02-19-2016, 02:18 PM
[#0000FF]First, you should have a 12 volt charger.
Second, you should have one with either an automatic shutoff feature...or a red light/green light indicator to let you know when it reaches full charge.
There are small trickle chargers available for the SLA batteries. No not use an automobile battery charger...even down at 2 amps. The ones designed for the SLA batteries are usually .5 to 1 amp.
Third...get a voltage tester. Check your battery before charging. If it is below about 12.5 volts, charge it until it is full charge...usually just over 13 volts. It will gradually drop back to a resting charge of about 12.7 volts...if the battery is good.
It is a good idea to "top it off" just before each trip, and to fully recharge it as soon as you get back. Those SLA batteries are not designed to be deep cycle batteries and should not be run to full discharge. So do not just keep using them for different trips until they fail. Keeping them charged will result in much longer battery life.
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Second, you should have one with either an automatic shutoff feature...or a red light/green light indicator to let you know when it reaches full charge.
There are small trickle chargers available for the SLA batteries. No not use an automobile battery charger...even down at 2 amps. The ones designed for the SLA batteries are usually .5 to 1 amp.
Third...get a voltage tester. Check your battery before charging. If it is below about 12.5 volts, charge it until it is full charge...usually just over 13 volts. It will gradually drop back to a resting charge of about 12.7 volts...if the battery is good.
It is a good idea to "top it off" just before each trip, and to fully recharge it as soon as you get back. Those SLA batteries are not designed to be deep cycle batteries and should not be run to full discharge. So do not just keep using them for different trips until they fail. Keeping them charged will result in much longer battery life.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]