battery maintainer

[incoming]

Thanks all, for the outstanding information! PVTwinger, sounds like you have a pretty simple and safe method for charging both batteries independently without the risk of a bad battery causing problems. And yes, the maintainer should keep the rate of charge low enough in float mode not to fry anything. I got to tell you guys...one thing I've learned from this site is that there are several approaches to solving a single issue. As always, I appreciate the responses. This is a great website. I hope you guys stick with me through the powerpack removal (coming soon)!
Thanks again gents!!
Incoming

[kmam]

I love these claims "This charger will operate anywhere in the world." that happens to use the same voltage as the US, namely 120VAC @ 60Hz. Sadly that only applies to about half the countries as the others use 220/240VAC 50Hz

Howard

[rickf]

Yea, well from what I hear, your toilets flush backwards down there too!

No worries Howard, I would move there in a heartbeat if I could.

Good point on the power supply issues. In all due fairness I went back and looked at the link again and it says US and Western hemisphere. So I guess you others are out of luck. I am sure there are companies that build the same setup for those in the European countries and other with different voltages.

[kmam]

You would be more than welcome Rick. Just bring your specialist knowledge and I might eventually get my 151 going!

By the way, don't take your charger to Argentina, Chile, Peru or a few other Western Hemisphere countries...

Howard

[Hambone]

Hello gents,
It has been a while since I have been on the site. I've appreciated all the help and good advice I have gotten from you. My plans were to pull the engine in the MUTT in order to get the the access panel for the four wheel drive shifter rod and fork but haven't had time to yet. Hunting season keeps me in the woods. I do have a question that you can help me with at this point however. Is it possible to hook up a 12 volt battery maintainer without unhooking the batteries in the jeep, and still maintain a charge on both batteries? Any advice would be appreciated. Will keep the site posted on the engine pull when I get to it. Thanks as always!

Bring that jeep up here, I will keep the batteries maintained.

[raymond]

I may be stating the obvious, but one way to properly maintain the batteries while stored inside the vehicle is to periodically start the vehicle

[Horst]

which hurts your engine if you don't drive if after starting it

[raymond]

which hurts your engine if you don't drive if after starting it

During winter storeage, I start the vehicle every 3 weeks or so, pull out the throttle to a fast idle, and warm the engine up for 20 minutes or so. Battery stays fully charged and never any problems starting. Been doing this since 1997 (20 years) with same engine, with no apparent ill effects.

[Fil Bonica]

After two weeks of no use started the Jeep "barely" and went on a 14 mile jaunt
Gave it a good exercise and a chance to recharge the batteries.
This is my favorite way to keep things up to par.
Can wait for good weather to do it longer!

Fil Bonica

[raymond]

WAY too much salt on the roads around here to go for a ride.

[Horst]

which hurts your engine if you don't drive if after starting it

During winter storage, I start the vehicle every 3 weeks or so, pull out the throttle to a fast idle, and warm the engine up for 20 minutes or so. Battery stays fully charged and never any problems starting. Been doing this since 1997 (20 years) with same engine, with no apparent ill effects.

What I am obviously talking about is the condensation and deposits created if the engine is not warmed up completely in this process. I have been doing similar in the past, I put a piece of cardboard in front of the radiator to help warming up the engine. Nowadays my 151 sits in a bag somewhere in the cold season, the battery maintainers connected. It will probably sit for 6 months overall.

2017 will be definitely another year for a bigger trip in the 151, similar to 2013 and 2015. Maybe Massive Central in France. Depends if the team of the last 2 trips get's together again.