I'm sure everybody using the word "trickle charger" knows the difference between a trickle charger and a float charger, but just to clarify: a trickle charger continuously charges a battery with a trickle - 1 or 2 amps or some part thereof.
A float charger will turn off when a max, usually 13 something volts for a 12 volt battery, is reached. When the battery self-discharges below a certain point, depending on the model of float charger, it turns back on. The Harbor Freight float charger is a float charger, not a trickle charger. It should never be used on a battery that already doesn't have at least 10 volts or it will blow out something in the charger circuitry. No sense wasting six bucks. If a battery is only slightly low on voltage, the HF float charger will slowly bring it up to it's proper level. Using a "trickle charger" on a gel cell battery will boil off the electrolyte and ruin the battery over time. A float charger will not do this. I've been doing lots of electrical tasks lately - back-up electrical system, strobes, instrument lights, landing/taxi lights . . . as well as replacing my failing (2½ years old) Auto Zone lawn tractor main battery with a 35 Ah AGM of the same size, so my attention has been on this stuff. So thought I'd pass it on. You don't want to ruin a gelcell with a "trickle charger". Actually, I don't think (I may be wrong) it's a good idea to leave a trickle charger on indefinitely on any battery, unless the trickle charger is actually a float charger. It's always good to be clear on what we're actually talking about. Mike ____________________________________________________________ Click to find the right international program for you. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/PnY6rw390kar4AGo18qS6UUgV91TXFonLIPYTP5Hxja6UU9aAMMEY/
