Lawrence Glickman wrote:
> On Tue, 03 May 2005 01:56:54 GMT, rutman > wrote:
>
> >Hi.
> >
> >After reading previous google posts, and my eyes bleeding due to the
> >toxic nature of my 17 inch crt monitor.. i have decided to ask the
> >forever question of:
> >
> >
> >Whats the best way to charge a 12volts marine deep cycle battery?
> >
> >some people claim they can take a beating and to charge them at 10a
> >for 6 hours
> >
> >others claim to charge them at 2amp for 20 hours, slow charge is the
> >best way to go they claim
> >
>
> >I currently own a charger with only two settings. 2a ( trickle
charge
> >) or 10am. I have been charging the battery at 10a
> >
> >
> >please advise
>
> My advice is go buy a computer-controlled charger like I did and let
> the circuitry decide what to do. You'll get 3-stage charging when
you
> select deep cycle. Fast-medium-slow,off/on maintenance 2 amperes.
>
> I have _many_. My latest is the Schumacker Model Sc1200A Speed
> Charger, which pumps high frequency pure DC. Connect it, plug it in,
> and forget about it.
>
> Lg

Posters here know that Lawrence is very proud of his smart charger.
I'm not sure about how one "pumps high frequency PURE DC" though. I
suspect he means pulsed DC.
A smart charger is nice if you can afford it. But the poster asks about
the charger that he has, not the neat one Lawrence purchased.
It doesn't matter if you use the 2A or the 10A charge assuming the
battery is rated to take charging at those rates. Usually they print
that info on the side of the battery. If it really is a small GEL
battery then maybe 10A is too fast. You better check that out.
If you don't have a smart charger, the key is to know when the battery
is fully charged and not go beyond that point. You can do that pretty
much with a cheap voltmeter.
Personally, I do not like to go away and leave a charger unattended,
whether it's a smart charger or not. And I own about every type made.
Too many things can go wrong.