I'm so impressed with the results of this charger, I ordered one from Amazon. I have an old Schumacher, about 20 years old. It's time for an upgrade. Thanks for sharing this review and your experience with this product.
I was and am thoroughly impressed with it and how it brought that battery back from certain death. Barring any batteries with open cells (broken contact between the lead plates) I can foresee batteries lasting MUCH longer with a regular routine of charging and reconditioning. Cheers Stanley! Let me know how you like it. Zip~
@@ZippoVarga My new charger arrived on Tuesday. I pulled my garden tractor battery out of the mower to charge on a workbench. My battery is less than two years old and still in good shape. It was easy to set up and charge. Didn't take very long since the battery isn't that old. The only negative - I wish the manufacture would have installed thicker gauge wiring leading to the clamps.
@@snw56 Since it's just a 4 amp charger, heavier cables would be overkill I think. When i compare them to my higher amperage chargers like the 25 amp I've got the gauge is the same for both. Did you notice the wires getting warm at all? That's when I'd worry. The test of time shall tell all, but so far I'm very happy with this little guy. Cheers! Zip~
I was pleasantly surprised how it recovered that dead battery, even if it was only 38% health, it now holds a charge and CCA. I'm thinking about getting a couple more for the ranch hands a.k.a tractors. Cheers! Zip~
Yes looks like a well made charger that did what it's suppose to do. Ruby will be in fine shape before you know it. Glad you got someone you like and trust to work on it. Nice video!
Thanks Arcie! Ruby is definitely shaping up. I've got a few more things to tend to, but nothing at all major. Her first road trip is coming up next week since getting the new engine and getting her back with Ice Cold A/C! And this charger exceeded my expectations by far on that single battery. I may invest in a couple more since I have so many vehicles and tractors to keep up on. Cheers my Friend! Thanks for stopping by! Zip~
Definitely! Just got Ruby back yesterday with COLD A/C! Discovered I've got a bad defrost actuator door on the climate control, so I managed to get it closed and disconnected the actuator motor temporarily. This is pretty common due to the rubber bushings getting over heated when heat is used and this causes the rubber bushings to deform and often deteriorate. Unfortunately, this is a big job for a small problem and requires removing a LOT of the dash and steering column to remove the air box to replace or repair. Cheers Bill!! Zip~
I stick with what i like too. That Tornado is a great unit. Speaking of biting critters, I just got into a wasp nest and have been taking Benadryl for a week. That pump Honda pump should work (instinct)
Yep, we've both got that little orange charger. With battery technology improving all the time, I figured an upgrade was a good idea. I especially like the Lithium charging feature because I'm planning on upgrading my motorcycle batteries to Lithium in the future. Hope all is well my Good Friend! Sean~
The tenders seem to be the best method to longer battery life. Through the winter months my workbench was lined with batteries and Sunday was my designated charge day, if I got more than 2yrs out of one I thought I was doing good. 3 years now and the tender batteries are holding up good. I seen you had that battery on the concrete, my grandfather would have had a conniption fit over that. Later in life I found that myth simply wasn't true.
Yep....I remember the "Never leave a battery on the ground, it will drain the battery!!" rumor very well. I've got a few batteries approaching 10 years and others I'm lucky to get 4-5 years out of. I've got the 4 motorcycle batteries to tend, 9 tractor batteries the 6v positively grounded King Midget battery and a slew of other batteries ranging from rechargeable flashlights, power tools, power sources for winches and desk testing, my electric hoist. So many batteries to keep up with I often miss a few. But you're right...tending them is your best line of defense. Cheers! Zip~
It's clear that the folks at TOPDON are aiming squarely at NOCO and their significant market share. I just ordered a couple of the Tornado 1200 chargers and am looking forward to trying them out.
I have a 1/2, 7/16,and a 3/8 wrench, not good ones I mind you, but I wrap the wrenches in electrical tape, and they are only used for battery replacement, just so they don't arc. I liked the battery charger you showed, so I bought it, great video.
Yep....it's not often, but I sometimes do arc the batteries. Let me know how you like the charger!! I'm in for a couple more to keep the many batteries in tip top shape on the ranch. Cheers! Zip~
$50 for that charger? I think I just might! I have a pile of batteries and I could really put it through its paces just out of curiosity. I'm on track with the 25% markup now I think, but kind of like if I were to walk into a parts store and buy an item for $10, the guy that did the previous work would have charged you $12.50? I don't mind a markup, it takes time to find parts but charging 25% over retail, that's thievery and there's no way he's paying retail as a business. Just got my Nifty Lift!
It's a phone call only and all parts stores here do free delivery with their delivery drivers, so they're literally taking the difference between wholesale and retail then giving them selves another 25% on top of that. You're right...it's down right thievery. They did nothing at all to EARN that money. They just take it. Thank God I discovered Rick and his shop is still working out of their second location. That's where Ruby and Clifford will go from here on out. Let me know how you like the Nifty-Lift! Cheers Brother! Zip~
Topdon makes high quality products for a fraction of the competition. Just bought their ArtiDiag800bt OBD2 Smart scanner for my BMW. Lifetime updates while the rest charge after their free 1st yr. I also have their latest Topdon 200 batter tester. Pure quality. This battery charger looks soo similar to the Noco GS7200 battery charger that cost $100. From far looks just like it but for $45 u can't best that!
