....it's not really sealed unless it's a gel-cell (and they have different charging requirements than normal lead-acid batteries) and it has two large rectangular covers on top of the battery instead of the two narrow caps....you can pry those off to add water if needed. If it's truly sealed and there's no provisions to add water then charge it SLOWLY. There will be a single or two vent holes somewhere on the battery and you don't want to put anything near those holes while charging.....they vent acidic gas. Also....if it is sealed.......if you bubble out the water/acid mix you can't put it back.
How long does it take to charge? Heck, I don't know....how discharged are your batteries? Seriously, look at the amp gauge when you first turn the charger on. When the gauge drops to half that initial reading....they should be fully charged. Or pull out the old hydrometer you bought years ago and stuck in the toolbox and forgot about. That will tell you too. Just make sure you keep an eye on the charger, as once the batteries are fully charged you're just turning charger current into heat and bubbling out your battery acid.
-
vinnytruck
- SGT
- Posts: 177
- Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2011 8:46 am
- Location: NEW JERSEY, USA
Re: battery charging
Thanks BoB, Your words I trust as gold...Cant wait to tell joe. We have been doing 1 at a time, going up and down stairs, I know he was getting crazy. I will remember not to "cook the Bitches", THAT WAS SO FUNNY. Thanks again, hope to see you in west haven conn. (july 20.) Thanks Friend...
vinnytruck
Re: battery charging
What's going on in west haven on the 20th???
Re: battery charging
Found it....on the MVPA calendar....I need to read that thing more often!!
Connecticut, July 20, 2013: Military Vehicle Show and Swap Meet at the West Haven Veterans Museum and Learning Center, 30 Hood Terr., West Haven, CT. Food will be available on site as well as a full swap meet of parts and militaria. Free admission for anyone bringing a military vehicle, adult admission is $5.00, children under 12 are free. Museum admission is also free. Contact: (203) 934-1111 or whmilmuseum@snet.net
Connecticut, July 20, 2013: Military Vehicle Show and Swap Meet at the West Haven Veterans Museum and Learning Center, 30 Hood Terr., West Haven, CT. Food will be available on site as well as a full swap meet of parts and militaria. Free admission for anyone bringing a military vehicle, adult admission is $5.00, children under 12 are free. Museum admission is also free. Contact: (203) 934-1111 or whmilmuseum@snet.net
Re: battery charging
Figures an event is in my ole hometown and I will be in PA that weekend 