So thought I would post an update, ended up buying a new Schumacher 2A charger maintainer and had to wait a couple of week for it to come in. Through the Polar Vortex I had no charger, thought it would freeze the battery I wouldn't have to worry about the charger. Plugged it in a week ago and checked it today without the charger plugged in and 12.55V so it was the charger and we are back in business. Thanks for your input.
That is good news, but you really need to keep an eye on that battery...12.5 vdc after an overnight charge on a new maintainer is definitely marginal and could Murphy you when you get back on the road.
Good battery should have 12.6 after you turned headlight on for 30 seconds. My battery tender fully charged is over 14 volts. Turning headlights on removes surface charge. Then it is 12.6.
I suspected I had a low battery because battery tender green light would not come on. Stayed red. Battery was 5 years old so I replaced it. Still would not show green. Replaced battery tender because it was over 5 years old. Still no green. Turned out to be quick connect cable harness.
A five year old battery will cause problems sooner, not later, and at the most inconvenient time and inopportune place. Murphy. You did not waste your time and $$ on a new one. I believe that you found two problems and fixed them both. Too bad you didn't realize it before buying the new charger.
Good battery should have 12.6 after you turned headlight on for 30 seconds. My battery tender fully charged is over 14 volts. Turning headlights on removes surface charge. Then it is 12.6.
I suspected I had a low battery because battery tender green light would not come on. Stayed red. Battery was 5 years old so I replaced it. Still would not show green. Replaced battery tender because it was over 5 years old. Still no green. Turned out to be quick connect cable harness.
Spent $175 for an $8 problem.
A fully charged battery on a good tender should be about 13 volts. If it's staying at 14, it can dry out the battery. The probelm is that the charger need to charge the battery to about 14.5 volts and hold it there for some time, probably about 30 minutes to an hour. After that it should switch the voltage to about 13 to 13.2. Smart charges have 3 modes, bulk (charging), absorb (14.5-14.7v) and float (13.0-13.2v). If the charger does not have enough current to reach absorb, it can kill the battery. Also if the voltages are way off, it can do the same.
Add. A poor connection to the can do the same. Not enough current.
Last edited by Max Headflow; 02-22-2019 at 09:22 AM.
A fully charged battery on a good tender should be about 13 volts. If it's staying at 14, it can dry out the battery. The probelm is that the charger need to charge the battery to about 14.5 volts and hold it there for some time, probably about 30 minutes to an hour. After that it should switch the voltage to about 13 to 13.2. Smart charges have 3 modes, bulk (charging), absorb (14.5-14.7v) and float (13.0-13.2v). If the charger does not have enough current to reach absorb, it can kill the battery. Also if the voltages are way off, it can do the same.
Add. A poor connection to the can do the same. Not enough current.
Great info that Battery Tender istructions should provide. And I could have used in checking out battery and charger
Suggest making this a Sticky..
02-07-2019, 10:22 AM
