charging batteries

[JSulmar]

My truck sits a lot due to the cost of fuel. Is there a way to hook up a battery trickle charger. I keep one on my Harley, it automatically charges without overcharging. Can I do this on my Cummins?

 

[B.G. Smith]

Yes, it can be done. I don't have much confidence in the small trickle maintainers but some are probably ok. I use a Vector "smart charger" on my travel trailer and just leave it hooked up. It cuts off when battery is fully charged and back on when it needs recharging. Won't deplete the electrolite in the battery. Charger has several functions, alternator check, battery voltage check, two or three levels of charge rate, a jump start and a rejuvinate cycle that is supposed to desulfate the cells depending on which unit you buy. bg.

 

[Motorhead]

Deltran makes a battery tender that float charges the battery. Can be left on indefinately.

 

[RRees]

What I did was, wire a 12volt receptable on my front bumper and then plug the trickle charger into that. I have a Schumacher that has interchangable charger plugends.



One has the cigarette plug and the other has the alligator clips.



Later,

 

[JSulmar]

How do I hook it up since there are two batteries?

 

[B.G. Smith]

It is only necessary to connect to the positive and negative post of one battery as they are wired together in paralell. bg

 

[RRees]

Followup.



I purchased the weatherproof 12volt plug from walmart (<15$).

I cut off the aluminum wire and soldered 12gauge copper wire, then put a 20amp fuse about 6 inches from the positive terminal. I am connecting to driver's side battery.

I mounted the 12volt receptacle on the bumper (in the middle opening).



Looks for some screws holding the plastic fascia on. I removed one of those and used a stainless steel bolt/locknut to mount 12volt receptacle.



Been using it for almost 2 years now. I can also use this for a <300 watt or less invertor. The main thing its used for is trickle charging. It beats lifting the hood up all the time.



I also put one in the pickup bed.

 

[JimB1]

During the winter, one truck only gets driven once a month for about 1 hr.



I pull fuse IOD, Ignition Off Drain, chart on fuse box cover will show which one.



Good condtion batteries lose almost no charge after month of sitting like that.



One day before using I put trickle charger on it and charger guage shows almost no battery drain has happened during that time but I still trickle charge for 24 hr the day before driving.



Reset clock and good to go.

 

[JSulmar]

Thank you for the info.

 

[mcsinfl]

I thought read somewhere that you should charge each battery individually so that the charger can read the batteries individually and charge each as required?