Bought a Float Charger. Correct use?

[ventura67]

I bought a float charger from Harbor Freight, on sale for less than $7.00!
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42292

I want to bring my pup's deep cycle in the house for winter and keep a charge on it.  Is the float charger what I need?  The directions and applications were vague but it seems to be what I need.

I tested the battery which is less than 3 months old before I put the charger on it: 10 volts.  The pup has sat since mid August with the  battery disconnected. This seems like normal drainage for that period of time, correct?

So will the float charger bring it up to max charge from 10 volts?  Do I just leave the float charger on all winter?  Any danger of leaving it and the battery in the basement?

Thank you!

[wavery]

I bought a float charger from Harbor Freight, on sale for less than $7.00!
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42292

I want to bring my pup's deep cycle in the house for winter and keep a charge on it.  Is the floating charger what I need?  The directions and applications were vague but it seems to be what I need.

I tested the battery which is less than 3 months old before I put the charger on it: 10 volts.  The pup has sat since mid August with the  battery disconnected. This seems like normal drainage for that period of time, correct?

So will the float charger bring it up to max charge from 10 volts?  Do I just leave the float charger on all winter?  Any danger of leaving it and the battery in the basement?

Thank you!

You may find that the battery will never achieve a full charge again after getting down to 10v. Once the specific gravity of the battery acid gets below a certain level, it will not recover. It doesn't help to add battery acid either.

It would be a good idea to 1st check the water level, then put a 3 stage charger on that battery as soon as possible. If the water is above the plates, charge the battery for about 4 hours then check the water level again. It is important to make sure that the plates do not become exposed. On the other hand, you don't want to add water unless the plates are exposed, then just put in enough water to keep the plates covered. The more that you dilute the electrolyte, the less it is likely to take a charge.

When you do add water use ONLY "Distilled" water (available at most grocery stores). You can fill the battery after the battery has been fully charged then sits for a day or 2.

Once your battery is fully charged, that charger should keep it topped up. It will not "charge" the battery.