Battery charging ?

[Fishaholic2011]

I have flasher and camera batteries that are 7, 7.2, 8, and 9 amp. I'm currently using 3 chargers, outputs are listed as DC 12V 850mA, 12.7VDC 550mA, and 12VDC 500mA.

Do all these chargers work with all these batteries?

The 500 and 550 are painfully slow at charging but eventually get the job done. The 850 is really fast but may have ruined the only 2 batteries charged. The 850 worked fast and well when plugged into the battery cover with the fitting on the camera the 1 time I tried it. I normally remove and leave off the battery cover as I need to change batteries after 4-6 hours of use and its a pain in the butt with the cover on.

The 850mA came with a new aquaview camera that I just returned for moisture in the camera, I forgot to include the charger with my return. I cut the fitting off the end of the charger so i can hook it directly to the batteries (this might be my problem). This charger seems to have shortened the running time on the 2 batteries charged with the 850mA. Its possible that both are at the end of their life but it seems like to much of a coincidence that both lost some life at the same time after using this charger.

I just purchased a new 8 amp and I'm very reluctant to charge it with the 850.

Please help!

[BobT]

The Charger's amp rating is only indicating how much amperage it can deliver. When you're charging your batteries they will take what they can take up to the limits of the ability of the charger. The output of the charger is not hurting your batteries. Overvoltage will damage your batteries. Make sure the chargers you are using are rated for the voltage of your batteries.

Finally, battery type is important. If you are batteries are NiCad make sure you are using a charger designed for recharging NiCad batteries. Likewise, Ni-mh batteries must be recharged with a Ni-mh charger.

[fsnrod]

The Charger's amp rating is only indicating how much amperage it can deliver. When you're charging your batteries they will take what they can take up to the limits of the ability of the charger. The output of the charger is not hurting your batteries. Overvoltage will damage your batteries. Make sure the chargers you are using are rated for the voltage of your batteries.

Finally, battery type is important. If you are batteries are NiCad make sure you are using a charger designed for recharging NiCad batteries. Likewise, Ni-mh batteries must be recharged with a Ni-mh charger.

Those batterys are sealed lead acid core batterys like car batterys not nicad or ni-mh.

[BobT]

If in doubt, I'd check with the battery manufacturer.

[David Anderson]

Buy this one and forget the rest:

http://vexilar.com/products/index.php?prodNum=V-410

Made specifically for these batteries, it goes into a maintenance mode so you cannot overcharge your batteries, which is a problem.

[Tom7227]

When charging batteries slow is better. Fast builds up heat and shortens the life of the battery.

[harvey lee]

For the past 3-4 years, I have used a 6amp charger for all my flasher and camera batteries and it has worked fine.

I have not had very good luck with the chargers that come with the units so I just went to this charger and it lasts and charges the batteries to a full charge and goes to maintain when they are full so they do not overcharge.

[th64]

Got that Vex one-works great