Battery charging

[llfish]

Will I damage my batteries if I leave the charger leads connected to the battery and just unplug the charger.

 

[briannh1234]

Re: Battery charging

Depends on the design of the charger. Some batt chargers will actually drain the battery if left connected to the battery but un-plugged from the wall. The cheap ones don't have a dioed in there.<br /><br />- Brian

 

[llfish]

Re: Battery charging

Thanks Brian!!<br /><br />That is kind of what I thought.

 

[chuckz]

Re: Battery charging

What???? How do they get DC without a diode?

 

[cmyers_uk]

Re: Battery charging

You should be able to test whether when switched off your charger is drawing current with a multimeter. remove the + charger terminal from the + on the battery but leave connected the - from the charger to the neg on the battery. Set your multimeter to DC volts and connect the + from the multimeter to the + on the battery an the - on the multimeter to the + lead on the charger. If it reads 12V (charger off and unplugged!) it is drawing current and you should not leave it on, if it shows 0 volts you know it will not drain your battery.

 

[cmyers_uk]

Re: Battery charging

LI Chuck, I think he is talking about the Reverse current prevention diode as opposed to the diode bridge which is used for the rectifier circuit which changes AC into DC.

 

[chuckz]

Re: Battery charging

Maybe, but most cheap battery chargers do not have any output filtering. The only discharge path would have to include the bridge rectifier. If you have a highly regulated charger then you have the regulator circuit and need the isolation diode. This said, I always disconnect my charger.<br /><br />Your method is a good way to determine if a problem exists. I would use a miiliammeter and a series connection, but I like your simple approach. Much less room for error

 

[cmyers_uk]

Re: Battery charging

I agree I would always disconnect (habit) but I dont think its necessary with my charger I suppose test it and see would be the best way forward. Would you agree if its not drawing any current then leaving it connected will do no harm?<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />Chris

 

[llfish]

Re: Battery charging

Thanks Chris<br /><br />Will try your suggestion.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Battery charging

Get a processor controled charger and leave it plugged in on a charge. Mines been on for over a year. When i finally get the boat back to use the battery should be just fine. As long as it is charged it should be good.

 

[chuckz]

Re: Battery charging

If the charger isn't drawing current from the battery, it can't discharge the battery.