PDA

View Full Version : Battery Charger question.


Rockettman
10-02-2012, 08:05 AM
For years, I've taken the batteries out of the cars for the winter storage.
Put a "monitering" charger/maintainer, on them to keep them up.

Now with products like the CTEK one; and some others similar locally; I've noticed they have ring-terminals as a hook up option.

I was always taught that the gas from a battery was the reason to hook the wires up away from eachother. (+ on battery / - on metal).

Question is (with these new chargers/maintainers):
Can I keep the batteries in the cars; hooked up; and put the ring leads both on the battery? Or does the old school still apply?
I want to keep them charging while the covers are on as well. Is this ok?
fastblackmerc
10-02-2012, 08:08 AM
For years, I've taken the batteries out of the cars for the winter storage.
Put a "monitering" charger/maintainer, on them to keep them up.

Now with products like the CTEK one; and some others similar locally; I've noticed they have ring-terminals as a hook up option.

I was always taught that the gas from a battery was the reason to hook the wires up away from eachother. (+ on battery / - on metal).

Question is (with these new chargers/maintainers):
Can I keep the batteries in the cars; hooked up; and put the ring leads both on the battery? Or does the old school still apply?
I want to keep them charging while the covers are on as well. Is this ok?

Yes, no, yes
Rockettman
10-02-2012, 08:34 AM
Thanks Jim.

Can you explain (because I just don't know), why it's ok now to use the ring terminals? Batteries still omit gases don't they?
martyo
10-02-2012, 08:36 AM
What Jim said.

All of my collector cars (as opposed to my dailies/work trucks) are on tenders full time and I use either the ring terminal style connectors or the alligator syle connectors, depending on the car.
fastblackmerc
10-02-2012, 09:00 AM
Thanks Jim.

Can you explain (because I just don't know), why it's ok now to use the ring terminals? Batteries still omit gases don't they?

Most batteries are "sealed". The chance of them emitting any hydrogen gas is minimal. When connecting a charger, jumper cables or reconnecting a battery you connect to the positive terminal first then connect the negative terminal. If you connect the negative first then the positive you will get a spark that will ignite any hydrogen gas if present. That happened to me once..... blew the top of the battery off and splashed acid all over the place... including me.

Using the ring terminals makes a "permanent" connection so there will be no spark(s) when starting the charger.

This is how I use a battery charger or jumper cables:

Charger - connect the + & - cables from the charger to the battery. Plug in the charger. Unplug the charger before removing any of the cables from the charger to the battery.

Jumper cables - with the engine off on the "jumper" car connect the jumper cables to the "jumper" car. Connect the other end of the cable to the + battery terminal of the "jumpie", connect the - end of the cable to a metal part on the engine or another part in the engine compartment as far away as possible from the + terminal. Start the "jumper" car and let the battery in the "jumpie" charge for a few minutes.
RF Overlord
10-02-2012, 10:29 AM
^^^what they said^^^

I have a CTEK on The Blackbird and used the ring terminals for a quasi-permanent connection. I also keep it covered and have never had an issue. The nice thing about this setup is that if I need to charge something else, like my portable generator, I can just unplug the nifty little MOLEX connector that comes with the CTEK tender and use the alligator clip cable then return it to the car when I'm done. Easy Peasy.
Rockettman
10-02-2012, 10:44 AM
^^^ do you have the negative "ring" on the battery, or the car? (I know...I know...positive goes to positive).
martyo
10-02-2012, 10:45 AM
^^^ do you have the negative "ring" on the battery, or the car? (I know...I know...positive goes to positive).

On the battery.
Rockettman
10-02-2012, 10:48 AM
Ok. Got it. Thanks once again everyone. :)
fastblackmerc
10-02-2012, 10:55 AM
^^^ do you have the negative "ring" on the battery, or the car? (I know...I know...positive goes to positive).

You can add the - ring terminal from the charger to the - battery terminal, or any other ground.

You can add the + ring terminal to the + battery terminal or the + connector on the underhood fuse / relay box.
RF Overlord
10-02-2012, 11:08 AM
Both rings are on the battery.
fastblackmerc
10-02-2012, 11:26 AM
Both rings are on the battery.

Doesn't look as "clean" as I like.
screamn
10-02-2012, 01:17 PM
I prefer the Battery Tender which is always hooked up to the battery on my truck 355 days of the year with no problemos.

This is the one:

http://batterytender.com/battery-tender-plus-12v-at-1-25a.html
martyo
10-02-2012, 01:23 PM
[QUOTE=screamn;1222110]I prefer the Battery Tender which is always hooked up to the battery on my truck 355 days of the year /QUOTE]

What d you do for the other ten days of the year?
screamn
10-02-2012, 05:05 PM
[QUOTE=screamn;1222110]I prefer the Battery Tender which is always hooked up to the battery on my truck 355 days of the year /QUOTE]

What d you do for the other ten days of the year?

That's about how many times I drive the truck.....lol :D

I wish it was the other way around.

Driving the Rauder 10 days & the truck as my DR.