Subject: 12 Volt RV chassis or 6 Volt House Battery Chargers
Mike,
Do you think a "PULSE DESULFATOR" , described as automatic "high frequency" pulse desulfator (not high voltage) like the "BatteryMINDer 1500'" really works to help extend batter life and fully charge my 12 volt Lead Acid chassis batteries and the four lead acid house batteries when the coach is in storage in a temperature controlled garage in the mile high Arizona midlands..
Lowest Temp set at 40F and Highest 90F..
I don't understand what a "High Frequency Pulse" is or how it gets to the battery?
Hope you can help.
I've been using one for two years and it seems to keep the batteries charged but the idea of a "high frequency " sounds like more advertising and marketing then then something unique or special...
"...the charger would shut off after the first battery reached 100% charge, and there could be other batteries in the same charger with only 50% SoC or less."
A MUCH smarter charger for NiMH AA or AAA's is something like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MYQ8IYS. With four independent channels, it's like having four chargers in one. And 'charge' modes are Charge, Discharge, Refresh and Test. I want my AA's at peak capacity before I use them in 'critical' situations (like powering an underwater flash system while SCUBA diving, you know, when I'm not RV'ing).
I have never found a compelling use for rechargeable alkaline batteries. Well, once a long long time ago I bought a set of rechargeable AA’s and a charger but I didn’t end up using it much. My understanding is that they have less capacity and are more prone to getting out of balance in multi-battery applications than single use batteries. I can see the economic and ecological arguments for using them but what are the compelling use cases? Take the guitar amp in Mike’s article for example. I get that 8 AA rechargeable batteries would be cheaper than alkaline batteries if you used them many times over and over. However, I would think that having the instrument ready to go when it was needed would be a higher priority. Why would single use batteries not be the preferred solution? Is the portable guitar amp used day in and day out or just once in a while when there is no power? An 8 pack of Energizer lithium AAs can be had for $23 and down to $15 for lesser known brands. Single use Amazon basic batteries are $6 for an 8 pack and down to 35 cents each generic brands in larger quantities. I’d be interested to see the cost per use numbers for the guitar amp use case. My other question is then, why not use a lithium battery power station to power an electric guitar amp? I’m sure there are reasons to use rechargeable alkaline AAs and would love to hear if anyone knows of compelling use cases for them. I have had phones with rechargeable NiMH batteries that worked great but that was a long time ago too. It would be interesting to see a comparison among the different options available today.
Mike I know what a DUMB charger is, but perhaps not all the readers do, if I remember right you did an article on it a while ago, just might need a refresher course on it!. But I still have my 1969 good ol Sears 12V 10Amp charger that will charge no matter how dead the battery!
Mike, Many of us have two 6-volt batteries combined to give us 12 volts, and Like myself, we have several of these dual battery combinations in a bank. Could you please address this in your next article? Chuck
Subject: 12 Volt RV chassis or 6 Volt House Battery Chargers
Mike,
Do you think a "PULSE DESULFATOR" , described as automatic "high frequency" pulse desulfator (not high voltage) like the "BatteryMINDer 1500'" really works to help extend batter life and fully charge my 12 volt Lead Acid chassis batteries and the four lead acid house batteries when the coach is in storage in a temperature controlled garage in the mile high Arizona midlands..
Lowest Temp set at 40F and Highest 90F..
I don't understand what a "High Frequency Pulse" is or how it gets to the battery?
Hope you can help.
I've been using one for two years and it seems to keep the batteries charged but the idea of a "high frequency " sounds like more advertising and marketing then then something unique or special...
Any thoughts would be appreciated
Thanks
Jim Anderson
"...the charger would shut off after the first battery reached 100% charge, and there could be other batteries in the same charger with only 50% SoC or less."
I did not know this! Thanks, Mike :)
A MUCH smarter charger for NiMH AA or AAA's is something like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MYQ8IYS. With four independent channels, it's like having four chargers in one. And 'charge' modes are Charge, Discharge, Refresh and Test. I want my AA's at peak capacity before I use them in 'critical' situations (like powering an underwater flash system while SCUBA diving, you know, when I'm not RV'ing).
I have never found a compelling use for rechargeable alkaline batteries. Well, once a long long time ago I bought a set of rechargeable AA’s and a charger but I didn’t end up using it much. My understanding is that they have less capacity and are more prone to getting out of balance in multi-battery applications than single use batteries. I can see the economic and ecological arguments for using them but what are the compelling use cases? Take the guitar amp in Mike’s article for example. I get that 8 AA rechargeable batteries would be cheaper than alkaline batteries if you used them many times over and over. However, I would think that having the instrument ready to go when it was needed would be a higher priority. Why would single use batteries not be the preferred solution? Is the portable guitar amp used day in and day out or just once in a while when there is no power? An 8 pack of Energizer lithium AAs can be had for $23 and down to $15 for lesser known brands. Single use Amazon basic batteries are $6 for an 8 pack and down to 35 cents each generic brands in larger quantities. I’d be interested to see the cost per use numbers for the guitar amp use case. My other question is then, why not use a lithium battery power station to power an electric guitar amp? I’m sure there are reasons to use rechargeable alkaline AAs and would love to hear if anyone knows of compelling use cases for them. I have had phones with rechargeable NiMH batteries that worked great but that was a long time ago too. It would be interesting to see a comparison among the different options available today.
Mike I know what a DUMB charger is, but perhaps not all the readers do, if I remember right you did an article on it a while ago, just might need a refresher course on it!. But I still have my 1969 good ol Sears 12V 10Amp charger that will charge no matter how dead the battery!
Snoopy
Yup, I have exactly the same thing. Plus it has a 60-amp boost/start mode.
Mike, Many of us have two 6-volt batteries combined to give us 12 volts, and Like myself, we have several of these dual battery combinations in a bank. Could you please address this in your next article? Chuck
Will do…