Author Topic: Real Manual Battery Charger?  (Read 598 times)

Offline Duke Gilleland

  • WAGS member
  • Regular member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4842
  • Karma: +3/-0
  • WAGS: The heartbeat of cast iron collecting!
Real Manual Battery Charger?
« on: February 27, 2023, 08:53:54 AM »
Some years back I purchased the largest manual battery charger that Sears offered.(On Wheels) It has been a good one but is starting to show wear. Recently the vent fan went out. I rigged up a small 6" exterior fan to remedy the problem. figured I had better locate one soon as I don't want to get caught short.
I spent 4-5 hours Saturday running around from auto parts stores, Tractor Supply, and Ace hardware stores trying to locate a TRUE manual battery charger. I had no luck. The big ones(compared to the old DieHard brand) have all gone electronic with timers. Even saw a few that were marked manual but had timers on them(2 hours max)
Question...Does anyone make a REAL manual charger that is set for operation with toggle/paddle switches? ANY HELP APPRECIATED!
Nowhere But TEXAS!

Offline Duke Gilleland

  • WAGS member
  • Regular member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4842
  • Karma: +3/-0
  • WAGS: The heartbeat of cast iron collecting!
Re: Real Manual Battery Charger?
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2023, 03:03:41 PM »
Some years back I purchased the largest manual battery charger that Sears offered.(On Wheels) It has been a good one but is starting to show wear. Recently the vent fan went out. I rigged up a small 6" exterior fan to remedy the problem. figured I had better locate one soon as I don't want to get caught short.
I spent 4-5 hours Saturday running around from auto parts stores, Tractor Supply, and Ace hardware stores trying to locate a TRUE manual battery charger. I had no luck. The big ones(compared to the old DieHard brand) have all gone electronic with timers. Even saw a few that were marked manual but had timers on them(2 hours max)
Question...Does anyone make a REAL manual charger that is set for operation with toggle/paddle switches? ANY HELP APPRECIATED! 2nd time posting and still in need!
Nowhere But TEXAS!

Offline Cheryl Watson

  • Administrator
  • Regular member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8979
  • Karma: +2/-1
  • The HersheyPark Kitty
Re: Real Manual Battery Charger?
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2023, 04:02:36 PM »
Duke, unfortunately, I haven't found one either  :angry:

The new rage is  power supplies on Amazon, but I don't like the choices I'm seeing on those.. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=power+supply&crid=12LZ68DDRO48U&sprefix=power+supply%2Caps%2C81&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

I run at 20 Amps and I hope that when my manual Schumacher's go that my local electronic wizard shop is still there to repair/rebuild it. :(

Offline Cheryl Watson

  • Administrator
  • Regular member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8979
  • Karma: +2/-1
  • The HersheyPark Kitty
Re: Real Manual Battery Charger?
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2023, 04:12:46 PM »
I was looking at these... but scratching my head, as the 20 AMP setting is for engine start...... (it's like hieroglyphics to read the control panels) Pic 1 below....

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/farm-ranch-10-20-40-200a-6-12v-manual-wheel-charger-fr01534?cm_vc=-10005&fbclid=IwAR3xQTYcgWj8ng7VqksEWhIKIyo-9uFbS0M7pEm7XLB4PGiXtavmX4NessI

Will post the other Schumacher if I can find it again... lol.

Offline Cheryl Watson

  • Administrator
  • Regular member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8979
  • Karma: +2/-1
  • The HersheyPark Kitty
Re: Real Manual Battery Charger?
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2023, 04:24:35 PM »
Duke, in the past 3 months, now Schumacher has changed their website...  :crazy: :crazy:


So scroll down this link, and they still list a few wheeled chargers as manual...  (not sure I trust what they say... lol) 
https://www.schumacherelectric.com/products/categories/automotive-battery-chargers/?s=manual+battery+charger&bc-sort=title_desc#shop-all

« Last Edit: September 24, 2023, 04:27:16 PM by Cheryl Watson »

Offline Paul Michael

  • Regular member
  • *
  • Posts: 3
  • Karma: +0/-0
  • WAGS: the heartbeat of cast iron collecting
Re: Real Manual Battery Charger?
« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2023, 08:17:27 PM »
I don't know if this helps but I got a Schauer solid state charger from a local junk collector a few months ago and it works amazing. It has only one  3 position switch on it  6v/off/12v.  I run it at 6 volts and it produces around 6 amps. It works better than the standup/wheeled charger I was using before. I have it hooked up to several stainless steel plates in a 55 gal drum and I've had zero issues with it, it runs 24/7. 

Offline Cheryl Watson

  • Administrator
  • Regular member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8979
  • Karma: +2/-1
  • The HersheyPark Kitty
Re: Real Manual Battery Charger?
« Reply #6 on: September 25, 2023, 08:53:34 PM »
Well, HOWDY Paul... <again.. :grin:>.  Happy to see you finally posted!! :wink:

Some of us got a bit spoiled with our manual chargers over the years...

My chargers (same model 'twins') run at 20 amps. ( I purchased this model purposefully..  :smiley: )

10-13 years ago there were many more 'choices'..  :rolleyes:

I am more concerned with the 'light' weight cables/clamps on some of the new fangled power supplies, as Electrolysis demands are substantial...


Offline Craig Allison

  • WAGS member
  • Regular member
  • *****
  • Posts: 130
  • Karma: +0/-0
  • WAGS: the heartbeat of cast iron collecting
Re: Real Manual Battery Charger?
« Reply #7 on: September 25, 2023, 10:56:12 PM »

Offline Cheryl Watson

  • Administrator
  • Regular member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8979
  • Karma: +2/-1
  • The HersheyPark Kitty
Re: Real Manual Battery Charger?
« Reply #8 on: September 25, 2023, 11:06:15 PM »
Craig, that link tripped my Anti Virus Program and was blocked... (AVG)

Offline Craig Allison

  • WAGS member
  • Regular member
  • *****
  • Posts: 130
  • Karma: +0/-0
  • WAGS: the heartbeat of cast iron collecting
Re: Real Manual Battery Charger?
« Reply #9 on: September 25, 2023, 11:10:07 PM »
Hmmm.
Opens right up here.
If it needs deleted then do so.