http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=DTN-021-0128&N=700+115&autoview=sku im thinking about getting one. Does this have to be plugged into a wall or does it simply hook up to the ground and positive terminals? any cautions?
I watched the show on TV that explains how these work and the company behind them. Top Notch people, All American! Can't wait to get one myself! Looking forward to response from Board members!
I bought one about 4 months ago.I have only used it on my motorcycle batteries but seems to work well.You leave it plugged in all the time and it monitors battery state of charge and trickle charges it only as necessary.
OVER PRICED Yes floating chargers work much much much better then even a big box charger. But you can get them at harborfreight for $7 I got a 2-10-50 box and my $7 floater works better. Any time I need to charge up a battery I grab my $7 floater. Only good use the box one has been latley was for rust removal. Feel free to pay $60 if you want just cause it comes from summit but you'll only be lighter in the wallet. That $7 floater has proved it self over and over again to be the best. Why I asked for 2 more for Xmas. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42292
Here at the job, Our school syster has 2 generators which must be kept in service year round for Hurricane season and any long term power outage. The units came with factory battery charge conditioners. On the older unit the charger went bad and is not equipt with an auto run timer. So we have them start the unit when ever someone remembers that it needs testing. This became a problem if it sat for too long. The Battery would be dead. Being that we have an open account with NAPA, I purchased a battery conditioner to leave on the battery all the time. The new unit only charges about 1 or 2 AMPS when needed to keep up the battery. The first unit lasted about 8 years but was knocked out by a lightning strike. So now we have installed another of the same unit. They sold for around $40.oo last time I bought one. But as stated above the Harbor Freight $7.oo unit might be the way to go. Just my .02......
I do not think it is overpriced. MADE in USA. Why trust your pride and joy to low priced Chinese junk. They are worth every cent of the $50 or so I paid for mine about 10 years ago. Still works like new. $4??? Come on. Can you say.:af:
Open it up and I bet your find chineese parts just like in the computer your using. Assembled in america is all you get anymore with anythin electronic. Don't be a fool and believe that made in america label, its assembled in america only.
With anything charging a lead-acid battery, ensure you have some sort of ventilation to expel the hydrogen that is produced from the charging process over time. (Always remember the Hindenburg) ou: ...and at only a measly 1.25 amps, will take like 10 hours to charge a 15 amp hour battery to 80%...
Unless you were charging thousands of batteries in an extremely small space, the amount of hydrogen that comes from one battery is harmless!!:Smarty:
Seems to do better then that but I frist figured it out when I brought my portable DVD player in the house. No need for it in a car. So I had it hooked up to a spare car battery. Figured it would be good for it, getting a work out over sitting. Well the DVD player really sucked down the juice. Then I started to leave the charger on it allot. Id have that sucker on 10amps near 24/7 [had to unhooked it when in use, made noise that came through the movie.] and id still run the battery down all the time. Got sick of my charger beingin the house when I needed it so I got that $7 floater as it was cheap and small, didn't know what a floater even was. It was cheap. Well form then on it was left on 24/7 [didn't make noise through power] and that battery stayed fully charged all the time. Even during heavy use. Took me a bit to catch on, I was still using my 2-10-50 box charger for car stuff but when I got a new DVD for the house I had the floater to use now. And it kicks the regular box chargers butt up n down the street. Only thing the box is good for is the 50 if your in a hurry. I know the 2-10-50 works, work find for rust removal so it pushing juice but if you need to let a battery sit or are gonna do an over night charge. Toss the box away and float that sucker like a boat.
Dude, I have blown them up. ou: Granted, being inattentive, and with much larger amperage than 1.25 Amps. Probably to the point of electrolysis, but all the same. 100% possible. First hand experience, with one battery.
I too have seen a car battery explode in auto shop in high school. Thankfully the person hooking up the charger was wearing safety glasses as the top of the battery blew off the battery along with a bunch of acid into his face. He more than likely would be blind now w/o the glasses. I use a little floating charger. Mine had terminals to hard wire it to the battery. I cut those off went to radioshack and picked up some medium sized clips and clip it to the battery and plug it into the wall. nate
So the hydrogen contained itself in the battery and then ignited somehow? Wow, now that does sound dangerous, you're right.
Ive seen several batterys explode.Everytime it was when someone disconected the charger or jumper cables creating a spark to ignite the gases.Allways un-plug the charger before attaching/removing the terminal clamps:TU: Dont think for a second it cant happen!!!
I had an angel save me from one, being a dumb board kit with an old battery in the drive way with one cable on it. I sat there thinking oh cool it makes sparks. Few min of fun making sparks them BOOM, but the stuff shot straight out into the side yard and didn't touch me. I didn't do that anymore either.
