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Message started by JRLeathercraft on 03/20/13 at 16:58:25

Title: Float vs trickle
Post by JRLeathercraft on 03/20/13 at 16:58:25

What is the difference between a float and trickle charger?

Title: Re: Float vs trickle
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/20/13 at 17:30:26

TRickle is always a low current into the battery.
Float will cut off once battery V is high enough

Title: Re: Float vs trickle
Post by Uno-Lung on 03/20/13 at 17:59:04

Which is better, and why?

Title: Re: Float vs trickle
Post by rfw2003 on 03/20/13 at 18:09:46

depends,

Float chargers are meant for long term use while still attached to the battery, where as trickle chargers are not meant to stay connected to the battery for long periods of time.

Float chargers are designed to be connected to the battery and hold them at a "float" voltage for the life of the battery where power outages are not very common, so basically your float charger is a battery maintenance charger.

Now trickle chargers are designed to use a low current to slowly bring a battery up to 100% charge, now depending on the charger itself it may or may not shut off at this point. Most sub $100 trickle chargers don't completely shutoff and still keep putting a current into the battery and if you keep it hooked up to the battery it will eventually cook the battery.

R.F.

Title: Re: Float vs trickle
Post by Dave on 03/21/13 at 06:24:42

The Trickle Charger keeps sending power to the battery at a slow rate. It does not monitor the battery and know when it is full.....it just keeps sending juice and trying to overfill the battery. The trickle charger works great to slowly charge a battery and bring it up to voltage - but you should remove it when the battery is fully charged....whenever that is. Usually the Owners Manual will give you average charge times for different size batteries.

The Float Charger or Battery Maintainer monitors the battery and turns on and off as the battery becomes fully charged. It can be left on for long periods of time and will not overcharge the battery. It cannot be used to charge a battery that is discharged - and most of them will not recognize a battery that is connected when it falls below a certain amount of charge.....the battery should be in a good state of charge when the Float Charger or Maintainer is connected.

So.....You can get a Float Charger if you are looking to keep your battery fully charged while you are not riding. If you need to charge a dead battery sometime......your float charger/maintanier may not work and you will need a charger. Most motorycle batteries recommend charging at 1.5 amps maximum.

Title: Re: Float vs trickle
Post by Routy on 03/21/13 at 06:56:20

I think a trickle charger (as we knew it) is almost a thing of the past. They were popular long before regulated float chargers were designed. Most any 1 - 2 amp chargers nowdays are a float (maintainer) charger.

It all come down to voltage. If a charger is to maintain a battery in warmer temps, it should not maintain at over 13.2 - 13.4 max,..... in colder weather, then over 14 volts can be ok. If your trickle charger is showing 13.6 - 13.8 like most the older chargers, it will boil a (bike) battery dry in a month or less,.....if the weather is over 70 - 80 degrees.

In the ideal world, and w/ a good CC, a temperature regulated charger is the only way to do it correctly under all condidions.
All info like this comes from....and is well supported on line at several battery websites,.....like 12 volt side of life.