Re: simple charger

[Lee Hart <leeahart@earthlink.net>]

Jeff.Owen@foodscience.afisc.csiro.au wrote:
> The charger in my car has failed and one of the technicians at work
> has suggested a variac and rectifier can be used to charge the
> batteries. Is such a crude device likely to damage the batteries?
> They are 8V Trojans

Certainly it will work. But it is entirely manual, and depends on you to
set an appropriate voltage and current. If you are knowledgeable and
conscientious, it won't hurt the batteries a bit. It may even do better
than your commercial charger, if you are smarter than it is.

But realistically, people make mistakes. You set it wrong, or forget,
and the batteries get damaged. Flooded batteries are relatively tolerant
of abuse, but they still have limits.
-- 
Lee A. Hart                Ring the bells that still can ring
814 8th Ave. N.            Forget your perfect offering
Sartell, MN 56377 USA      There is a crack in everything
leeahart_at_earthlink.net  That's how the light gets in - Leonard Cohen