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Battery charger recommendations

Discussion in 'General Automotive' started by Hook78, Feb 20, 2021.

  1. Feb 20, 2021 at 8:27 AM
    #1
    Hook78

    Hook78 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Welp, finished topping off the boat starter battery the other night, and put everything away except the dang charger itself. Left it out overnight and it POURED. It’s a Schumacher SC1304, or at least it was. It was good to me until I was bad to it.

    Might be an opportunity to upgrade to something with more capability.

    Would appreciate any recommendations from the crowd.

    Needs:
    -charge auto, marine, and smaller AGM batteries that power a flounder gigging light for wading.
    -Display to show voltage and percent complete
    -Desulfator option whether manual or auto

    Wants/thoughts
    -more durable, even water proof / resistant I dare say
    -jump start capability? Perhaps capable of jumping a marine motor if offshore with unexpected battery drain? And the truck of course.
    -relatively small/lightweight
    -$ target would be <3 bills

    Thanks!
     
  2. Feb 20, 2021 at 6:28 PM
    #2
    Hook78

    Hook78 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Bumpity bump bump
     
  3. Feb 20, 2021 at 6:35 PM
    #3
    Bishop84

    Bishop84 Well-Known Member

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  4. Feb 20, 2021 at 7:30 PM
    #4
    Hook78

    Hook78 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks! Just finished reading up on the specs. When you say not good at boosting, assuming you mean for jump start. Could you elaborate? Looks like a great option for all my needs. I wonder how it would fare on periodic offshore trips. I’d probably just stow it in a dry bag.
     
  5. Feb 20, 2021 at 7:43 PM
    #5
    Bishop84

    Bishop84 Well-Known Member

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    Boosting you want 40A or more, Schumachers are known for that but typically the higher the amps, they are old school or extremely pricey.

    20A will assist with start, you just need to give it time.

    I have a 20A Mac charger at work I use to start cars all the time, but it won't start a fucked battery.
     
  6. Feb 20, 2021 at 7:48 PM
    #6
    ktmrdr

    ktmrdr Well-Known Member

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    I would check out Battery Tender products. They have a bunch to choose from.
     
  7. Feb 20, 2021 at 8:07 PM
    #7
    Hook78

    Hook78 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Ah, understood. Which has me thinking it might not be a bad idea to have a separate higher amperage jumper device that isn’t very fancy as a charger. Keep that one in my truck and take it on the boat when needed. Like the Noco Sport GB20.
     
  8. Feb 20, 2021 at 8:09 PM
    #8
    Hook78

    Hook78 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I’ll do that thanks. Any personal experience with a particular model that you like?
     
  9. Feb 21, 2021 at 5:12 AM
    #9
    ktmrdr

    ktmrdr Well-Known Member

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    I use this one. It works for all my car and RV batteries.
    https://www.batterytender.com/Battery-TenderR-Plus

    I also carry the NOCO GB40 in the the truck for jump starting.
     
  10. Feb 21, 2021 at 5:31 AM
    #10
    Hook78

    Hook78 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I might be way off, but the design of the battery tender line seems to be intended towards a fixed location use, like maybe a regular spot on a shelf in the garage or something like that. I like the look of the Noco chargers because they seem more geared towards mobile use. I keep my marine battery in the boat year round and just charge it with the battery switch off every 2-3 weeks. The only batteries that would sit in the garage are the little ones for the flounder light.

    What made you chose the GB40 jump starter over the GB20?
     
  11. Feb 21, 2021 at 8:01 AM
    #11
    ktmrdr

    ktmrdr Well-Known Member

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    I misunderstood your application. Yes, the battery tender is a fixed unit I keep in the garage. I chose the larger NOCO because I have a variety of cars.
     
    Hook78[OP] likes this.
  12. Feb 21, 2021 at 9:40 AM
    #12
    Hook78

    Hook78 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks, that’s helpful. Looks like I’ll pick up two of the NOCOs, one for charging around the house and one for emergency jump starts. The latter will check off a box on my recovery kit list as well.
     

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