Need a new battery charger.

[LeeB]

Tried to start my dozer yesterday to move it out of the driveway but it was too sluggish to turn over fast enough.  Didn't have time to mess with it right then. Late yesterday evening when I got home I hooked the charger to it and put it on 40 amp boost. I decided to give it a try and see if it would start like that. FIred right up. Unfortunately there was a reason it was sluggish in the morning. It was in reverse still. I now have a useless pancake that was once a pretty good charger. The brand was Shumacher and it was a pretty good charger. 12/6 volt, 200/40/10/2 amp. I figured I would replace it with a similar model from the same manufacturer. New one is about $165. The reviews are less than stellar. Any recommendations on one in close to the same price range that will charge deep cycle, standard, and AGM batteries?

[sprucebunny]

I would check other models by that same manufacturer. They are my prefered brand. 
I use a battery charger regularly since there are approximately 18 batteries in my life and most of them are old.

[sawguy21]

@LeeB  Did you also post under Dumb things I have done or hope that nobody would notice? :D :D You are wise looking at Schumacher and other quality brands, the cheap offshore units are a waste of money. I am not familiar with the brand but Associated gets good reviews.

[rusticretreater]

That sounds like a new way to do some arc welding!

Associated and Schumacher are right at the top for battery chargers.  You might also look at ones from Clore Automotive.

[TroyC]

I use the Schumacher 3/10 amp inverter smart charger and it works good. Last one I bought was about 40.00. Does not have the boost or starting mode but other than that works great. Tried a couple of the HF chargers, won't make that mistake again. 

[Tom King]

NOCO.

[hedgerow]

I don't think you can beat a Associated charger but there not cheap. The one I have has to be close to fifty years old because I bought it used well over forty years ago. I have put a couple timers in it and a few cords but its still working. I do have a small Schumacher over at the other farm and its been a good charger also. Probably thirty years old. 

[JJ]

Don't worry LeeB,
Without pictures it didn't happen!  ;D

FF rules :P, talk to the boss.

       JJ

[trimguy]

Get an analog one , not digital.

[Gary Davis]

harbor freight has one with a battery boost some times they have it on sale

[LeeB]

The one HF has is for standard batteries only. It's $150 right now and also has some poor reveiws.

[GRANITEstateMP]

I had to.search far and wide to get a new non-digital battery charger. A lot of the new ones have fancy safetys and won't even try and start a batt that has been discharged too low. 

[LeeB]

I'm pretty sure I am going for a Shumacher SC1437. Real close to what I had before and it's manual control, not computerized. 
12V 150A Manual Battery Charger/Engine Starter | Schumacher Electric

[customsawyer]

It will be disappointing if you run over this one. You will have lots of little plastic pieces to pick up. Hopefully you won't run over this one. I don't know where you could find a metal one like the older ones.

[YellowHammer]

That's a nice one.

[LeeB]

You will have lots of little plastic pieces to pick up

Believe it or not, it has a metal case.

[KirkD]

I understand you wanting an older analog charger but after using a newer smart charger I don't think I would invest any money in a changer that was not compatible with both Lead acid, AGM and Lithium batteries. Someone mentioned NOCO chargers. They work with Lead acid, AGM and Lithium.

[scsmith42]

I've found that both syles (smart and dumb) chargers are beneficial.  I forget how many batteries that we have here on the farm but it's north of 30.  For daily use, the smart chargers are best.  However when one of the farm hands (myself included) forgets to turn off a kill switch on a piece of equipment and the battery goes totally down, an analog (dumb) charger is needed to bring it back.

If I could only have one, it would need to be an analog charger because it can do everything.  However I'd have to be sure to set reminders to remove the batteries from it so they don't boil the liquid out.

[customsawyer]

I'm glad it has a metal case. It sure looked plastic in the picture.

[LeeB]

New charger was delivered today. Dozer was once again a little sluggish the other day so I figured I would give it a charge. The new charger worked so good the dozer fired right off before I even hooked up the charger.  :D :D