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LoneStar - 13 Jul 2007 21:18 GMT

At what setting should I charge (with a Sears battery charger) a moderately
discharged 12 volt car battery? My battery charger has a 2-amp and 10-amp
12 volt setting. My battery discharges quite a lot on one of my very old
cars (don't ask!!) and I recharge after every 2 or 3 times driven.

If I should use the 2-amp option, then what is the 10-amp setting ever used
for? Comments? Thanks.

EW

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MCL - 13 Jul 2007 22:43 GMT

Use the 10 amp setting for your car battery. The 2 amp is good for
motorcycle, ATV or electric start lawn mowers.

> At what setting should I charge (with a Sears battery charger) a moderately
> discharged 12 volt car battery? My battery charger has a 2-amp and 10-amp
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> EW

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LoneStar - 14 Jul 2007 00:44 GMT

> Use the 10 amp setting for your car battery. The 2 amp is good for
> motorcycle, ATV or electric start lawn mowers.

OK, will do. I thought the 2-amp setting would suffice, but will use the
10-amp option from now on. However, the 2-amp setting DOES fully charge the
battery after several hours. Thanks.

EW

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Scott Dorsey - 14 Jul 2007 02:24 GMT

>> Use the 10 amp setting for your car battery. The 2 amp is good for
>> motorcycle, ATV or electric start lawn mowers.
>
>OK, will do. I thought the 2-amp setting would suffice, but will use the
>10-amp option from now on. However, the 2-amp setting DOES fully charge the
>battery after several hours. Thanks.

It will. It will just take longer. A 100 mA solar charger also will fully
charge the battery, it will just take 100 times longer than the 10A charger
to get the same charge on the batter.
--scott

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"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

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PauL - 14 Jul 2007 01:33 GMT

> At what setting should I charge (with a Sears battery charger) a moderately
> discharged 12 volt car battery? My battery charger has a 2-amp and 10-amp
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> EW

Use 10 amps. Most battery chargers are self regulating and will taper
down
the amps as the battery gets full.

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larry moe 'n curly - 14 Jul 2007 13:58 GMT

> At what setting should I charge (with a Sears battery charger) a moderately
> discharged 12 volt car battery? My battery charger has a 2-amp and 10-amp
> 12 volt setting. My battery discharges quite a lot on one of my very old
> cars (don't ask!!) and I recharge after every 2 or 3 times driven.

Is it an automatic or manual charger? Because with a manual charger
the 10A setting could damage the battery after 1-2 days of use because
the current will usually stay above 1-2A, even at full charge. OTOH
automatic chargers contain an electronic regulator (you may be able to
see a circuit board through the vent openings) that makes the current
taper down to 1/2 A or less at full charge.

If the battery discharges a lot, it might be better to recharge it
after every trip, not after every 2-3.

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