Battery charging

[Brockport Bill 1,668]

perhaps a silly question - if doing trickle charging of battery while battery is in tractor --- does it matter if battery cables are connected or not? Should they be disconnected ? Can damage be done to something electrical if leaving cables on battery while charging? Thanks

[Handy Don 12,235]

Assuming you have a self-regulating charger (one that reduces the current as the battery reaches full charge) and the ignition key is OFF, then there is no issue with leaving the battery cables connected. 

It is a good idea to disconnect the charger before turning on the ignition, however.

Many members leave their tractors on a "battery minder" or "battery maintainer" between uses to prolong battery life.

[JoeM 7,874]

One word of caution, those cheap units don't work to well and will fry a battery. Some work....some don't. Monitor the battery for a few days to insure there are no problems.

 You get what you pay for! 

 

[squonk 41,153]

Battery Tender Brand or Shumacher! 

[953 nut 55,316]

This post was made a few years back by @Save Old Iron and is well worth reading.

 

[ZXT 2,401]

I'll also recommend the BatteryMINDer unit. Model 1510. I've brought back more than a few dead batteries with it and it works great as a tender as well.

[JoeM 7,874]

I did get one of these and it is pretty good too.....but pricey. 38 clams but got her on sale for 27 at "Har-boo I always spend more than I need to store."

 

VIKING

4 Amp Fully Automatic Microprocessor Controlled Battery Charger/Maintainer

 

[lynnmor 7,308]

On 8/6/2021 at 9:38 AM, Brockport Bill said:

perhaps a silly question - if doing trickle charging of battery while battery is in tractor --- does it matter if battery cables are connected or not? Should they be disconnected ? Can damage be done to something electrical if leaving cables on battery while charging? Thanks

 

No

No

No

 

Use a Battery Tender brand charger, there are too many out there that are junk and I wouldn't take the time to sort out the good ones.

[Brockport Bill 1,668]

thanks all for great feedback -- here is photo of Battery Tender I have used for many years for my SeaDoo batteries during winter when they are in storage - but never charged when they were in the Sea doos - so that's why I wanted to check to be safe if ok to charge WH batteries while hooked up in the tractors? Thanks for info 

[cschannuth 3,816]

I’ve used the 1.5 amp Schumachers for years on all my tractors. My batteries last for 6-8 years. I use fused quick connectors permanently installed on the batteries. I use quick connect splitters so I can charge multiple batteries at once with the same charger. 
Schumacher SC1355 1.5A 6/12V... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078962VRM?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

[Brockport Bill 1,668]

wonderful suggestion about the connectors - will order - thanks

[lynnmor 7,308]

8 hours ago, Brockport Bill said:

wonderful suggestion about the connectors - will order - thanks

I see you have a good Battery Tender, I use the same one and rotate it between seasonal batteries using the SAE quick connects.  I charge each battery about three days per month, just because the green light comes on doesn't mean it is 100% full, it will slowly take some more.  Connecting multiple batteries at the same time will not give optimal results, do one at a time.

[Brockport Bill 1,668]

good info !!!!!!!!!!!!