02-06-2020, 07:00 AM
For any NZ local running an old car on 12v with occasional use and/or no voltage regulator or maintaining a low use "modern" I chanced to notice that the Warehouse are selling a 3.8 amp smart charger which claims to charge to 14.5 volts, taper off and float at about 13.5 which is close to the ideal. $59 whereas similar elsewhwere about double that. Whether id does as claimed or how reliable I dunno.
(The almost universal Low Maintenance battery has rendered simple old style chargers and traditonal recharging largely obsolete. i t was the practice to cut to about 7% AH capacity at 14 volts and stop when volts steady for half an hour or so, often around 15.5 volts. This involved a period of generous gassing. The modern batteries gas less (internally) and later but the full gas stage is to be avoided, at least on a routine basis. Prolonged 14.6 volts, as normal running in a modern, maintains full charge.)
(The almost universal Low Maintenance battery has rendered simple old style chargers and traditonal recharging largely obsolete. i t was the practice to cut to about 7% AH capacity at 14 volts and stop when volts steady for half an hour or so, often around 15.5 volts. This involved a period of generous gassing. The modern batteries gas less (internally) and later but the full gas stage is to be avoided, at least on a routine basis. Prolonged 14.6 volts, as normal running in a modern, maintains full charge.)