Recharging a 12 VDC gel cell battery with cigarette lighter adapter?

[mr_pike_71]

Hello all- I'm new to FM- this ice fishing forum is great-I've learned a lot. The question I have is, can one recharge a 12 VDC gel cell battery directly from the vehicle's cigarette lighter power outlet. If you took a cigerette lighter adapter, keep track of the (+) and (-), directly solder some wire onto the terminals, and add red and black clips to the wire ends.

You plug it in and you could recharge your battery on your way home or top off your battery between lake stops.

Most 110 AC chargers you get with the battery have an output of 500ma or 1 amp. The vehicle recharging rate would be a lot higher and my concern is that it would be too much amperage and would cook a gel cell as they don't have any vents.

Any thoughts/replies would be greatly appreciated-

Mr_Pike_71

[mhjohns]

I wouldn't recommed charging it like that, but I would recommend just getting an inverter. You can get one cheep enough just about anywhere that can run you charger that came with the unit. They are quite handy. I carry one in each of my vehicles that is rated for at least 300W.

The voltage through your cigarette lighter will be between 13 and 14V (with it running) and could draw probably 10amp before it blows the fuse. If you test most of the trickle charges used on the batter you describe they will be kicking out close to 17V and less then 1amp, most 500 ma. Pretty big difference. If that battery charges too fast and hard it will get hot. The hotter it gets the more damage you do until its junk.

[mr_pike_71]

mhjohns:

Thanks for the great response about the inverter. That is just what I'll do. Less hassel than gettng an adapter, wire and clips, soldering and all. This way, it will save on the battery too by rechargeing it with the proper charger.

Thanks.

Mr_Pike_71