Battery charger for dead battery


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Old 08-05-19, 11:04 AM
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Battery charger for dead battery

I bought a Black & Decker BC15BD battery charger. When my car battery died due to a small light left on, it would not charge it or jump start the car. When I called B&D, I was told that the unit will not charge a completely dead battery. I would like a charger that works on a dead battery. Can you recommend one? Thank you.
 

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08-05-19, 01:15 PM
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Many of the new chargers will just sit there and do nothing unless there is a certain voltage on the battery. Some are around 8v while others are closer to 10v for a 12v battery.
 
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Old 08-05-19, 11:38 AM
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More and more of today's battery chargers are called smart chargers. They deliberately don't charge dead batteries to eliminate battery damage or possible explosion.

You need to get a basic 2A/10A non automatic battery charger. You could use one of these basic chargers to precharge the battery and then switch over to your B & D unit.
 
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Old 08-05-19, 11:40 AM
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While I'm not familiar with that battery charger I would think it should charge a dead battery ... but it might not be instantaneous. How long did you leave the charger on the dead battery?

edit,
Just read Pete's response - I wasn't aware of smart chargers
 
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Old 08-05-19, 12:27 PM
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Thanks PJ!
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Old 08-05-19, 01:15 PM
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Many of the new chargers will just sit there and do nothing unless there is a certain voltage on the battery. Some are around 8v while others are closer to 10v for a 12v battery.
 
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Old 08-05-19, 01:44 PM
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A totally dead battery may not take any type of charge. The plates may be damaged. How old id the battery to begin with? If brand new and discharged by a light then it should charge but if 2 or more years old and totally discharged, it may not take a charge at all.
 
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Old 08-05-19, 05:51 PM
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It doesn't need to be all that new for a battery charger to use the so-called "smart" technology. I have a Sears automobile battery charger that is more than twenty years old, (maybe closer to thirty years old) that will not charge a totally dead battery.

If the charger has the feature that causes it to "beep" if you connect the leads incorrectly then it will NOT charge a completely dead battery, even if you leave it connected forever.
 
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Old 08-06-19, 03:57 AM
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It is not recommended to reduce a vehicle battery to below 10 volts as its life will be shortened.
To take it to a few volts or even zero volts will do damage and it might work if you bring it back but will have minimal capacity.
As said, a manual charger may get it to hold a charge but you would do well to just buy a new battery.
 
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