Over the years I have charged lots of batteries but the one I have now is a sealed one. I recall being told that these can't be hooked up to a charger but wanted to check if anyone can confirm that for me?

Thanks

Yogie

I've used "temporarily" SLA battery,which is specifically NOT recomended for automotive use...now it's over three years and keeps going strong even with filthy charging spiking to some 15-16 V...

I find that hard to believe

when its fitted in the car its being CHARGED all the time

so what would be the difference ???

It was something to do with the expanding gases when it charges. Because you couldn't take off the inspection plugs it meant the gas couldn't escape when it expanded from the charging. I would assume it wouldn't generate as much gas when charging from driving. I hope you can charge it as I don't want to buy another battery but I also don't want it exploding on me.

Yogie

Drill some holes in it

jks

Don't do that.

Sealed batteries can be charged; you just use the 'trickle' charge setting on your battery charger. This charges with a lower current, so it takes longer, but will not cause any overheating, evaporation or gas expansion problems on a sealed battery.

If your battery charger only has one setting - for full charging - this might be too much, so time to get a more modern battery charger.

I thought trickle chargers were the only ones. ts the one i have but i always udo the caps just to make sure.

Thanks for your help everyone. My charger is a 6amp and there is no switch for trickle feed. It charges till full then goes to trickle automatically to maintain the charge. Does that mean I would need another charger with a manual switch for trickle feed?

Yogie

I thinkk the newer charges just trickle charge, im not 100 percent but im prety confident in saying that

I forgot to add, the charger is only about 2 years old.

Yogie

You can get a little charger from Jaycar, which will " clean up" charging voltage and current to recommended values...I've got one, but never bothered to fit it..

Yes, 6-amp is for 'full charge' on wet lead acid batteries. Trickle-charge is around 2.5 amps. It's probably too strong for your sealed battery and might cause it to overheat and gas.

Supercheap Auto have a number of different battery chargers, from Arlec and Callibre mostly, some of them pretty basic and some a bit more sophisticated.

I like this one, for $55. Does all conventional lead acid batteries, plus calcium, gel and deep cycle batteries:

http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/SCA-Battery-Charger-6-...

the chargers are really not the answer as he wants to use it in his bug ,now i have seen these battery used in campers and when they get low the twin battery gismo switches over to charge the sealed battery
i would ask a camping outlet or a sparky the best way to go

Hi

A lot of new batteries are using calcium as a hardener in the making of the grids inside the battery, these batteries require special high out put battery chargers, if you have one in a generator equipped car you are pushing the proverbial uphill, in fact most early cars with alternators struggle with these batteries.

Steve