SuzukiSavage.com - Car Battery

rl153 Serious Thumper Offline S40 Just right! Posts: 906 Bloomfield,CT Gender:	Car Battery 01/04/12 at 06:44:23 I have a 95 buick regal. The battery is slowing down, can I hook up the harbor freight float charger to it to recharge it,without disconnecting it from the car? Thanks!
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prechermike

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Re: Car Battery
Reply #1 - 01/04/12 at 06:58:11

I would say yes, but I am not an expert. I seem to be having more than my share of batery issues this year. My float charger for the bike had the connectors to charge it while the battery is still in and connected. I have charged the batteries on my truck and wife's truck without disconnecting them, but I didn't use a float charger. I vote yes. go ahead.

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Boule’tard Serious Thumper ModSquad Offline Master of the Obvious Posts: 1620 Austin TX Gender:	Re: Car Battery Reply #2 - 01/04/12 at 07:27:01 I'd go for it. But keep the hood up while it's charging.. eliminate the chance of accumulating hydrogen in there.
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Boofer Serious Thumper Offline Nearly too old. Posts: 1760 N Ms Gender:	Re: Car Battery Reply #3 - 01/04/12 at 07:48:23 For some of us, the only time we clean the battery connections is when it gets sluggish or quits. I would at least take the plusitive cable loose to get a faster, surer charge. Dirty cable ends may be part of your problem.
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dasch Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1137	Re: Car Battery Reply #4 - 01/04/12 at 07:48:37 Yes, you can leave it connected to car. Do remember to disconnect the charger before you crank up...
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rl153 Serious Thumper Offline S40 Just right! Posts: 906 Bloomfield,CT Gender:	Re: Car Battery Reply #5 - 01/04/12 at 09:55:28 thanks
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rl153 Serious Thumper Offline S40 Just right! Posts: 906 Bloomfield,CT Gender:	Re: Car Battery Reply #6 - 01/05/12 at 09:56:50 Is a float charger going to recharge a car battery at all,or is it too weak?How long will I have to charge it to bring it back up ? Some people I've asked seemed to think it wouldn't.
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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28677 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Car Battery Reply #7 - 01/05/12 at 09:59:12 rl153 wrote on 01/05/12 at 09:56:50: Is a float charger going to recharge a car battery at all,or is it too weak?How long will I have to charge it to bring it back up ? Some people I've asked seemed to think it wouldn't. Nope... need more juice to charge...
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Boofer

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Re: Car Battery
Reply #8 - 01/05/12 at 17:25:57

Serow, the instructions in my charger say it will charge a GOOD battery in something like 30-40 hours...maybe more. It probably won't do much for a weak battery, and I would disconnect the cables for a good connection. However, I wouldn't try shortcuts on an old battery in a car I depend on. However, Red Green says, "Any tool can be the right tool." However, what were we talking about? Embarrassed

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Gyrobob Serious Thumper Offline Posers ain't motorcyclists Posts: 2571 Newnan, GA Gender:	Re: Car Battery Reply #9 - 01/05/12 at 18:54:42 All you have is a little float charger? A float charger will charge a reasonably healthy discharged battery. If the battery was just discharged (you left your lights on maybe?), let it sit for 20 minutes. It'll get a little bit of charge back by just sitting there. THEN hook up the float charger and go away for a day or two.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Car Battery Reply #10 - 01/06/12 at 10:05:26 I dont see how anyone can survive w/o a genuine, no kidding battery charger,. Mine is 30 years old. It cost less that $30.00 back then, Doesnt even have an On Off switch, plug it in, its on, small enough Ive shut the hood on it to keep rain off. Everyone needs a little charger, mine is a whopping 6 amp unit,,
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rl153 Serious Thumper Offline S40 Just right! Posts: 906 Bloomfield,CT Gender:	Re: Car Battery Reply #11 - 01/06/12 at 15:06:46 JOG ,I actually have a 30 year old charger ,but was reluctant to use it cause it's so old .Whats the best way to test an old one? I guess it will work.
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Re: Car Battery
Reply #12 - 01/06/12 at 18:49:21

rl153 wrote on 01/06/12 at 15:06:46:

JOG ,I actually have a 30 year old charger ,but was reluctant to use it cause it's so old .Whats the best way to test an old one? I guess it will work.

Hook it up to a battery but don't turn it on. Measure the voltage at the battery. If it's charged it should read around 12v. Turn on the charger. If it reads a little over 14v and doesn't start smoking, it's probably okay. You do have a VOM, eh?

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rl153 Serious Thumper Offline S40 Just right! Posts: 906 Bloomfield,CT Gender:	Re: Car Battery Reply #13 - 01/07/12 at 06:28:08 yes, I have a voltage meter.Thanks
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