Battery charger/tender question...

I just picked up a DieHard "Battery Charger/Maintainer" from Sears. Now it says that it's designed for maintaining a charge on motorcycles/ATV's/Classic cars/ etc. and that it slow-charges, 2 amps @ 12 volts.

But I'm just wondering, I thought I read somewhere here that even 2 amps might be too much (but I can't find it with the Search...). Can anyone tell me whether it'll be OK, or if I should return the thing and start looking for another?

Thanks...

 

I've never had a problem with a 2 Amp charge. In most cases, 2 Amps is a trickle charge so i wouldn't worry. Just don't try charging with like a 6 Amp charge.

 

I've had batteries cook at 2 amps, I'd be sure to unplug it after a day or two. Should you care for more information about charging of batteries and battery maintaining chargers, hit the Yasua (OEM supplier to most bike manufacturers) website. They have a FAQ section that should answer most if not all of your questions.
http://www.yuasabatteries.com/

 

some more good reading on charging a battery

http://batterytender.com/why_batterytender.php

 

I would definitely have to agree that a 2 Amp charge over time could do damage, but if it is a "smart" charger (one that knows when to stop charging) you should be ok. Even at that, i've never had the need to have a battery plugged in more than a day or so, so unplugging it wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

If it's a smart charger with a "float" mode, you can hook it up and forget it. It won't overcharge your battery.

I hook smart chargers up to both bikes over the winter and have left them plugged in for months. They've never cooked a battery.

Just make sure you charger has a "float" mode and you'll be fine.

 

Every fall I put the boat, lawn tractor and now motorcycle on a charger/maintainer. My batteries last for a VERY long time. Two of the ones I use are DieHards.

Double check your documentation. If it's a true charger/maintainer it will run 2 amps until charged, then back off to just enough to keep the battery topped up.

 

use a plug that goes off and on with the lights
the original battery tender