So I had an old Schumacher battery charger. It was in a black metal case, switches, analog meter. Probably 25 years old. It always worked great. Then the automatic shut off quit working. So it would overcharge batteries if you didn't babysit it. So I bought a new Schumacher. It had some nice features like desulfating and such but at 13 months its completely dead. 1 month out of warranty!!

So I have been shopping for a good charger. I deal with a lot of flat batteries.  I would prefer 6v and 12v charging, man & auto and a booster setting. I am willing to invest in a quality charger but I expect it to last a long time!

Any suggestions??

 

I have two of these.  Bought the second after I thought I had lost the first one.  They have a wide range of options, besides the typical charger.

https://www.batterytender.com/Battery-TenderR-Plus

https://www.batterytender.com/battery-chargers

iI have had this one for 3 years or so, works well, auto detects battery type, has battery reconditioning.  i think it meets all your specs.

https://www.amazon.com/BLACK-DECKER-BC15BD-Battery-Alternator/dp/B00KNMKRU8/ref=asc_df_B00KNMKRU8/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312632042117&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9110843316340757830&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9026084&hvtargid=pla-493575186671&psc=1

Thanks Zed

Im probably looking for a charger more like a shop would use

Jim

I looked at a bunch like these. One thing that throws me off is the 10% one star reviews. The Schumacher has similar reviews but I went ahead and now I would be a one star review too.

All these new chargers are so lightweight. My old one is a brick. Is it antiquated to expect a good charger to have some heft?

1 hour ago, Patcon said:

All these new chargers are so lightweight. My old one is a brick. Is it antiquated to expect a good charger to have some heft?

What the old chargers did with a lot of copper and iron (in the form of a transformer), the new ones do with semiconductors. And in today's age, silicon is a lot cheaper than copper. So the bottom line is that most of the new chargers now have silicon components where the old transformers used to be.

The way of the world. Lightweight silicon and software instead of heavy copper and capacitors.

They all say "digital chargers" now? When I worked with my Dad hauling cars back and forth to the big auctions we always had to use a jump box to hook up temporarily to get the car out and on the trailer. Then he had one of those big boys that roll around, Die Hard.

$149 at amazon.com. good reviews too.

https://www.amazon.com/DieHard-71331-Battery-Charger-Maintainer/dp/B07775RGNM/ref=asc_df_B07775RGNM/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=316747946823&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4903338090546529506&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9012727&hvtargid=pla-588454711373&psc=1

Here's the jump box same story as above, good.

https://www.amazon.com/STANLEY-J5C09-Jump-Starter-Compressor/dp/B002X6VXL4/ref=sr_1_5?_encoding=UTF8&c=ts&dchild=1&keywords=Jump+Starters+%26+Battery+Chargers&qid=1621347330&s=automotive&sr=1-5&ts_id=387679011

Edited May 18, 20213 yr by siteunseen

3 hours ago, Patcon said:

Im probably looking for a charger more like a shop would use

https://www.mcmaster.com/battery-chargers/

I have a jump box. A great tool to have around

Evidently Schumacher makes the DieHard charger

Says Johnson Controls sold to Clarios LLC in 2019 when Sears went down. When I googled who makes Schumacher chargers it says Schumacher Electric.    https://www.batterychargers.com/ 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DieHard_(brand)

I can't find anything saying for sure but who knows? Warren Buffet owns everything anyway. 

One of the reviews who had the diehard called Customer service. It went to Schumacher...

It's on the internet, so it must be true! 😉

5 hours ago, Patcon said:

One of the reviews who had the diehard called Customer service. It went to Schumacher...

It's on the internet, so it must be true! 😉

Well, well well. Lookie here right on top of the Die Hard is the website for Schumacher under "patents".

 www.batterychargers.com

 

 

On 5/18/2021 at 1:09 PM, Patcon said:

I have a jump box. A great tool to have around

I got one last year - DSR.  Best thing I ever did. 

Never had any love for Schumacher's cheap line products.  I've been inside them several times.  A friend did a LOT of research and bought the very best wheel-around battery charger he could find.  It wasn't Schumacher.  It cost him several hundred dollars.  It immediately presented with a problem, so inside we go.  What an absolute pizza chip.  Seriously.  Reminded me of some common and familiar low end chargers.  Back it went.

I know a jump box isn't a charger, but I have to say it's much better for getting a machine going.  I think I have 9-10 battery-started machines.  Between flat tires and dead batteries, it's hard to keep 'em ready to go.

Edited May 19, 20213 yr by ETI4K
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