[TR] [EXTERNAL] Re: Battery charging

Mon Dec 28 05:10:18 MST 2020

Jim,

A good time no doubt!

Screw the weather! Top down TR3 rides this time of year are a great way to kick the winter blues!

Here in NW, Ohio, I also took my top down, bright yellow TR3 out for a spin around our small town when it was 20F a few days ago. On Main St., surrounded by Christmas decorations and lights I saw a guy coming toward me in his, top down, red Corvette, wearing a stocking cap and smoking a large cigar. We waved to each other. Kicking winter's ass. Love my TR3! Smiles all the way home.

Randall Reihing
1959 TR3A

________________________________
From: Triumphs <triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net> on behalf of Jim Henningsen <trguy75 at gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, December 25, 2020 8:51 PM
To: Alex & Janet Thomson <aljlthomson at charter.net>
Cc: list Triumph <triumphs at autox.team.net>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: [TR] Battery charging

Merry Christmas!  I took my TR3a out today top down with Santa hat in 50 degree weather.  Brrrr.  But the heater is working well.
Cheers,
Jim Henningsen
Ocala fl

On Dec 25, 2020, at 8:28 PM, Alex & Janet Thomson <aljlthomson at charter.net> wrote:

I forgot to mention – here it is Christmas night and there are a bunch of us chatting about the relative merits of battery chargers, and we are doing it from each end of the country. This is why I enjoy this crew so much. There is just so much genuine help and assistance. We need to always give Mark Bradakis a big thank-you for keeping the mechanics of this process up and running. Where would we be without his efforts?

Have a great Christmas, everyone , as well as a good new year. It’s now 8:30 in Connecticut and to all, a good night.

Alex Thomson

From: Rye Livingston [mailto:ryel at mac.com]
Sent: Friday, December 25, 2020 6:58 PM
To: Alex & Janet Thomson
Cc: David Friedlander; TR3 Triumphs; list Triumph
Subject: Re: [TR] Battery charging

For what it’s worth, here is an opinion from to experts I was surprised to hear.  One is a Porsche mechanic who’s been in the business for 30+ years.  The Interstate battery had died and even pumped out some white power at the end, out a breather tube from the battery.  I cleaned it all up well, worried about battery acid in the front truck.  I went to the shop, he’s an Interstate distributor as well, and bought a new battery and told him what happened, and that I’d had the battery connected to a Battery Tender Jr.  He told me that even that brand, which is good, is really not good to leave on all the time, and it will cook the battery.  He recommends putting it on for a week or two, then disconnecting for a week or two, and repeat.  Well that’s a pain.

Then in my Airstream trailer which has two 12 volt deep cycle batteries, I’ve read that the power converter that comes with the trailer also isn’t designed to leave plugged in all the time and it will cook the batteries, which did happen.  I tried using a Battery Tender Jr on that but it couldn’t deal with 2 batteries.  I was then told about an upgrade for the Airsteam power converter on Amazon, about $200 or so, which I installed and it does manage the float and it can be left plugged in for months and months no problem.

So be careful with Battery Tenders.  I have two Battery Tender Jrs and four Die Hard battery tenders for multiple cars, Kubota tractor and a boat.  Just be careful how long you leave them plugged in and check the water level if it’s not a gel battery.  I have an Optima in my Triumph and Kubota.

Good luck,

Rye

On Dec 25, 2020, at 2:21 PM, Alex & Janet Thomson <aljlthomson at charter.net<mailto:aljlthomson at charter.net>> wrote:

Are the batteries still connected to their cars? Maybe there is a slight draw on the TR6. Our TR6 took the whole summer off because it needs a new wiring harness. There were some wires that had let the smoke out! After I drove it into winter storage, I disconnected the ground cable and noticed that there was a tiny spark! Something is leaking current. Another project to do!

Alex Thomson

From: Triumphs [mailto:triumphs-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of David Friedlander
Sent: Friday, December 25, 2020 3:18 PM
To: New England Triumphs; TR3 Triumphs
Subject: [TR] Battery charging

Hey all ~ Merry Christmas ...!

I have one float charger that serves both my TR3 that has an Optima red top battery and my TR6 that has a Sears Die Hard. Seems like even though each battery is only 2 -3 years old, the Die Hard seems to need more frequent “topping up” than the Optima.... Interesting....

Dave

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