I own a new Schumacher SC-10030A, and use it regularly as needed you can even find my review of it here at Amazon, and I think highly of the unit. I also use a solar Sunforce 52013 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer I have also reviewed here at Amazon. Each of these has their place and specific uses, but the BatteryMinder 1.5A OnBoard model is designed to meet my needs for a different set of circumstances.
I could have just as easily purchased a BatteryMinder 1.3A unit the one sold here has many good reviews reporting it as a great product. One of the things no one mentions, though, is that BatteryMinder holds the patent on the manner in which their units desulfate batteries and theirs desulfate continuously, using varying frequencies, where much of their competition only desulfates intermittently according to built-in profiles and not without heating the battery while doing so.
I have a number of vehicles that often sit for long periods some outside, and some stored inside. Yes, the small Sunforce solar panels work great but only on vehicles sitting in sunlight, and they don't desulfate they only help to maintain a well charged battery. The Schumacher also works great but I can't leave it outside or exposed to any elements. Nor is it truly practical to leave the Schumacher hooked up for a week or more. The Schumacher also desulfates, but only intermittently, and only when it senses the need at the beginning of a charge cycle and it doesn't always sense the need for a desulfation cycle. That sensing need isn't unique to the Shumacher and is the drawback of every unit on the market using this particular "sensing" technology.
As I use AGM and standard and sealed lead acid batteries, I need systems that work with both battery types. All three of the units I have meet that qualification and also perform fine with even more battery types.
I made this BatteryMinder 1.5A model purchase as I also have several heavily sulfated lead acid batteries, not in vehicles, that I would like to recover if possible and I do know they are still recoverable to some level of recharge. It's true the BatteryMinder 1.3A comes with several connection options the 1.5A model doesn't come with but neither is the 1.3A model sealed like the 1.5A model, which does have .2A more power output. However, I mostly don't like the 1.3A model as it has to plug directly into a wall outlet and isn't sealed. That means those cables on it won't reach far enough to connect different vehicles without moving them around or inside out of the weather. Using the 1.5A model, I have only to run a 50-100' shop utility cord out and to set the 1.5A model where I need it or hang it where needed, rain or shine, and I can easily seal the utility cord to it with electrical tape when and if needed. Humidity is never going to affect it. If I decide to, I can also permanently mount the 1.5A model under the hood of a vehicle with its included bracket and using a shop extension cord to charge/desulfate whenever.
My continuation of this review below this paragraph will be of the performance in desulfation of batteries. I have no doubt this 12151 can charge and maintain a charge on a good battery, but I will also watch that over several weeks time. I have one AGM battery that still isn't back to 100% charged, although the Schumacher did recover it from a 50% state of condition to 85% I want to see if the BatteryMinder 1.5A unit will raise that charge percentage using its patented continuous high frequency desulfating charging technology over other technology. (chuckle) Short of seeing what this pricey little solid-state "connect-and-forget" technology can do with WWII submarine batteries, my testing of the BatteryMinder 1.5A model should still be rather conclusive in automotive applications.
Battery subject 1: automotive Delco, 4 year old, 6 yr. 78 month, sealed lead-acid, 600 CCA.
This battery had been sitting idle and discharged for months, and was showing only 10 volts on a digital meter. I used my Schumacher charger to bring it back up to a solid 12.5 volts as noted after resting it for 24 hours. I again reconnected the Schumacher and left it running for three days, but a resulting 75% recovered state was as far as the Shumacher would recover this battery read using the Schumacher "check" feature after disconnecting the Schumacher and allowing the surface charge to dissipate. Note: charging with the Schumacher also heated the battery, so I also had to let it cool as the surface charge dissipated before testing could be accurate.
I then connected the BatteryMinder 1.5A 12151 and checked the progress over two days. With the 12151 connected, I saw voltages varying from 13.61 volts at the start to 14.01 volts after 15 minutes, and down to 13.96 volts after 30 minutes. I also noted the amps were varying in the 1.23A range at the start and later in the 1.10A range.
