Batteries

[salt6]

I was at Academy sporting goods Today and noticed 12 volt solar chargers. I was wondering if these could be used to maintain the charge on the mutts batteries?

[Fil Bonica]

Done all the time. There is a package called a solargizer that you may see advertized that does just what you are describing.
You may need two because the Mutt of course has 24 volts.
Not to be smart but remember to use it outside and not in the dark!!!

Fil Bonica

[rickf]

And make sure you hook them individually to each battery. Do not try to get 24 volts out of two 12 volt chargers.


Rick

[Ralph Fuller]

Some of the trucks being bought through Government Liquidation have the battery maintenance devices already installed by the military.
You can find some here:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=n ... nce+system

[raymond]

I have always heard that the proper way to charge the batteries is with a 24 volt charger and charge them as a pair. You can end up with uneven charging if charging the batteries separately using two 12 volt chargers. That is what I have read quite a number of times on several different sites.

[Francis Marion]

An uneven charge shouldn't hurt anything.

[ida34]

An uneven charge can be a problem but only if the difference is pretty good. In other words, don't charge just one battery and not the other. The alternator or generator depending on which you have, only sees the cumulative voltage. If it sees less then 24 volts then it puts out a charge until it sees this. If one battery is at 12 volts and the other is at 10 volts then it will charge both. The 12 volt battery will end up overcharged while the other battery will not get enough. This process ends in the formally good battery getting overcharged to the point it boils off the acid and goes bad. When you replace batteries on the 24 volt systems always change both at the same time as if one battery is a little week it may trigger the uneven condition that will kill the good battery.

Also, Solargizers are not chargers. The work to desulfate the battery plates. This is important for batteries that sit for long periods of time. They will not charge batteries but do provide a very small charge to do its work of desulfating the plates. Most batteries die from sulfated plates and some bad batteries can be brought back to life with a desulfating charger. Some newer chargers have a desulfate feature. Solargizers are available in 24 volt for construction equipment and military vehicles. In this case you use one for both batteries. If you get a 12 volt unit then you would need two or one per battery.

[Ralph Fuller]

Here is an interesting way to connect a battry. Makes a person wanna say, "Holy crap!"

[halftracknut]

Sorry but I gotta ask, is that seebee's battery........I mean seebee's have a lot of special tool .HTN

[SEABEE62]

Why yes it is.....and usually we tap it snug with a hammer !!!! Good eye HTN Seabee

[ida34]

I like how the handle looks like it is making contact with the other terminal.

[raymond]

I had a battery terminal go bad out on the river once. I used a pair of wire cutters to cut the old terminal off the cable. I didn't have a C clamp so I used a pair of vice grips to hold the cable to the battery. Beats calling the marina to tow you in.

[rickf]

I had a battery terminal go bad out on the river once. I used a pair of wire cutters to cut the old terminal off the cable. I didn't have a C clamp so I used a pair of vice grips to hold the cable to the battery. Beats calling the marina to tow you in.

Been there done that! On more than one occasion at that.


Rick