More on a 'Battery Tender'

[geezer]

I bought a battery tender so as to maintain full charge on my problematic rider battery. It bothers me that the male plug for the ting is only 2-prong. Seems to me that I connect it to AC source backwards, that it could cause charging problems. Can it?

Or am I just paranoid?

TX

[Stubby]

Yup, paranoid. The charger is built around a transformer that isolates the 120 VAC power input from the DC output. Reversing the plug does not affect the DC output in anyway.

Having a third prong would permit the (metal?) case of the charger to be grounded. This means that an internal short in the charger would not give you a shock. But it is just as safe to make the case out of an insulator such as plastic and physically arrange the wiring so it cannot chafe or break.

[geezer]

Just now I connected the tender up and get proper indicator lights and voltage polarities no matter which way I connect the plug.

So I would think that you are indeed very right.

Thanks for reply

One day I will find my short though. Now up to 7V! Must be the starter itself.

Cya

[trader4]

If the battery is good, it should be unnecessary to use a battery tender during the mowing season. If you use the mower once a week for a half hour or so, that should keep it charged. The tender is needed in the winter, when the battery isn't being charged by the mower. And I sure wouldn't use it to allow leaving the battery connected. Until you find the short, the battery should be disconnected after each use.

[Stubby]

That assumes the charger circuit in the mower is working right. My original was not and many people with Craftsman complain about the same thing.

[Ralph Mowery]

Hope this is not a joke. The AC reverses 60 times every second so it will not mater which way you plug it in as far as the output to the battery.

[geezer]

Nope - not a joke. Just a question out of ignorance.

Thanks for reply.