Battery charger recommendation

[randylervold]

Several owners now have asked about what the best battery charger is. IMHO without a doubt the VDC Electronics BatteryMinder model 12248 is the pick. This unit has smart electronics that make long term trickle charging safe, it charges at up to an 8 amp rate to get you on your way faster in the event of a flat battery, it has pulse technology that will actually desulfate a wet cell lead acid battery, and has a charge profile mode for the new AGM batteries. It really shouldn't be considered a mere battery charger, rather it's a charger/maintainer/desulfator/conditioner.

Two methods work well for accessing your ship's battery: either use a cigarette lighter plug through the aux power socket which is wired straight to the battery, or install a pigtail (provided) onto the battery terminals that sticks out from under the seat and let's you plug in the charger whenever you need to. Click HERE for more info.

12248_product.jpg

[Pete D]

Installation Note:

If you do install the pigtails on the battery itself, don't run them out the back, but run them forward over the ELT, to be accessed at the front of the seat near the base of the front stick. You may have to extend the length of the pigtails a few inches to make it easier to reach.

The reason for this is if you run it out the back, then put the seat down, the wires get pinched between the seat and seat base. We have had to correct several of these that were installed in the field when it was found on condition inspection that the wires had been flattened to the point the strands were showing through the insulation.

Pete

[reileyr]

Avoid trouble by plugging charger into cigar lighter. Simple, easy, and safe.

[Rich]

I have been using this model from Sears for 10 months and it works great. I plug it into the cigarette lighter as suggested.

http://www.sears.com:80/shc/s/p_1015...=1296714180918


Happy flying!

[armaurer]

Several owners now have asked about what the best battery charger is. IMHO without a doubt the VDC Electronics BatteryMinder model 12248 is the pick. This unit has smart electronics that make long term trickle charging safe, it charges at up to an 8 amp rate to get you on your way faster in the event of a flat battery, it has pulse technology that will actually desulfate a wet cell lead acid battery, and has a charge profile mode for the new AGM batteries. It really shouldn't be considered a mere battery charger, rather it's a charger/maintainer/desulfator/conditioner.

Two methods work well for accessing your ship's battery: either use a cigarette lighter plug through the aux power socket which is wired straight to the battery, or install a pigtail (provided) onto the battery terminals that sticks out from under the seat and let's you plug in the charger whenever you need to. Click HERE for more info.

12248_product.jpg

Hi Randy, Your like says this device is not to be used with "aviation specific batteries"
Does this apply to CarbonCub batteries?
Cheers
alan

[Rich]

I have had the one from Sears for 18 months now (see post below) and my battery is still good.. I always plug in a regularly do not see my plane for 2 and 3 weeks at a time (yes, I know - SAD).

The best thing about the Sears unit is that it plugs into the cigarette lighter, so you do not need to lift the seat.

Hi Randy, Your like says this device is not to be used with "aviation specific batteries"
Does this apply to CarbonCub batteries?
Cheers
alan

[randylervold]

Hi Randy, Your like says this device is not to be used with "aviation specific batteries"
Does this apply to CarbonCub batteries?
Cheers
alan

They are referring to some of the high-end gell batteries. The sealed lead acid battery we are using is really a powersports (motorcycle) battery and is perfectly suited to this charger.

[pwill435]

Randy, have you tried that charger with the Li Ion battery you are trialing?

[randylervold]

Randy, have you tried that charger with the Li Ion battery you are trialing?

The Shorai Power is Lithium Iron (LFE for short), not Lithium Ion. And no, haven't played with chargers yet. Since it has a cell balancing connection and they sell a reasonably priced charger that would be the direction I'd try first.

[carlconti]

While I have had superb results with the Battery Minder on all types of lead-acid batteries, Shorai specifically recommends against using any desulfating charger on their lithium iron batteries unless desulfate can be turned off.

Carl

Randy, have you tried that charger with the Li Ion battery you are trialing?