On Jun 25, 6:11*am, "William Munny" <w...@jbigwhiskey.org> wrote:
> "y_p_w" <y_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:33f33c40-0b42-4ed5-a909-ace5e9cfac6d@d7g2000prl.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
>
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> > So here's the deal. *The car is a Honda Civic with a group 51 battery
> > (Kirkland Signature from Costco if that helps). *Every once in a while
> > the battery is heavily drained because a light (map light or headlamp)
> > was left on. *I do find it annoying that there is no headlight-on
> > warning chime or auto-off. *Sometimes it starts and sometimes it needs
> > a jump; a portable jump starter always does the trick. *The car itself
> > is driven maybe a few times a month for short distances along with the
> > occasional long trip.
>
> > So I got a simple Schumacher Electric 1 amp, 12 V trickle charger -
> > the kind with thin wires and light-duty clamps coming out of a wall-
> > wart. *It's labeled as a "manual charger" and the box/directions state
> > that it's suitable for charging motorcycle and other small batteries,
> > or for keeping auto batteries warm. *I wasn't sure if I could justify
> > getting anything more expensive like a higher output charger or maybe
> > even a float charger/maintainer with a charge sensing mechanism.
>
> > So I'm wondering how safe this is with a group 51 battery, which is on
> > the small side for auto batteries? *I realize that it's not likely to
> > fully charge up a depleted battery unless it's on for days at a time.
> > How safe is a 1 amp charge if uncontrolled like a float charger? *I've
> > heard some concerns that it could potentially overcharge - that maybe .
> > 25 amp is about the limit for safe trickle charging. *I've heard other
> > comments that it's effectively a trickle charge that could safely be
> > left on a fully charged car battery for days if not indefinitely.
>
> Tell your wife or teenager that the next time they leave the car light on
> and the battery drains, they will need to pay for a tow truck to come out
> for a jump...

Well - the deal is that I'd end up paying for it, and occasionally I'm
the guilty party from turning on the lights during the day (typically
for visibility in forest roads).

The map lights however are usually not my fault and typically they
only require a jump if left on overnight or for days at home.