Greetings, yard warriors. Not using the Wheel Horse as much with the grass growth slowing down. Any of you guys have a fav trickle charger of one amp or so that won't break down in a week? Thank you. Enjoy the 2019 NHL Hockey season.
Cheap Trickle Charger for Tractor?
hotajax
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Hotajax. I have used a Solar Brand, https://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/Solar-1002-p/sol-1002-02.htm , on my Son-in Laws Porsche that would have a dead batt after 5 or 6 weeks no use. I blamed it on the computer in car, which has power even when car not used for killing battery. A new battery every year. I bought 2 of these Solar (I call them Maintainers) installed 1 on his Porsche. The last battery purchased has been in the car 10 yrs. I velcro mounted it in the trunk, cut the alligator terms off and installed ring terms hooked to the batt cable bolts.
The second maintainer I permanently installed, with velcro on a Simplicity Mower tractor for a neighbor. The magnets in the flywheel of the 8 HP Briggs came loose and jammed to a stop. After taking apart and cleaning all and removing all to do with the charging system. Told her the maintainer would shut off when battery was full and not waste electricity while always being plugged in. Again removed alligator clips and installed ring terms to the batt bolts.
Finally, is this a much older classic Wheelhorse? Does a known good battery in go dead in a week?
The second maintainer I permanently installed, with velcro on a Simplicity Mower tractor for a neighbor. The magnets in the flywheel of the 8 HP Briggs came loose and jammed to a stop. After taking apart and cleaning all and removing all to do with the charging system. Told her the maintainer would shut off when battery was full and not waste electricity while always being plugged in. Again removed alligator clips and installed ring terms to the batt bolts.
Finally, is this a much older classic Wheelhorse? Does a known good battery in go dead in a week?
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My experience matches the above...
For several years I had an old Isuzu P'up diesel truck parked next to my barn, hardly ever cranked it. I pointed the windshield south and then I put a solar panel trickle charger on the dash, plugged it into the cigarette lighter socket, turned the key just enough to connect the circuit serving the cigarette lighter, but not enough to cause the radio and dash lights to come on. Sunlight striking that panel (about a foot square) kept the battery topped up all year long, making it easy to start the truck. Yes, I left a key in the truck to do that. But it was locked and nowhere close to the street. A very simple, dependable circuit that won't boil your battery fluid away.
:tango_face_smile:
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Anymore I just use an Automatic Battery Float Charger. You can buy them many places, Home Depot, Harbor Freight, Online, etc for $10 to $30, & I get 3 to 5 years out of one. When fall arrives & temps at night fall to the high 30'c/low 40's, I plug it in in my unheated storage building that has electric receptacles & it does the job. I have about 5 or 6 plugged in, between mowers, motorcycles & street rod batteries & don't unplug them until the spring. They don't over charge the batteries, just keeps them where they belong over the winter. Even with that many plugged in, I did not really see an increase on the electric bill either. I've had better luck with with the $20 to $30 range ones right out of the box, but I did OK with the $10 ones too, so buy where you can return them for a no charge trade replacement on another new one, if you want to be extra safe. Like I said, the few I had problems with, were right out the box or up to 3 days later. If they hold up that long, they've lasted me 3 to 5 years after that.
Good Luck.
Good Luck.
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Battery Tender Junior. I have 1 on Harley and 2 on boat batteries. You can buy the terminal plugs on line that you leave on battery, for less than 2 bucks each. You then move charger from one vehicle to another as you need them. I keep plugs on all my temporary vehicles including my diesel tractor. You can pick them up cheap at Wal-Mart, then just buy a bunch of plugs with ring terminals. Your batteries well last much longer if they always have a full charge. My last Harley battery lasted 10 years, while all my buddies were replacing theirs every 4 years. I keep Harley plugged in all winter. I keep boat batteries in basement over winter, a switch tender jr from one to another every couple weeks.
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Get a BatteryMinder that de-sulphates, plug it in, and forget it.
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You guys need to watch those Battery Tenders very close. The voltage will creep up to 15+ volts and boil the battery dry. I worked on cell tower gensets for several years. If a site had Battery Tenders , we were instructed to throw them away and replace with another brand. Needless to say I ended up with hundreds of them . I tested many for myself and they all creeped up in voltage. All I am saying is use with caution.
You can get a Noco Genius for as little as $29 on Amazon, but I would spring for at least the G1100 ($39). I have 2 G3500's and one G7200 and they have worked well. I have one G3500 on my tractor (probably overkill), but since I just spent $140 on the battery, I figured it was worth it. My 'Battery Tender' never did work right. Probably defective. I also have a 12/6 V Yuasa charger / maintainer that has worked very well over the years. Hope this helps. Take care,
I use a Battery Tender Plus. Tractor sits in a shead during winter, will throw it on in mid/late Dec and again in late Feb to bring Simplicity battery back to full charge. (Battery went through -25°f without problems, after being brought to full charge )
Battery tender was made specifically for this purpose.
Battery tender was made specifically for this purpose.
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12 Volt Deluxe Battery Maintainer and Float Charger
Had good luck with this unit. They are often on sale and you can always use one of HF 20% off coupons. I've used it on the lawn tractor battery and on the huge battery in my Fordson Dexta. I've also used it on a Optima Red Top that wasn't seeming to take a full charge (a couple of deep discharges from leaving the car parked for a long period) and it seemed to rejuvenate the battery.
Mine has lead a hard life and it's going strong after 3 years of use and abuse. YMMV
I've also heard of people wiring in a "dumb" trickle charger to a circuit that sees limited use like a lighting circuit.
Had good luck with this unit. They are often on sale and you can always use one of HF 20% off coupons. I've used it on the lawn tractor battery and on the huge battery in my Fordson Dexta. I've also used it on a Optima Red Top that wasn't seeming to take a full charge (a couple of deep discharges from leaving the car parked for a long period) and it seemed to rejuvenate the battery.
Mine has lead a hard life and it's going strong after 3 years of use and abuse. YMMV
I've also heard of people wiring in a "dumb" trickle charger to a circuit that sees limited use like a lighting circuit.
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1,108 Posts
Ditto. They keep my 2 batteries in the M35A2 charged all year round. They start to form surface rust on the terminal clamps at 1 year. At $5 they last a year no problem outdoors (hidden from rain in battery box) and just get new ones. In the garage i have the same for for the last 5 years.
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