Onboard Trickle Charger

[schoei1]

I purchased a Chicago Electric 1.5amp Onboard Charger from Harbor Freight for $12.99 and installed it yesterday. It took about a total of 11 minutes to hook-up and securely attach. Works great and since I mostly travel short distances (3-5 miles) and it's not enough distance for the battery to get charged, I installed the onboard trickle charger and hook it up every night. Here is where I got it: www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=93258

[timmyjane]

Very nice. Great job.

[newc77]

Nice work. Is it a trickle or float charge? If it is a constant trickle you want to watch for overcharging if it is left active for more than a few days.
Tom

[schoei1]

Thanks guys.

It is described as a trickle charger and also is written on the housing. Harbor Freight also sells float chargers and specify "this is not a trickle charger".

DESCRIPTION:
"Auto on/off trickle charger keeps 12 volt batteries fully charged without overcharging. Also great for maintaining batteries while in storage."

Waterproof housing
LED charge indicators
Thermal overload protection

[IrnBru]

I have the same charger but I've not installed it yet. A Scooby Snack for schoei1 for giving me the idea of where to put it.

[HPS MotorSports LLC]

BE CAREFUL.... I just had a customer that had problems with his battery dying and he had the same exact thing hooked up to his. It seems like the damn thing was slowing discharging the battery. Theres a little red lite that stays on all the time. I dont know how it works but I do know that every time we charged the battery.... hooked the trickle charger back up.. the batter would be dead the next day. Dunno if this one was faulty but just something to keep an eye on.

["Big Guy"]

Something strange there... by definition, a trickle charger is just that, it will trickle a small (.25 to 1.5A) charge all the time. A float charger is different, in that it only charges until the battery is at 100% and then goes into stand by mode until it notices a drop in voltage. At that point, it turns back on and maintains the full charge. Float charges are the charger of choice for scooters.


-Rich

[schoei1]

Well everyone got me very curious about this charger, so I read the manual and it looks like it is a...

In the specifications:
"Charge Controller: Automatically changes to 'float' charge when battery is fully charged."


I am not sure if that is suppose to mean it starts as a trickle charger and then "switches" to a float charger. But, if anything goes wrong, I will let everyone know.

Thanks for the scooby snack Volunteer Scooterist.

[IrnBru]

Mine has worked really well but it does get kind of hot so I don't leave it plugged in overnight, just when I'm servicing the scoot. For the price I paid it serves it's purpose very well.

[tankcommander]

schoei1-
I did notice one thing that perhaps you didn't mention. I noticed where you mounted it, was where your stock air filter box used to be. Am I correct? Just thought folks would start looking and wonder how you got it to fit.

[schoei1]

Jun 30, 2008 12:05:03 GMT -5 tankcommander said:

schoei1-
I did notice one thing that perhaps you didn't mention. I noticed where you mounted it, was where your stock air filter box used to be. Am I correct? Just thought folks would start looking and wonder how you got it to fit.

That's correct, it is where my air filter use to be.

[ladydi]

CBXMAN installed a "Battery Tender Jr." on my scoot when I had it in for service last fall. Kept it hooked up all winter long and never had a problem, full charge on the battery in the spring, it is automatic & does not overcharge... mine is wired so only the 2 prong plug (with attached covers) is cable tied to the kick stand and out of the way - the power unit is plugged in the outdoor extension so it's ready when I get home! Check it out - you can wire it on the battery or clamp it on for the occasional charge! Both are included. here's the link..

www.cbxmanmotorcycles.com/Battery-Tender-Junior-Motorcycle-Battery-Charger.aspx

[bgray]

Jun 30, 2008 20:45:22 GMT -5 ladydi said:

CBXMAN installed a "Battery Tender Jr." on my scoot when I had it in for service last fall. Kept it hooked up all winter long and never had a problem, full charge on the battery in the spring, it is automatic & does not overcharge... mine is wired so only the 2 prong plug (with attached covers) is cable tied to the kick stand and out of the way - the power unit is plugged in the outdoor extension so it's ready when I get home! Check it out - you can wire it on the battery or clamp it on for the occasional charge! Both are included. here's the link..

www.cbxmanmotorcycles.com/Battery-Tender-Junior-Motorcycle-Battery-Charger.aspx

I used 2 of these on my ATVs this past year they are worth every cent.

[schoei1]

The onboard charger saved me from a 3 mile walk home today. I went to a 7-11 today and when I got out of the store, got on the scooter to go home, the battery was dead. I hadn't used the charger for about 3 days and kinda knew I had put a good amount of drain on the battery by leaving the GPS on it too long yesterday while the engine wasn't running. I forgot to plug it in last night, but didn't have any problems this morning or leaving work this afternoon. Well, I was carrying a 3-prong extension cord and was able to find an outside power outlet at the bank next to the 7-11. I plug it in and let it charge for about 5 minutes, and wala, the engine started. The only problem is...I am now considered a "Bank Robber" from steeling power from the bank. ;D

[pedez2000]

funny story.i'm going to get a few of these units to install on my customers scooters.

[r0b]

FYI, Harbor freight has the float chargers on sale for $5.99 right now. I picked one up while I was there 2 days ago.

[swakk]

i'm usually using an old lightly modified ups
to recharge and provide some 230v when needed
it's reliable an add some funny information via the pc port
but i have a floating charger too....

[kink]

6lbs weight? yikes! that seems like a lot for a little scoot!

i saw another great idea which was to wire in an access point for a trickle charger in under the seat in the form of a cigarette lighter socket. then you can just use the socket to plug a trickle charger into. you always have the option of tossing the charger under the seat if you think you will need to take it with you but when you aren't using it you don't need all that dead weight.

still +1 snax for ingenuity, and you made me realize how much space i'd be freeing up if i did away with the stock airbox! i take it that the exhaust looking thing on the left side of your scoot is actually the after market intake amirite?

[pukame2]

I use a float charger mounted under my scooter seat connected to a Curtis SP400 retractable cord power receptacle.
When I need it, I just pull out the cord and plug it to my AC outlet.



When it does its job, I just retract the cord, and on goes my seat.

Good riding.

[schoei1]

The 6lbs of weight is the thing I don't like and is one of the reasons I hesitated to install for many months. But I am now in great need of it, makes it easier to access rather then getting to the battery, and at lease the weight it is pretty much dead center. I will probably get a trickle charger at some point, because I already have a cigarette lighter socket that I use for my GPS. But, it seems to work well for now.

kink, yes that is a Big Shot Air Intake made by Custom Dragon. The air filter is inside the chrome tube and I bought it to help protect when caught in the rain.

[drummer9]

I just bought the Battery Tender Junior from here www.powerstridebattery.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=2&idproduct=1295 I got a good price and its free shipping. The charger has a 5 yr warranty on it and is supposed to be real good. My local mechanic recommended it to me. It has wire leads which you can attach to your battery with a connector on the other end which plugs right into the charger. It seems like a good way to be able to maintain the battery.