RE: [DML] Re: Charging Problem.......Help :)

[Cirillo Ronald A NPRI <cirillora@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dave,

I saw this post and I had to add my 2 cents worth.  I agree that a trickle charger left on all the time is not a good idea because of the possibility of overcharging.  A float charger may work depending if it is indeed a float charger.  A battery will lose a charge very slowly because of its internal resistance that constantly causes current to be drained.  I respectfully disagree with the antifreeze electrolyte hypothesis.  First of all, electrolytic corrosion is basically a DC issue not an AC issue.  It is action/reaction of anode to cathode in a conductive medium.  There is no significant difference between a battery charger and an alternator when it comes to charging a battery.  The battery charger uses a rectifier circuit to convert AC to DC while the alternator (a 3 phase AC device) uses a rectifier bridge to convert AC to DC.  Neither produces a clean DC but relies on the Battery for filtering.  Antifreeze is designed to be a corrosion inhibitor with the use of proprietary
compounds.  If the antifreeze is contaminated with substances that make it acidic it will cause electrolytic corrosion with either a battery charger or the alternator.  The best way to prevent this is change the antifreeze in accordance with the antifreeze manufacturers recommendation.  If you really want to make sure you are not introducing contaminants use distilled water.  The best way to keep your battery charged is to drive it.

Ron 


From: 	David Teitelbaum [mailto:jtrealty@xxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent:	Sunday, August 22, 2004 11:48 PM
To:	dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject:	[DML] Re: Charging Problem.......Help :)

> I do not recomend a permanently installed trickle charger. It will
> impress a very low A/C voltage on the car's electrical system. This
> will cause electrolytic corrosion in the cooling system, the coolant
> will act as an electrolyte between the dissimilar metals, aluminum,
> steel, and brass. If you want to use a trickle charger my advice is to
> use it for 1 day, once a month. I have seen trickle chargers dry out
> the batteries in some cars. There is no way to replenish the
> electrolye on the new  batteries. On the older type where you can add
> water I have seen the need to add water when a trickle charger was
> used. They do not appear to be as automatic as they would have you
> believe. When you say trickle charger I assume you really mean the
> newer computerized "float" chargers like the Battery Tender. Even with
> a battery switch a battery will lose it's charge slowly over time.
> That is why it really is better for a battery to be in a car that is
> used regularly. The battery is always kept charged up fully. For a car
> that is being stored the "best" thing to do is to remove the battery
> anyway.

[very long duplicate quote trimmed by moderator]



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