Is the B&D $26 charger a trickle charger or a regular battery charger?

My 1 amp trickle charger is safe to be left on and plugged in for months on end. I don't know about a regular charger left on for days.

http://www.farm-home.com/cgi-bin/miva?/mn/t7_main.pl+index+HTL+005020+select+0610

-Jim

And for those of you serious about your Canadian weather, a battery warmer.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/tf-Browse/s-10101/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2006128/p-2006128/N-111+10201+600000917/c-10101

It looked like it may have been designed for semi-permanent installation. It had three ways to hook it to the battery: Clamps, ring terminals, and a plug to put into a 12 volt outlet. The other cord had a two prong plug for a 110v outlet.

You should verify that it is designed as a "tender" type charger that can be left plugged in indefinitely without overcharging the battery. For example, some people leave their motorcycle or boat batteries charging all winter. You can't do that with a "normal" charger without damaging the battery.

Thanks for the tip. I'll look for the word "Tender" in the description.

Is this one O.K.
 

I couldn't find the Wal-Mart Black & Decker one on line, but I did see this one at Advanced Auto. Is it suitable for worry free installation and use as it says "Maintenance?"

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?categorycode=3014&mfrcode=SHU&mfrpartnumber=SE112S

I hope this link works.

As far as battery tenders go......I lived aboard a sailboat for several years, owned the boat for quite a few more years......I used, and recommended to folks...a product called ?Bat-Cat"......they make them for various numbers of batteries....Boat US, and West Marine are a couple of places one may purchase good quality battery tenders.....

And, folks talked about putting block heaters on timers........I use a plug-in thermostatic switch.....set to around 30-35 degrees.......those can be found at Hydroponic Supply houses....and perhaps Grainger.....got mine from Northern Tool several years ago when I had the 240D......

I wonder why I always take a different approach to stuff????:D

SB

That looks like the type you want to get (I just looked at mine and it's actually the same brand, but my 1.5 amp charger looks a little different, it's rectangular. This may just be a later model). I don't know if it's the best brand available, but mine has worked for several years without any problems.

Well, at least this is one small upgrade I can afford. Thanks for the direction.

Heh, I actually had this same brand on an older car I had in storage for about 1.5 years. Other than having to reprime the fuel system, and nudge a few relays that had gotten a little oxidized, the power system was fine, and the car drove off (to get a full check of the lubrication..) after all that time.

The battery tender did it's job.

Currently I have a little 1amp/2amp switchable charger that I picked up from Napa.
I'd intended it for my motorcycle, but when the MB decided that it wanted to drain a new battery, it worked to charge it up, and tend it at that level.

The only problem I can see about using this one would be that it does have LED's on it to indicate charge state and fault status, so it might have some drain through it when not line powered. (something to check next time I have it hooked up, I think.

On mine, the LCDs only seem to come on when it's plugged in. One indicates it's charging and the other indicates a full charge.