Need a Battery charger

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RAT ROD AL

RAT ROD AL

MOPAR ARCHEOLOGIST - one parts hoard at a time!
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I need s 12 volt charger to test lights, starters and other electrical parts. Problem with this new crap is they aren't set up to put out 12 volts . The old ones used to spark when you touched the leads together. New ones I found won't charge a dead battery. What do I need to look for ?
 
See if Schumacher still makes a manual charger.
 
You need an old booster pack or just a good battery. None of the new chargers work without a battery with voltage present...
 
I see fully automatic. How about an Analog one ?
 
A charger is a poor substitute for a battery. The old ones make tons of ripple, AKA very dirty output. An, if you have something, say a radio, with ANY solid state stuff, they output is so dirty it could damage something.

Also, for starters, most chargers are pretty limited for amperage.
 
RAT ROD AL said:
I need s 12 volt charger to test lights, starters and other electrical parts. Problem with this new crap is they aren't set up to put out 12 volts . The old ones used to spark when you touched the leads together. New ones I found won't charge a dead battery. What do I need to look for ?
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Good old hobby transformer is sufficient for testing some electrical systems.
 
Look through your junk drawer for wall warts or lap top chargers.

Look for anything with 12v to 15v DC output.

Cut the low voltage connector end off and strip back the wires.

Thrift stores and good will stores are a good source.


Amazon
12v DC 5A $12.00

It even comes with an adapter to hook up wires!


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GEA8PQA?tag=fabo03-20


You could also get a motorcycle / ATV battery and use your existing charger to keep it charged. Then use it to test.
 
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Just buy a battery and charge it as needed. I have an extra battery and it works fine for everything I need to test/work on.
 
I have an old craftsman I bought at a yard sale fo $20 with wheels. And I have a new expensive snap-on $300. The Craftsman is my Go to when I need to charge the Batteries in a Diesel with two batteries at once. I bought the snap-on because the craftsman broke a wheel . Now I just carry the craftsman. I'll sell you a real pretty snap-on if you want.
 
I have an old one on wheels that I pulled off the curb on trash day 30 years ago. Still works awesome. The timer doesn't work so you have to pay attention.
 
These small 12 volt Garden Tractor batteries carry the 12 volt punch, are light and easy to carry around.

Screenshot_20241119-060700_Gallery.jpg


Used them as permanent batteries in the VW powered dune buggies.

Should serve your need for testing parts.


☆☆☆☆☆
 
George Jets said:
These small 12 volt Garden Tractor batteries carry the 12 volt punch, are light and easy to carry around.
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I agree. They will start Slant 6 engines with ease. Lower compression V8 like a 318 too.As long as they are in a good state of tune.
Beats paying $200 for a type 24. Battery prices rise daily.
 
Kendog 170 said:
I have an old one on wheels that I pulled off the curb on trash day 30 years ago. Still works awesome. The timer doesn't work so you have to pay attention.
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I worked for a trucking company in the 80's. We used one for testing trailer lights. Drivers would damage the marker lights hitting tree branches all the time. I have to say sometimes the charger was hooked up for hours as we were interrupted during the job to be pulled off for some other work. Yeah, our timer was broke too. Worked for us !
 
Darter6 said:
I agree. They will start Slant 6 engines with ease. Lower compression V8 like a 318 too.As long as they are in a good state of tune.
Beats paying $200 for a type 24. Battery prices rise daily.
Click to expand...
How bout it. Had to buy a group 27 here recently. Alot more than I paid the last time.
Still trying to figure this one out.why did it decide to die right then and there?
The day of my mom's funeral.
The Durango started fine, no hint of problem when we left home. We went and picked up the monster in law, shut off and started there at her house just fine.
Got to the funeral home, just walked over to the Durango to head to the cemetery and...... Click.
Had to get a ride to the cemetery, and my son brought me back to the dead Durango, walked next door to the Napa and bought an (ugh) interstate battery. It's all they had. But I had no choice but to get that one then and there.
 
volaredon said:
How bout it. Had to buy a group 27 here recently. Alot more than I paid the last time.
Still trying to figure this one out.why did it decide to die right then and there?
The day of my mom's funeral.
The Durango started fine, no hint of problem when we left home. We went and picked up the monster in law, shut off and started there at her house just fine.
Got to the funeral home, just walked over to the Durango to head to the cemetery and...... Click.
Had to get a ride to the cemetery, and my son brought me back to the dead Durango, walked next door to the Napa and bought an (ugh) interstate battery. It's all they had. But I had no choice but to get that one then and there.
Click to expand...
Give me a call next time. If you're a Knapps or Baers. Ill come give you a hand!
 
I've got a snap on battery charger on wheels, that I bought probably 20-25 years ago. So far so good. Since Mom died we've been clearing things out of her house and garage so we can sell the house. I made sure to grab Dad's old Sears charger he bought when was probably 12 years old, late 70s/early 80s and gave it to my son since he was always using mine. Says Sears on it but id guess it's really an old Schumacher.
 
For me it was the day of my surgery. Had to drive 63 miles to the surgery center. Wife dropped me off,went to start the car. Dead....:BangHead: Only 3 years old.
 
I have an old testing box, 110 to 12v, pretty neat, still works.
Seems they would still make those?
 
I would check pawn shops, flea markets etc.
 
volaredon said:
How bout it. Had to buy a group 27 here recently. Alot more than I paid the last time.
Still trying to figure this one out.why did it decide to die right then and there?
The day of my mom's funeral.
The Durango started fine, no hint of problem when we left home. We went and picked up the monster in law, shut off and started there at her house just fine.
Got to the funeral home, just walked over to the Durango to head to the cemetery and...... Click.
Had to get a ride to the cemetery, and my son brought me back to the dead Durango, walked next door to the Napa and bought an (ugh) interstate battery. It's all they had. But I had no choice but to get that one then and there.
Click to expand...
I had the same bad luck. Picking up my mother-in-law to go to my sons Wake. Driving my wife's BMW (Not mine) and it suddenly spits out the driveshaft. The light rumble it just started getting was what I thought to be a bad wheel bearing. :BangHead:
 
I have an Old school 6 Volt multi battery charger. If you dial it up with no batteries hooked it will goes up the 13v. Just gave me an idea.

Charger 2.jpeg
 
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