Good video ZIPPO you cant get good parts anymore it's that way down south to knock on wood my 2006 chevy truck has 145.000 miles still keeps going my old 1992 Nissan truck has 400.000 stills runs good does not use any oil. I just don't want to make payment on a new one.
That's me too my Friend. I used to be so far in debt with vehicle payments. I feel liberated and fortunate to have learned that credit is just throwing money away and that cash is king. I hope you're doing well! Zip~
Quick question. Im in the market for a new charger. I currently have a brand new optima that is sitting on a project car. I occasionally idle the engine when I can or ill listen to music on the car while working on it. I currently use a Schumacher SpeedCharge Battery Charger and it used to charge the battery up to 13.5 v and now It won't charge past 11.8..... Would you say my battery is good but the charger is bad? When I charge it I put it on the AGM setting under large battery. Please advise
What model Optima is your battery. Yellow, blue or red top? Spiral or flat plate? At any rate, Trickle charge the battery. The battery charger in this video is all things combined into one. It has a trickle charge as well as recondition. I suggest disconnecting your Optima when not in use and keeping a trickle charger on it at all times. This is a battery maintainer that automatically turns on when the voltage drops to a certain level. If your Optima isn't very old, I would take it in and exchange it under warranty. Then practice good battery care and maintenance. There are plenty of videos on the subject. Cheers! Zip~
@@ZippoVarga its a yellow top part number D34-78 brand new a few weeks ago. One time i left in the car plugged in and something kill the battery down to 6.5 volt so the car wouldn't even crank. So i put it on the charger and i then notice that the charger would auto shut off at 11.8 when before it would auto shut off at 13.5
I’m trying this with an optima battery that is been heavily discharged but nothing is happening, it’s been about 24 hours. It never made the clicking sound and it’s not flashing the 25%, any ideas why??
Make sure you're on the 12V AGM charge then press the mode button again to start the charging. It should then cycle on and start flashing the 25%. Or select the recondition if the AGM won't start. If neither will start, then the battery is at too low a voltage level for the charger to recognize. In this case, get a second battery and jump both batteries together and then reconnect the charger and try again. Sometimes voltages are so low (below 9 volts) that the charger won't begin the charge cycle. So the extra battery allows the voltage to come up to a point where the charger recognizes there is a battery present. Zip~
Hello, thanks for the video ✅♥️. I have a problem with a car battery dropping to 10 volts. It is very draining. Can this charger restore the battery capacity to 12 volts and activate it?🤔🤔🤔
I recovered a battery that was 100% dead, so I would think if the battery is still able to take a charge that this reconditioner/charger will improve the batteries health. Zip~
Unbelievable results I'd put the old battery threw a few cycles then run it on repair again see if it improves more or not. That charger is much more practical than a 4 amp dumb charger with a light bulb used as a resistor.👍
I was truly shocked my self. And you may be onto something there! I may install it in my mowing Sunstar and put it to the test with lights on and electric PTO engaged to tax the charging system and see if the battery holds up to it. And I love the idea of reconditioning it again after a workout to see if there are even better numbers. The days of replacing a tractor battery every couple years could be a thing of the past if this unit keeps performing miracles. Cheers my Friend! Zip~
I have a 20ah lifepo4 on my gate for a few months with the Tornado 4000 set to lithium ion mode but it doesnt seem to trickle charge once its topped off.
@@lylel2052 Leave the charger on the battery Lyle. Lithium based batteries operate a lot more efficiently than a conventional lead acid, so it will take quite some time for the trickle charge to kick on. The reason is to keep the battery healthy, it monitors the battery % level and allows it to dip below 80% charge before beginning the trickle charge. Just be patient with it. It will do its job. Zip~
@@ZippoVarga where the jumper cable wire clamps plug into the charger output cable " the only quick connect, "the only quick connector between charger and clamps" is that a EC5 connector so I than can than go to a SAE connector for my older style SAE leads.. sorry having a bit of a problem trying to make it clear, basically the connecter in between the charger and battery where one wire plugs into the other wire between charger and clamps..
@@B5152g Ah, I'm with you now. The connector is an EC5, BUT.......Here is a link that solves any problem between SAE and the EC5 compatibility: www.amazon.com/Cable-Connector-Automotive-Batteries-Female/dp/B08GSBJQ9L Cheers! Zip~
@@ZippoVarga thank you sir, I just received this charger in mail after you just posted.. I was thinking I wasn't going to get it for a few more days and was thinking about just going ahead and buying EC5 to SAE for my older things.. is it still a good charger? I got mine for $30 to replace an old black and decker 1a charger that just died.
@@B5152g It's by far my most used charger, and I've got over half a dozen! This one does the BEST job of reclaiming weak batteries of any I've had over the years. In fact, I just went out to my shop, disconnected it from a customers battery to check the connector to verify for you what it was and while I was at it, I checked the battery that previously tested 43% health and it reclaimed that battery all the way up to 95% health. So if you can swing a second and third, I highly recommend it! Cheers! Zip~
