| Duracell D2a Battery Maintainer Charger Only $19.50 @ Amazon   Rated 5 of 5 Stars by 47 Buyers!   |
Duracell D2a Battery Maintainer Charger
I wanted a charger to keep my car battery charged (but not overcharged!) while I am absent on multi-week trips. So far the Duracell 2 Amp charger seems to be working well.
It is a three-stage charger. The specification says that depending on the current state of the battery, it will do a fast charge to around 80%, then a slower charge to virtually full, then at last move to a lower voltage “floating” charge to keep the battery near 100% without overcharging.
I used a multimeter to watch the charging process. My battery was for the most part full to begin with, so the charger started charging at 14.1 volts (the slow charge mode) and then after a few hours moved to 12.7 volts (for the drifting drifting These both seem suitable voltages. In particular, the drifting voltage of 12.7 volts ought to be safe for long-term battery maintenance.
After about two days on drifting charge, my charger’s red charging light at long last went off. Over the next couple of weeks, when I checked the charger, the red charging light was largely off but I sometimes noticed it on. It looks like the charger is moving amongst off and floating charge as needed for sustained maintenance.
I’ll have to see how the charger holds up underneath long-term use, but so far everything looks good.
Update November 2010: I’ve been using this for two years now and I proceed to be very happy with it is It’s pleasant to come back from a four week absence to a entirely charged car battery, with zero hassles!
I use this with my classic motorcycles and it’s taken a beating. Gotten soaked and dried out. Fallen to the concrete floor on such a heap of occasions, and it’s still running like a swiss watch.
All the connectors are outstanding too.
This product is great!! It in addition has a low price.
I purchased this for the cold winters here in Iowa. I have older cars they are 96, 92, 01. I just connect them through the lighter option connection and switch them each day.
My cars perpetually get started now. No difficulties at all.
This charger/maintainer is perfective for older cars that tend to lose their charges for the duration of cold sub zero cold nights.
Would highly recommend!!!
Product works as described. Connect and forget. Plenty of connection options,I peculiarly liked the connector covers on the ring terminal connectors.
I have assorted chargers already, but decisive to pick one up for $10 for the duration of a holiday special. The D2A is a rebranded unit made by Xantrex Technologies ([...]) Nowhere on the box or in the manual does it mention being a microprocessor controlled unit (only on Amazon description). Also on the back of the box it mentions being a 3 stage charger, but genuinely it is only 2 stages (bulk/float). The float voltage seems high, compared to my Yuasa charger – I hope that doesn’t harm the battery. This charger will cycle on and off each 5 min or so in float mode (probably ok). When it goes into float mode, the red LED does not shut fully off, but has a faint glow. Also, when connecting the leads to the battery, there is definitive sparking sometimes, which means it is pumping current out on introductory connection (A high quality microprocessor controlled charger will do a “soft start” with no sparking.
I just picked up a SEM-1562A (Aug 2010) and so far it works better than the D2A (better build quality, three LED status lights with more status modes including blinking LEDs). It has a soft begin feature and does not spark on connecting to battery.
The Cigarette Plug/Power Outlet Plug is the best feature. Most battery retainers come with clamps needing the user to open the hood and clamping the leads to the battery and a body parts This unit plugs directly into the cigarette lighter/power outlet. As the amperage is dandier than the drain on the battery (the battery is perpetually draining because it is hooked up to the car), the electrical flow goes toward the battery and it keeps to a complete degree charged! No brainer to applied Note: whether or not the power light does not light up when it is plugged into the AC send it back right way via Amazon.com return.
The battery charger works fine but the little print tells you to disconnect the charger when the battery is fully charged. That isn’t what I bought a “Battery Maintainer” for. I wanted to set it and forget it till I needed the vehicle that was being charged. What I ended up doing is putting the charger on a timer and let it charge the battery for 4 hours a day. That retained the charge up to where it would begin the car even after sitting for a long amount of time of time.
Use this on my ’96 Porsche 993. I actually don’t acknowledge how other 911s of that vintage are, but my peculiar money pit…er, I mean ‘car’…is notoriously cruel to batteries, draining them down to not one thing if the car sits for more than a week. The Duracell went into service almost two years ago and it’s been as close to a godsend as I’ve ever experienced in the upkeep of this car. Definitely been well worth its modest price.
The lighter socket connection is how I connect this trickle charger to the car, and it’s great. No fussing with the trunk carpet (the battery of a 911 is up front, underneath the carpeting) or being heedful feeding the wires out of the trunk when I latch down the lid (both the trunk light and cabin lights will stay on unless the lid is completely and properly latched in place). The convenience factor is simply immeasurable. Definitely this maintainer has been one of the best buys I’ve ever made for the car.
Make sure that you comprehend what a trickle charger is before you purchase this, expecting it to revive a dead battery. This item is quiet, works as advertised, compact, cool to the touch. Instructions were adequate. I use the connection to the cigarette lighter, and it works just great – no hassle with an open hood, etc. I use it on my Porsche, which means that the battery is not directly accessible for any of the other connection options anyway.
A perfect option for someone who doesn’t use the car for a few weeks and needs a “connect and forget” approach to holding the battery viable.