Posted: 5/6/2010 11:54:22 AM EDT
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So, in my quest for backup power for my mobile rig, I was considering getting the following: http://www.gruberpower.com/gruberpower/advertising/batteries/cutsheets/58-GPS12-34.asp And I'm assuming I can just use the following: http://batterytender.com/automotive/battery-tender-plus-12v-at-1-25a.html I was going to keep this sealed battery inside and plugged into the tender 24/7 to float it and keep it ready to go. I'm assuming this is the way to go - but most of the writeups I've seen people are using somewhat smaller batteries or different models of the tenders - just want to make sure I don't screw it up and get the wrong charger to use with the battery I plan to acquire. I'm also assuming the battery tenders for 12v can pretty much be tied into any 12v battery, regardless of size? Just want to make sure I can get a smaller battery if I want as well. |
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I use a pair of 12 v 12 ah GLA batteries in parallel. These were purchased as the RBC-6, or RBC6, from Gruber. So that makes 24 ah. I keep it charged with a Battery Tender 800 (800 ma). ARJedi turned me on to this battery set. He uses the Battery Tender Junior, which is rated 750 ma. The difference between these chargers is insignificant, as far as charging rate. The 800 is water resistant, for outdoor use. The Junior is a "wall wart" type.
For the 34 mah battery you linked to the 1.25 amp charger would be entirely appropriate, though the smaller Junior would likely do as well. AFM |
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Personally I would get a batteryminder. I have a buddy that came across and entire bank of batteries that had a clear case on them. He's been using the batteryminder to keep them charged and conditioned and you can see how the cloudiness of the battery is going away. |
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I think the Junior can be bought for $25-$30. The 800 was about $50.
The higher the amp rating of the charger, the faster it will charge a given battery size. Since discharging to 50% is about as much as is prudent, your 34 ah battery, at 50% discharge, would require 17 ah / 1.25 a = 13.6 hours to recharge with the 1.25 amp model. or 17 ah / 0.750 a = 22.7 hours to recharge with the Junior. 17 ah / 0.800 a = 21.3 hours to recharge with the 800. After coming up to full charge, they charger will drop to a trickle. Just maintaining a floating charge, the Junior would probably work fine. I'm using the 800 with four 12 ah SLA's in parallel, that is, 48 ah. |
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Quoted: Personally I would get a batteryminder. I have a buddy that came across and entire bank of batteries that had a clear case on them. He's been using the batteryminder to keep them charged and conditioned and you can see how the cloudiness of the battery is going away. What's the difference? I've always heard the best reviews on the Batterytenders... seem to be the same type of device. |
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Quoted:
I use a pair of 12 v 12 ah GLA batteries in parallel. These were purchased as the RBC-6, or RBC6, from Gruber. So that makes 24 ah. I keep it charged with a Battery Tender 800 (800 ma). ARJedi turned me on to this battery set. He uses the Battery Tender Junior, which is rated 750 ma. The difference between these chargers is insignificant, as far as charging rate. The 800 is water resistant, for outdoor use. The Junior is a "wall wart" type.AFM +1 for the BT Junior. I use it to charge (2) 12 ah AGM batteries in parallel also. 
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Quoted:
Cool I just didn't want to go too powerful and blow the damn thing up  Since it will be inside, I'd like to keep it as safe as possible. If the Jr units are cheaper I may look at those too if they're sufficient.
how do you think your going to "blow the damn thing up"? |
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Quoted: Quoted: Cool I just didn't want to go too powerful and blow the damn thing up Since it will be inside, I'd like to keep it as safe as possible. If the Jr units are cheaper I may look at those too if they're sufficient. how do you think your going to "blow the damn thing up"? Because I'm completely retarded when it comes to electricity? Good enough reason to double check my facts before I do something stupid, I'd think. |
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The Battery Tender and other similar units sense the battery voltage and automatically cut back to a maintenance trickle. They are designed to be left on 24/7 and will keep the battery in top notch shape.
