The Ford Barn

catsailr · 02-21-2023, 08:15 AM

Can a person buy a battery charger like we used to have back in the fifties and sixties? The modern chargers all have electronic circuits. You can hook the charger up, come back in a little while, and the charger has turned off for some reason. I like the old chargers.

dmsfrr · 02-21-2023, 11:40 AM

.
Look for old-school equipment at swap-meets, flea markets, local online 'for sale' sites, or even ebay?

McMimmcs · 02-21-2023, 03:19 PM

If you attend Hershey or Carlisle you won’t be disappointed. Old fashioned 6 / 12 volt chargers on wheels are plentiful and very reasonable. Wayne

KULTULZ · 02-21-2023, 05:41 PM

If you want one that works and is dependable -

https://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SC..._GUID___%7Cdtp

rotorwrench · 02-23-2023, 01:15 PM

I recently purchased a mid 60s Schauer B6612 charger off of flea-pay. It was in pretty good shape and works like a champ. They only do 6 & 12-volt but that's all I needed for my old stuff.

Gene F · 02-26-2023, 06:42 PM

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I hate to be a downer, but every time I buy an instrument at a meet the thing doesn't work, and it ends up not being worth fixing. In some cases the parts are not even available.

Daves55Sedan · 02-26-2023, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gene F

I hate to be a downer, but every time I buy an instrument at a meet the thing doesn't work, and it ends up not being worth fixing. In some cases the parts are not even available.

I certainly would be wary of buying any used electronic equipment like this no matter where you shop unless owner can guarantee money back, but they won't, because they can always say you screwed it up. People are really stupid with this stuff. They unhook alligator clamps from battery while charger is still plugged in and the two alligator clamps touch each other, throwing sparks. You don't know what kind of damage has been done by previous owner.
Not to mention that these things have miniature capacitors and junk that goes bad after so many years, made even worse by improper storage environments.

rotorwrench · 02-27-2023, 12:02 PM

The older chargers were pretty simple units. A large transformer to step down the AC voltage to what ever voltage was required, 2 diodes to rectify to DC output, a circuit breaker to prevent self destruction, a switch to control it, and an amp meter to register the current output. There is not much to go wrong and most parts can still be sourced for them.

The new ones have LEDs and things with a programmed life span so don't expect the modern stuff to outlast the old stuff. It just ain't going to happen.

Abe Lugo · 03-06-2023, 12:13 PM

I have this basic one, been like 20 years,
DieHard 12 Volt Battery Charger Engine Starter Fully Automatic 2/10/50 Amp

tiny and works.
one of those tiny ones for 6 volt and as a tender.

Note that Diehard and CraftsmanChargers were probably made by a parent company anyhow.

Here is the one above that looks like a newer version of mine.
https://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SC...%2C156&sr=1-25

02-21-2023, 08:15 AM	#1
catsailr Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: TN Posts: 7	Battery Charger Can a person buy a battery charger like we used to have back in the fifties and sixties? The modern chargers all have electronic circuits. You can hook the charger up, come back in a little while, and the charger has turned off for some reason. I like the old chargers.

02-21-2023, 11:40 AM	#2
dmsfrr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Abq, NM Posts: 3,725	Re: Battery Charger . Look for old-school equipment at swap-meets, flea markets, local online 'for sale' sites, or even ebay?

02-21-2023, 03:19 PM	#3
McMimmcs Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Fort Gratiot, Michigan Posts: 2,296	Re: Battery Charger If you attend Hershey or Carlisle you won’t be disappointed. Old fashioned 6 / 12 volt chargers on wheels are plentiful and very reasonable. Wayne

02-21-2023, 05:41 PM	#4
KULTULZ Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: IN A GALAXIE FAR, FAR AWAY Posts: 7,386	Re: Battery Charger If you want one that works and is dependable - https://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SC..._GUID___%7Cdtp __________________ ***** "Last Sunday, I caught him makin' eyes at Idell Bushey durin' preachin'. And I know what they do up there in the hills when they say they're possum huntin'. They're just sittin' around the campfire, drinkin' hard cider, hittin' each other on the shoulder and hollerin' 'flinch!'." ― Charlene Darling (Daughter of Briscoe Darling)

02-23-2023, 01:15 PM	#5
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,411	Re: Battery Charger I recently purchased a mid 60s Schauer B6612 charger off of flea-pay. It was in pretty good shape and works like a champ. They only do 6 & 12-volt but that's all I needed for my old stuff.

02-26-2023, 06:42 PM	#6
Gene F Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,476	Re: Battery Charger Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I hate to be a downer, but every time I buy an instrument at a meet the thing doesn't work, and it ends up not being worth fixing. In some cases the parts are not even available.

02-27-2023, 12:02 PM	#8
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,411	Re: Battery Charger The older chargers were pretty simple units. A large transformer to step down the AC voltage to what ever voltage was required, 2 diodes to rectify to DC output, a circuit breaker to prevent self destruction, a switch to control it, and an amp meter to register the current output. There is not much to go wrong and most parts can still be sourced for them. The new ones have LEDs and things with a programmed life span so don't expect the modern stuff to outlast the old stuff. It just ain't going to happen.

03-06-2023, 12:13 PM	#9
Abe Lugo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Los Angeles,CA Posts: 178	Re: Battery Charger I have this basic one, been like 20 years, DieHard 12 Volt Battery Charger Engine Starter Fully Automatic 2/10/50 Amp tiny and works. one of those tiny ones for 6 volt and as a tender. Note that Diehard and CraftsmanChargers were probably made by a parent company anyhow. Here is the one above that looks like a newer version of mine. https://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SC...%2C156&sr=1-25