PV Gap

Lucille Said:

How long does a car battery charger take to fully charge a battery?

We Answered:

depending on type of charger it could take several hours to overnight

Johnnie Said:

can i charge a scooter battery with a car battery charger?

We Answered:

yes, just make sure you charge the battery on as low a setting as possible

Rose Said:

I want to buy a car battery charger for my ice cream truck. Do you know how long the charge takes?

We Answered:

an automotive cranking battery won't last 6 months in a deepcycle application - get the biggest heaviest deep cycle batteries you can afford.

you want to charge your batteries at a starting current that is no greater than 25% of the RC (reserve capacity) rating, or 10% of the AH (amp-hour) rating of the battery.

get a charger that automatically shifts into "float charge" or "maintain mode" when it's finished charging.

this is *not* the same as a "trickle charge".

Lori Said:

Can i use same charger for car battery on a 12v sla sealed battery?

We Answered:

depends on the amp rating of your charger, if low should be OK.

Marcus Said:

Can a car battery charger be used for direct power supply?

We Answered:

The answer is NO on both counts.

Battery chargers are unregulated. When nothing is connected, the voltage can go as high as 16 volts. Also, the output is unfiltered. It's an AC chopped in two, not a smooth DC that one normally associate with DC. In some models, if you lightly load the charger, it will shutoff as it thinks charging is almost done.

No, it cannot provide as much amperage as the battery. Most of them charge at 10% rate, meaning if the battery was 60AH (which is capable of dispensing as much as 750 amps in short bursts) are charged at 6amp for 10 hours.

Lauren Said:

Can I use a car battery charger to charge smaller battery?

We Answered:

I don't see any reason why not.

Make sure you hook up the leads correctly and use the 6 amp setting - trying to force too many amps into your battery is a recipe for disaster. Don't leave the charger on too long, it may cause damage also unless the charger has a built in detector to stop charging when the battery is full.

If it is a little 12V battery you can probably get a new one for cheap as well. Something to consider.

If you are running this on a bicycle you should put a toggle switch in the circuit. If you wanted to get REALLY fancy you could make a place to mount an old alternator that is driven by the rear wheel - whenever you are pedaling the battery will be receiving juice. Sounds way too complicated for me, but it's possible if you are one of those "I wonder if I can do..." guys.

Walter Said:

Can a car battery CHARGER be used to power cars' headlights / interior lights, instead of battery?

We Answered:

yes you can use the battery charger to power the interior and head lights. Why disconnect the battery? If your battery needs a jump from using headlights for several minutes (not hours), your battery probably needs a good charge anyway.