When a SLA battery slowly self-discharges, such as a boat or not often ridden motorcycle, or perhaps your muscle car project that you only drive on sunny Sunday afternoons, even though you occasionally crank them up and drive them, that is just not good for the battery. These automatic chargers do a good job of keeping batteries in good condition, and are ideal for backup power for ham radio. |
| I was told by my off-road shop, who is pretty credible, that BT's are not designed for Optima batteries. They had an alternate charger that had a special mode for Optima-type batts. I will post the name when I go down and see it. I use BT's for my ATVs and they work great. |
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Quoted:
The Battery Tender and other similar units sense the battery voltage and automatically cut back to a maintenance trickle. They are designed to be left on 24/7 and will keep the battery in top notch shape. When a SLA battery slowly self-discharges, such as a boat or not often ridden motorcycle, or perhaps your muscle car project that you only drive on sunny Sunday afternoons, even though you occasionally crank them up and drive them, that is just not good for the battery. These automatic chargers do a good job of keeping batteries in good condition, and are ideal for backup power for ham radio. I'm a bit concerned about my primary battery. I dropped the coin on an Optima yellow top that I keep on a BT jr. I've noticed lately, though, that if I disconnect the power to run from the battery the radio cuts out if I use full power. I still need to check the Whattmeter to see what kind of voltage drop I'm getting but I certainly didn't expect that. I'd hate to think such an expensive battery is already dead and it's hardly been used. |
Went ahead and ordered a BatteryMinder today for $39.99 from Northern Tool. It runs at 1.3A so if I'd ordered the BT+ to get 1.25A, it would have cost more anyway, and this way I get the fancy electronic pulse maintenance. I'm anxious to see if it works some magic on some old batteries I have laying around. I'm likely just going to get a 135Ah deep cycle marine battery to keep it hooked up to in the garage, and will then lug that sucker around when necessary  |
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Quoted:
Went ahead and ordered a BatteryMinder today for $39.99 from Northern Tool. It runs at 1.3A so if I'd ordered the BT+ to get 1.25A, it would have cost more anyway, and this way I get the fancy electronic pulse maintenance. I'm anxious to see if it works some magic on some old batteries I have laying around. I'm likely just going to get a 135Ah deep cycle marine battery to keep it hooked up to in the garage, and will then lug that sucker around when necessary Egay has the JR's for 25$ shipped fyi.... |
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By the way, Harbor Freight is having a Memorial Day sale this weekend - their inverters are on sale. I just picked up this guy for $32 plus tax after using a 20% coupon: http://www.harborfreight.com/750-watt-continuous-1500-watt-peak-power-inverter-66817.html |
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Quoted: By the way, Harbor Freight is having a Memorial Day sale this weekend - their inverters are on sale. I just picked up this guy for $32 plus tax after using a 20% coupon: http://www.harborfreight.com/750-watt-continuous-1500-watt-peak-power-inverter-66817.html Looks like I've got an excuse to drive down to the local Harbor Freight to pick one up! |
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Quoted:
By the way, Harbor Freight is having a Memorial Day sale this weekend - their inverters are on sale. I just picked up this guy for $32 plus tax after using a 20% coupon: http://www.harborfreight.com/750-watt-continuous-1500-watt-peak-power-inverter-66817.html Is the 20% coupon code shareable?
-Slice |
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Quoted:
Went ahead and ordered a BatteryMinder today for $39.99 from Northern Tool. It runs at 1.3A so if I'd ordered the BT+ to get 1.25A, it would have cost more anyway, and this way I get the fancy electronic pulse maintenance. I'm anxious to see if it works some magic on some old batteries I have laying around. I'm likely just going to get a 135Ah deep cycle marine battery to keep it hooked up to in the garage, and will then lug that sucker around when necessary Another local ham and I were discussing this very topic the other night on 2m. We concluded that buying 2 smaller batteries, say 70AH each, would be easier to transport. This would also add redundancy. Say if one battery went t/u, you would have a secondary battery to fall back on. We were talking about SLA and AGM types. |
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Quoted: Quoted: By the way, Harbor Freight is having a Memorial Day sale this weekend - their inverters are on sale. I just picked up this guy for $32 plus tax after using a 20% coupon: http://www.harborfreight.com/750-watt-continuous-1500-watt-peak-power-inverter-66817.html Is the 20% coupon code shareable? -Slice Sadly, I get physical ones from my American Rifleman and Guns 'n Ammo magazines. Each month there's a 20% off coupon in each one of them. Don't know of a current online one. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Went ahead and ordered a BatteryMinder today for $39.99 from Northern Tool. It runs at 1.3A so if I'd ordered the BT+ to get 1.25A, it would have cost more anyway, and this way I get the fancy electronic pulse maintenance. I'm anxious to see if it works some magic on some old batteries I have laying around. I'm likely just going to get a 135Ah deep cycle marine battery to keep it hooked up to in the garage, and will then lug that sucker around when necessary Another local ham and I were discussing this very topic the other night on 2m. We concluded that buying 2 smaller batteries, say 70AH each, would be easier to transport. This would also add redundancy. Say if one battery went t/u, you would have a secondary battery to fall back on. We were talking about SLA and AGM types. Problem with that right now would be cost - since I can get a big 135Ah for just a bit more $$. I may eventually get a couple smaller batteries, but I think I'll start off with a single biggun |