RFI
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [RFI] quiet chargers?

To: "rfi@contesting.com" <rfi@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [RFI] quiet chargers?
From: "David E. Crawford" <dcsubs@molniya1.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Sep 2024 11:34:09 -0400
List-post: <mailto:rfi@contesting.com>
Gary: How old are your Battery Tenders? The one I purchased, 12 VDC, 1.25 A, "Battery Tender Plus" model 021-0128, June 2023, is too white-noisy on MF/HF when used on a radio battery to keep it powered while operating.

I have an older 1.5 A Schumacher charger/maintainer (SEM-1562A) on the radio desk battery now. It is much quieter than the newer Battery Tender but hasn't been getting the job done for a 100 AH Mighty Max AGM battery -- at least now that I put an older ICOM-756 Pro II on it that draws 3 A just sitting there receiving. A newer version of the same alleged Schumacher model was way too noisy on the radio desk, but is OK at the far end of the house keeping a "portable" (if you have a mule) generator starter battery maintained; clearly the design changed between my two Schumacher purchases.

The battery itself has probably failed (after 2 years), and once the voltage drops below low 12.x now it keeps crashing quickly down toward "nothing" with the 3 A load on it. This just began the past week after a few months of operating with no such problems. I'm just not sure yet whether a 1.5 A C+M cycle helped cause it. I'm not the only one complaining about short Mighty Max AGM life either. Once the voltage drops down to ~12 I had been just turning off the thirsty ICOM and waiting for it to charge back up.

At the same time, 1.5A is well below the recommended charging current for a 100 AH AGM. So, I'd like to replace it with a 5 A charger, but need to find a quiet one.

So, I may have two problems feeding off one another to solve here. A big linear supply for routine ICOM use is of course a solution for the noise, but also complicates the overall configuration.

Tnx.

On 2024-09-13 09:55, Gary Smith wrote:
Batter tender is my favorite brand. Have three on my m/c’s when not riding.
Gary…wa6fgi
Sent from Gary’s iPad

On Sep 12, 2024, at 10:14 PM, David E. Crawford <dcsubs@molniya1.com> wrote:

Any make/model recommendations, based on direct experience, for an RF-quiet 
battery charger+maintainer, AGM or flooded deep cycle lead-acid, 12 VDC, 3 to 5 A 
rating?

Thanks!

--
-----------------
David E. Crawford
Indian River City
Florida Libre
-----------------


_______________________________________________
RFI mailing list
RFI@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi

--
-----------------
David E. Crawford
Indian River City
Florida Libre
-----------------


_______________________________________________
RFI mailing list
RFI@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>