The battery remained cool to touch this time using the low amperage of the 12151, but the BatteryMinder 12151 was just slightly warm throughout the two days of charging, and silent and the unit's LED remained solid green without going into the "flashing" mode denoting maintain/desulfate mode. I then disconnected the battery from the BatteryMinder and allowed the battery to stand and dissipate the surface charge. When I next checked the battery, it was then showing 12.65 volts on my digital meter, and returning to 12.65 volts after a light load a solid improvement of .15 volts that indicated the battery state was now at 90% recovered (again using the percent "check" feature on my Shumacher SC010030A). That's right, the BatteryMinder 12151 took this 600CCA battery from 75% capacity to 90% in only two days. So, the BatteryMinder unit's frequency modulation definitely does work. I'll be letting the 12151 continue its "magic" to see if it recovers this Delco to 100%, but I could easily just start reliably using this battery now. I just prefer to see it back at 100% if possible
... and it is possible... I charged the battery two more days with the BatteryMinder 12151 and the battery was holding 12.75 volts after allowing the surface charge to dissipate over 12 hours. This formerly "dead" battery is now perfect for service again, and an additional three more days saw this battery only improve to 12.76 volts again, after the battery had been off the charger for 12 hours. Maybe another month on the 12151 might show more improvement on this battery, but I'm satisfied. Recovering this battery saved me $100 for a new one.
Next: the recovery performance on a 7 year old Odyssey PC1200MJT (550 CCA top post metal jacket) that was only recovered a true 85% using the Schumacher.
The Schumacher charger finally did recover this AGM battery to a stable 12.65 volts after several discharge and recharge cycles using the AGM and 2 Amp charge settings (partially discharging it several times while using an aftermarket 1300 watt stereo system in a 1985 Trans Am). That recovery in itself is remarkable for a seven year old battery, but this battery was never used to start the vehicle it was previously in (a 1979 Berlinetta Camaro) more than once or twice per year it just sat idle the rest of the time. The 12151 pulled this battery up to a solid 12.70 volts after only replacing the Schumacher charger with the BatteryMinder charger for a day. In several more days, I'll see what voltage this battery is holding at "rest" again (after the surface charge has had time to dissipate).
My Odyssey owner's manual states this battery, at 100% charged, will show 12.84 volts at rest when it has reached its 100% charge capacity. According to the Odyssey chart, after weeks of being connected to the BatteryMinder 12151, the seven year old Odyssey PC1200MJT only recovered to just over 90%. That's still not bad as the design life of this 7-year old battery is only 8-12 years with good care, and just over 90% is a much better state of charge and recovery than any other charger gave it.
The four year old sealed Delco well, it recovered to a full 100% after more time connected to BatteryMinder 12151 and I put it back into my 2007 Silverado. I'm counting my blessings now and have also put the Odyssey into full time service in my customized 1985 Trans Am with its 620 watt RMS stereo system, and high compression 406 smallblock. I feel my experience using the BatteryMinder is one that made it well worth purchasing it. I plan to buy more BatterMinders, and have mounted this one in my Trans Am with the Odyssey battery.
Update 7/11/11:
I've now bought another 12151 for my Silverado and not only another 12151, but a 12248 BatteryMinder for the vehicles stored in my garage behind my home. The 12248 can charge/maintain up to six different batteries at the same time. Once I saw the performance improvement over a few days, after putting that Delco back into the Silverado, I knew how well this unit helped the Silverado charging system by charging the Delco battery to 100% capacity. My Silverado alternator now takes only a few minutes to build the Delco back after starting the engine and then it rests and cools off with a lower voltage output. It had never done this even when the truck was brand new or even with the other new standard lead acid battery I had been using while the factory Delco was removed. Charging a battery to 100% capacity really does takes a load off the alternator and was something I wasn't expecting but could easily see at my Silverado dash voltage gauge. I should have remembered this from my active racing days, but that has been a number of decades back now. From now on, I'll be bringing even my brand new batteries to a 100% charge with a BatteryMINDer before I start using them and will desulfate them at least once a month from now on. BatteryMINDer has made me a true believer in their "desulfation" product.
Update: 7/24/11
After installing the 12151 permanently to my Trans Am with its Odyssey PC1200 MJT battery, and keeping the power cord connected while not driving the car, it has now built this seven year old battery back to its full 100% capacity. Seeing the full 12.84 volts stated in my Odyssey manual, after a 24 hour "rest" (disconnected from the power cord), was a fantastic and unexpected sight. BatteryMINDer simply has a great product here and I now have an over $200 battery back to like new electrical condition. The BatteryMINDer 12151 has to be one of the best automotive purchases I've made in a long time.
