Car battery chargers

[ObviouslyNotAGolfer]

Have not commuted to work (20 mins on freeway) for over a month and am working from home. We are having all of our groceries delivered, we cannot go out to dinner, or take our frequent fabulous road trips to the Bay Area (from HELL A area), and hence we have little need to drive. I have been trying to drive the car a bit every week, but it has been nine days, and now it will not start (dead battery). I realize that sitting around for long periods of time is not good for tires, suspension, etc.

I drove it nine days ago for 45 mins straight around here, up to 45-50 mph for a bit on one of our larger streets--AC, radio etc. turned off. I thought that would have been enough. The damn battery (not even two year-old Interstate "72 month" LOL) should be up to this! I have returned from three weeks in Europe on two occasions, and it started right up.

Anyway, I need a charger I can plug in for as long as needed (Several hours I guess), and also one that will provide a jump start. There are also units with built-in air pumps for tires--not sure about those.

It will be pretty easy to plug into our garage AC outlet. Any suggestions for what I should buy? I will pay more for good quality! Thanks.

[norajean]

 Cheapest option is just to jump start it. Then drive it once a week to keep it charged. Was anything draining the battery? Interior light? Door ajar?

[Dogastrophe]

You best bet is a trickle charger battery tender. You leave this hooked up at times when vehicle is not being used for extended periods and it will maintain your battery.  Not sure about your part of the planet, buy I can buy a decent one for around CDN $50.


Edit: around my neck of the woods, trickle charger is the common "name" for battery tender (like kleenex = facial tissue).  I changed to battery tender to avoid confusion.

[RWD]

Make sure to get a battery maintainer that shuts off when the battery is full charged. There was some discussion here recently:
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/welcome-to-the-forum/anyone-else's-car-battery-need-jumped-in-the-last-month/

This is the one that I use, but there are cheaper options as well:
https://www.amazon.com/CTEK-56-864-Automatic-Battery-Charger/dp/B006G14FK8/

[Papa bear]

Harbor freight has the battery chargers that will do trickle, fast, and “jumper start.”

I find them to be just as good quality as the name brand chargers, but for less $$.  They’re good to have one on hand. 


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[Car Jack]

You want something that is a "float charger" or "battery tender" or "battery maintainer", not a straight trickle charger.

What's the difference?  The tender type units control charging from the very start.  They test if the battery will even accept a charge, then will ramp up charging current to bring the battery back.  As the battery gets to the target voltage, they back down current to hold the voltage level and can turn off if needed.

A traditional trickle charger is pretty much a linear regulator that has less intelligence.  The worst ones don't shut off and can boil a battery.  These do still exist out there.

Which one to get to do all you're looking for?  I don't know.  I have a float charger and I have jumper cables for jump starting. 

A fun fact for you.  If you get a jump start from a tow truck, their setup puts 2 12V batteries in series, so your jump is from 24V (it's really closer to 28V). 

If your car is running down the battery in 2 weeks, then either you own a Lotus, or Ferrari 488 or there's something wrong with your car.  It should not draw down the battery in 2 weeks.  There are ways to find out what's draining the battery or you could simply disconnect the battery while it's sitting there.

[ObviouslyNotAGolfer]

Thanks for the advice. Not a Lotus or Ferrari-- It's a 1991 Volvo 740 SE (740 turbo with special trim, leather, sunroof, etc) I bought it when it was new and have had it for nearly 30 years. Extremely reliable and cheap to operate. I too am puzzled about the battery. As I mentioned, we went to France last year for three weeks, and when I returned, it started up just fine.

It does have an analog clock that runs all the time (LOVE this clock btw), and day-running headlights were mandatory when I lived in Vancouver, Canada, so I had that installed too. Lights run all the time when car is running. Surely that sucks power as well.

[lthenderson]

I drove it nine days ago for 45 mins straight around here, up to 45-50 mph for a bit on one of our larger streets--AC, radio etc. turned off. I thought that would have been enough. The damn battery (not even two year-old Interstate "72 month" LOL) should be up to this! I have returned from three weeks in Europe on two occasions, and it started right up.

Nine days shouldn't deplete a two year old battery if nothing was left on. Are you sure the alternator is working? I've had them go bad from time to time and it usually costs me a new battery before I figure out that it was the alternator all along. May be worth getting it checked out before buying a new battery and or charger.

[ObviouslyNotAGolfer]

Yes, I will likely take in to my mechanic soon--the alternator is nearly six years old.

Also, I found this one, on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QX9PKK8/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4

A few (dumb) questions.

1.) Is it necessary to disconnect the battery to use this (as shown)? I assume that simply disconnecting will pose no risk of shock?

2.) Not sure about the DC rings--included for charging a different type of battery (non-12V), I assume?

3.) Can someone recommend a jump-starter, smart charger combo (i.e., a single device that will do both)?

For jump start (and other applications), this looks like a pretty useful device: https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GB40-UltraSafe-Lithium-Starter/dp/B015TKUPIC/ref=sr_1_1_sspa

[RWD]

Also, I found this one, on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QX9PKK8/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4

A few (dumb) questions.

1.) Is it necessary to disconnect the battery to use this (as shown)? I assume that simply disconnecting will pose no risk of shock?

You can use the charger without disconnecting the battery from the car (see picture six).

[Papa bear]

This is the harbor freight one that works great.


https://www.harborfreight.com/10250a-12v-manual-charger-with-engine-start-60581.html

Compared to this


https://www.lowes.com/pd/Schumacher-Electric-50-Amp-12-Volt-Car-Battery-Charger/50256413


I’ve used both.  Would buy the harbor freight one next time to save the $$.


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