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Small Batt Chargers to add to block heater circuit

Matt Bachand

Matt Bachand

Depends on the 6.5
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Location
Worcester, MA
HF has these on sale for $11.99. I picked one up today, but might get another for the other battery too.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=99857

It comes with a bracket that you can mount on the firewarll, OR slides under the battery to mount ON the batteries face.

Being on the face, any heat from the charger would help warm the battery.

It also comes with copper eye hooks on the outputs to permanately mount onto the battery.

I figure when plugging in the block heater, giving the batteries a small charge/trickle will only do good.

Its a 3 stage charging system where it will charge battery at 1.5 amps, then top off batts at 200mA, then finally a floating trickle where it applies small ticks of charge to maintain.

Can't beat the price, or the confidence this will give you in the morning.
 
DieselCash said:
The link shows them at $19.99. How did you get them for $8.00 cheaper?
Click to expand...

Must be an In-Store sale...

Which works, because I went there to get a pair of ratcheting crimping pliers for 15bux, and walked out spending 70....

I also picked up a 100amp batt load tester that TD swears by...

And a bunch of other thing I didn't need. :)
 
HF always do a sale. I love the store. I got the same load tester, it works when my camry battery went out, I can test it at home.

I bought a tool set from them once so I get all their sales announcement.

I think it is available on the web under harborfreightusa.com instead of just harborfreight.
 
Matt, putting that right into the block heater circuit sounds like a great idea. My only question would be adding a 2nd one - the batteries are wired in parallel, so I wonder what the electronics on the chargers would "see" if there were 2 of them on at the same time on the same pair of batteries. I don't know that there would be any problem, but might be worth looking into.
 
Dave01 said:
Matt, putting that right into the block heater circuit sounds like a great idea. My only question would be adding a 2nd one - the batteries are wired in parallel, so I wonder what the electronics on the chargers would "see" if there were 2 of them on at the same time on the same pair of batteries. I don't know that there would be any problem, but might be worth looking into.
Click to expand...

This is true. earch may read higher due to each other, and may not top off the batteries as well if there are 2 of them. Good thinking.
 
Here she is! After being plugged in a for a little bit it does put out a little heat.
 

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On my '89 6.2 I had to rebuild the engine. when I did, I put in 2 block heaters and a similar trickle charger. I used to leave my truck for 7 days in a parking lot in -40 weather. 2 days before I was schedualed to leave I'd plug the whole works in and would never have a problem starting when the time came. I plan on doing something similar with my 'Burb as I now live in the country and it gets mighty cold here in the winter. I don't ever want to go out there and not be able to start the old girl. :)
 
Battery warmers would do as much or better. The warmer the battery the more power. Unless the charger is on all the time it won't keep the battery warm.
 
bk95td said:
Battery warmers would do as much or better. The warmer the battery the more power. Unless the charger is on all the time it won't keep the battery warm.
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:iagree: I have a battery blanket/warmer on each battery and the block heater. Each is plugged into a 3 to 1 receptacle that is zip tied to my grill. Works great.

Art
 
I ordered one of the chargers yesterday. I doubt I'll wire it into the block heater cord, might just leave it as a 2nd pigtail. I never had a problem starting when I ran the block heater so not sure I need the charging at the same time, I'd more likely use it when I've run the batteries down over other issues.
 
Dave01 said:
I ordered one of the chargers yesterday. I doubt I'll wire it into the block heater cord, might just leave it as a 2nd pigtail. I never had a problem starting when I ran the block heater so not sure I need the charging at the same time, I'd more likely use it when I've run the batteries down over other issues.
Click to expand...

I'm not directly wiring it to the block heater either. Just in case I want to use it when I don't want to use the block heater.

I am going to move it to the drivers side battery. Even though the P.S. is the direct lead to the starter, it gets hammered with heat wash from the fan. The drivers side battery is alot cooler.


I will do some sort of 3 way tucked away by the battery, and one pigtail coming down underneath.


Perhaps I will rotate my batteries. Anyone else ever do this?
This would also be a great thing if you wanted to run your vehicle stereo for prolonged periods of time without starting up the engine.
 
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