Update: 8/25/11
Now that my BatteryMINDer 12151's have both of the batteries (I watched build back here on my first 12151) back to an optimal state, I've noticed the 12151's output amps are only above 1 amp until the units begin flashing shortly after I've connected their power cords. After the "flashing mode begins now, the amps quickly fall to almost nothing due to the improved condition of my batteries. It also doesn't take as long for these units to go into the "flashing" mode, as it did when I first installed the 12151's.
Update: 10/23/11
I checked the old Odyssey battery installed in my Pontiac Trans Am today, and found the 12151 holding steady at 13.54 volts on the well charged Odyssey battery while in the BatteryMINDer "maintain/desulfate" mode noted by the flashing green LED. This is within the 13.5-13.8 voltage range called for in the Odyssey battery warranty for maintenance (trickle) charging.
I have had a Battery MINDer on my Harley for nearly 20 years. These are great little devices and well worth the price. They don't just keep the battery charged, but they condition it by sending little pulses of electricity though the battery so that crystals cannot build up on the plates. By keeping the plates free of crystals the battery can receive a full charge and work at its peak.
A Battery MINDER will extend the life of the battery, practically indefinitely. My last standard acid-filled battery lasted 12 years using a Battery MINDer, and it only finally had to be replaced because I forgot to check the fluid and let it evaporate. Then I switched to an AGM battery and got this newer Battery MINDer to use with that, putting my old one on my truck, which I only drive sporadically.
The Battery MINDer comes with cable adapters that stay permanently connected to the terminals on the battery. All you have to do when the vehicle is not in use, is connect the adapters to the Battery MINDer, which stays connected to AC, using very little electricity. The BM comes with connecting adapters to attach to the terminal adapters. It also comes with alligator clamps for charging or conditioning a battery that does not have adapters attached.
Note that the BM is a trickle charger and is meant to maintain a battery, not to charge a completely dead o depleted battery. For example, if you buy a new battery that needs initial charging, use a standard charger to charge it, then connect it to the BM to condition it and keep it charged. A battery can be low and attached to the BM, but if it is dead or has very little charge, it won't register on the BM.
By the same token if you would like to revive an old battery that won't hold a charge due to sulfation of the plates, first charge it with a standard charger, then connect it to the Battery MINDer. It can take up to a week or longer to re-condition such a battery. You might also have to start the sulfation process manually in this situation, so read the directions.
The Battery MINDer will undoubtedly earn every penny of its cost back, and more. Before I got one I was going through a battery a year on my Harley, and the same for my truck, which I rarely used. Now I don't even go through a battery a decade! It is one of the best things I've ever purchased.
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I liked the reviews on this charger, especially about desulfating. I plan to disconnect the batteries (I have two.)on my travel trailer and treat them to a charge and desulfating every month or so when I'm not using the trailer. I have new batteries now so no hurry.
I'm trying to recover the 6 year old batteries I had on the trailer as we speak. Not going well. Judging from the other reviews they may be beyond recovery. I measured about 50 percent capacity when I started and after about a week and a half, I've gained about 10 percent. There has been an increase in capacity and as far as I'm concerned, that shows the charger/desulfater is doing it's job.
I really like the idea that this charger is waterproof. It rains on the Oregon Coast. LOL
Read Best Reviews of BatteryMINDer Onboard Battery Charger/Maintainer - 12 Volt, Model# 12151 Here
I recently purchased the BatteryMINDer and I am delighted how well that it works. It is simple to install the charger leads off the battery and very easy to plug and unplug the BatteryMINDer from the car. I have a 2011 Ford Fiesta that is not used on a regular basis. It commonly sits in the garage all week and only sees the road on the weekend. In the past, the Fiesta always had a dead battery come Friday. The BatteryMINDer has completely solved that. Even after leaving the car in the garage for a month while we were on vacation, the BatteryMINDer kept the car battery fully charged and when we got back, the car started like a champ. Great product, very fair price, and I highly recommended it based on my excellent experience.
BatteryMINDer Battery Charger / Maintainer with Desulphator 12 Volt 2/4/8 Amp, Model# 12248
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Have a diesel truck that may sit for weeks without being driven, installed this thing, plug it in and I can forget about it indefinitely. Charges and desulfates battery for trouble free starting.
Easy install and good instructions.
