More battery chargers

[Winfield Dave]

Got 2 more for the herd.

[ricky racer]

I just picked up one just like the ones you bought. It was on sale at Meijer.

[Dale Finch]

I have about 6 of the smaller (older) ones that Walmart sold for about $20, but those are no longer offered. The last one I found was from Lowe's. They are on all my tractors, even the one in my garage/"hospital". I like the fact that they are "smart"...good for 6 or 12v:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Schumacher-Ele ... 1000575609

And I attach the pigtail "permanently" to my batteries, leaving them hang out the battery box (cap keeps the dirt out).

FYI...you can get extension power cables online. I bought four 25' extensions so now the chargers are neatly on a shelf with only the cables running to each tractor.
https://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-EC-25-Cable-Connector-Extension/dp/B003WDEYPE/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?adgrpid=67215920154&gclid=Cj0KCQiAweaNBhDEARIsAJ5hwbdEqZxzQi1SZJFaeN2eIUhaVLgRtAhnAMr3hUJNWbYga9LoLoAdmpYaAtUoEALw_wcB&hvadid=321597566370&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9009672&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=10100127512542086544&hvtargid=kwd-572206719023&hydadcr=25110_9900369&keywords=battery+maintainer+extension+cord&qid=1639578147&sr=8-3

[JimCub48]

When you have these set up on your cubs do you keep the charging switch, ( light switch on low charge) ?

[Dale Finch]

My model charger model has no switch...plug it in and if hooked to a decent battery, it charges. Not sure about the above one.

[inairam]

I have outside cubs I have been using these solar units https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y5TKMZ4

For 6 volt unit, I had to build my own using charges for game camera but with a bigger panel.

[Jim Becker]

I have some of 3 different versions. The oldest look a lot like the current ones Dave posted. They have a switch for 6/12 volts. Then I have some just like Dave's and some like Dale's. The minor irritant is that the colored/blinking lights don't mean the same from one to the next. I permanently attached pigtails to my 12-volt Cubs using an ammeter lug and a tank mounting bolt. That way, I'm not adding more connections inside the battery box. When not in use, I stuff them between the tank and the Touch-Control. You just have to be careful to not let them escape out the left side and onto the hot exhaust pipe. The 6-volt Cubs have such easy access for the alligator clips that they don't need the pigtails.

To reduce the number of wires dangling across from the wall outlets to the tractors, I've hung a few extension cords from the ceiling. I let them hang down to above my head but still within reach. For some, an electric door opener outlet was handy for plugging in the extension cord. When I wired my barn addition, I mounted an outlet dead center in the ceiling just for this purpose. It is 17 feet from the nearest wall. They are also handy for drop lights, electric drills etc.

[Clemsonfor]

Smart chargers are great cause you don't forget about them and boil your battery for a day or maybe week before you remember it. But there not good for a totally drained battery that is too low of voltage the smart chargers don't recognize it and won't charge them saying it's "full" in the case of mine. I can hook one up to a battery with just a few volts and it will say full in like 10 seconds. Won't do anything. Hook an old school charger and it will take off and charge it till I stop it. I usually will let the old style charge it for an hour or two then hook the smart charger up and let it finish it off and then float charge it. Had a few in the last few months that it wouldn't charge. This happens when you have a battery in a car that you left a light on or something that drained the battery. It's not bad but just needs a good charge.

[BigBill]

I purchased battery tenders for over the winter. I have the shummacher charger/200 amp starter for 30 years. Good old American quality.

[Winfield Dave]

Dale, I have several of the older $20 ones as well. I think the model I showed above is the replacement. They are now $33 from walmart online. Thanks for the link to the extension cords.

[JimCub48]

The switch I am referring to is the 4 position switch on the tractor, does that make any difference what position it is in, low charge of high charge, sorry for the confusion. Thanks

[Gary Dotson]

No,Jim,it make no difference.

[ricky racer]

The switch I am referring to is the 4 position switch on the tractor, does that make any difference what position it is in, low charge of high charge, sorry for the confusion. Thanks

Jim, I'm not exactly sure what you are asking. When using these battery maintainers the light switch should be in the off position. Are you asking something different that maybe I'm missing?

[Gary Dotson]

Ricky, he’s asking if the light switch should be in the low charge position versus the high charge position, it makes no difference.

[Cubfriend]

JimCub48, You will be charging directly to the battery so the headlight switch would have no affect. The headlight switch is only used when charging from the generator on the tractor while tractor is running.