Float Chargers??

[slammer302 2,156]

I'm in charge of taking care of the city's generators. They have two one is a older military diesel gen has two 12volt battery's hooked up to it and the other is a Ford straight 6 propane powered gen. They seem to have problems with the float Chargers not lasting very long. They have been buying the more expensive battery tender brand  chargers. Both are not working now and I'm going to buy two more. I'm thinking about buying a few from harbor freight even if they don't last any longer at least they are cheap. Is there a better option that I'm missing on the subject?

[SylvanLakeWH 28,377]

Have had a cheap HF one for couple years - works great.

 

Also have a HF solar panel charger for the boat for 6 years and still going strong.

 

[slammer302 2,156]

Another question. Sense the the diesel gen has two batteries this would make it a 24volt system if my thinking is correct. Would the standard float  charger work?

[Jerry77 1,218]

If they are hooked up in series it would be 24v..charge them one at a time with a 12 v charger - don't believe you could charge across both of them..someone else may know for sure..

[KC9KAS 4,744]

13 hours ago, slammer302 said:

Another question. Sense the the diesel gen has two batteries this would make it a 24volt system if my thinking is correct. Would the standard float  charger work?

Depends how they are wired...12 or 24

I have had the HF chargers on the motorcycles for 3 winters now and I really think they have helped to extend the life of the batteries by keeping them fully charged over the winter months.

[oldlineman 1,537]

If they are wired in series 24 V DC, if wired parallel would be 12 V DC

[slammer302 2,156]

They are wired in a seires.

[953 nut 59,890]

Connect one 12 Volt charger to each battery; neither one will even know the other one is there. @Save Old Iron did a thread on the HF tenders and how to check them;  some put out higher voltage and will boil the water out of the cells.

[shallowwatersailor 3,214]

The HF Automatic Battery Float Charger is a product of theirs I do not recommend. The electronics are too simple and it did not keep a charge. Better to stick with the name brand.

 

Battery Tender does make a dedicated 24v 2.5 Amp float charger.

[wh500special 2,267]

"Battery Tender" brand chargers have been good for me. Maybe the environment you're in isn't hospitable to them?

 

you can buy on-board, marine-rated chargers for boats.  They tolerate moisture, heat, cold, etc.  Lots of brands available with multiple banks of output. You can get 12v models with two banks that will handle your 24v system just fine. 

 

Check bass pro since you're close. 

 

Steve

[slammer302 2,156]

You are correct about the environment not being good. Hot in the summer cold in the winter dusty dirt buildings. I will check out bass pro. I do unplug before starting and plug back in when done. But they are being used 24/7 unless thier is power outage or my monthly starting and running of the gens.

[Digger 66 3,488]

My Battery Tender has been good for going on 7 years now .