Just purchased the Dewalt auto charger and also the Dewalt radio/charger Saturday. Ive got a plastic bucket I keep my dead batteries in, so Ive been charging over the weekend and I'm having trouble with the charger sucking my van battery dry (grave yard dead). I just replaced my van battery not long ago. Cant imagine it taking that much, but it is...... I didnt look at the capacity of my van battery, but its not very big in size. Anyone else had this problem?
Dewalt auto charger running van battery down
- Thread starter Mule
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Ed Carr
Senior Member
- Location
- way upstate NY
Mule,Is the van running?
Ed
Ed
I've been driving the van over the weekend, but I cant leave that new charger plug'd in with the van not running. It might charge one battery ok but that's it...
Ed Carr
Senior Member
- Location
- way upstate NY
Mule, I'm surprised at that. I know you wouldn't be able to
charge 20 dead batterys but would think you could do better
than one on one.
Ed
charge 20 dead batterys but would think you could do better
than one on one.
Ed
I did charge probably a dozen over the weekend, but I've driven the van alot, and Id think it should be charged up by now....We went out for a ice cream this evening and that sucker was dead for the second time. So, Im thinking my van battery is too small or my alternator is not putting out enough current. I'll pull the caps and check fluid tomorrow
Its all about amp-hours, watt-hours, and charge efficiency. What voltage is your
Dewalt batteries, and amp-hour rating?
If you do a little math, I bet you will find out what is going on. I am guessing here but let?s assume your Dewalt batteries are 18 volt at 3 amp-hours or 54 WH. Taking the chargers and battery efficiency it will take about 80 watt-hours out of your truck battery to charge the Dewalt battery. Well considering most truck batteries only have around 600 watt-hours stored up, it will not take too many Dewalt charges to tap you out or at least drain it enough to prevent cranking an engine, especially in cold weather.
Dewalt batteries, and amp-hour rating?
If you do a little math, I bet you will find out what is going on. I am guessing here but let?s assume your Dewalt batteries are 18 volt at 3 amp-hours or 54 WH. Taking the chargers and battery efficiency it will take about 80 watt-hours out of your truck battery to charge the Dewalt battery. Well considering most truck batteries only have around 600 watt-hours stored up, it will not take too many Dewalt charges to tap you out or at least drain it enough to prevent cranking an engine, especially in cold weather.
Your probably right on......So, maybe a second deep cycle battery and a diode so I dont get stranded? I'd like to be able to not worry about it while Im on the job site, or home charging while the van is not running...
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Cow
Senior Member
- Location
- Eastern Oregon
- Occupation
- Electrician
What a coincidence! I just had a dead battery from this just 3 days ago! Although, I use a convential charger(s) plug into an inverter though. Had a single port and a dual port charger plugged in at the same time, pickup battery was dead in 30 mins.
I usually only plug the single port in with no problems whatsoever but I think the dual port pulls just a bit too much.
Next time I'll leave the truck running.....:wink:
I usually only plug the single port in with no problems whatsoever but I think the dual port pulls just a bit too much.Next time I'll leave the truck running.....:wink:
What a coincidence! I just had a dead battery from this just 3 days ago! Although, I use a convential charger(s) plug into an inverter though. Had a single port and a dual port charger plugged in at the same time, pickup battery was dead in 30 mins.
Next time I'll leave the truck running.....:wink:
Must be the dead battery season for the barnyard animals ....:smile: I started out with a inverter. Had reliability, and/or sizing problems, so I decided to go this route.
Pullnwire
Senior Member
- Location
- Surrounded by Oranges
- Occupation
- Electrician, Business Owner, SME and Trade Instructor
I leave my charger plugged 24/7 and i never have a problem. I always drop in a dead battery at the end of the day. Well, it does charge on the way home, but I have dropped them in all day while out in the sticks with no problems.... I do have dual batteries on my Duramax diesel though.
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