Automotive battery regen

[RobertGary1]

My Concorde was getting weak. My tester computed it at 100cca. So I put it on my regen for 48 hours and then afterwards charged it. Flew with it and then the plane sat for 2 weeks. On the next start it paused at the first compression but then spun like a top. Ever since it’s been working far better. 
 

So I’m not sure if it’s necessary to buy an Aviation regen system as the automotive seemed to work well. I’ll probably run a regen on it annually. 
 

-Robert 

[RLCarter]

I agree, all I've ever used is a standard Schumacher battery charger and not a big fan of smart chargers either

[Shiny moose]

40 minutes ago, RobertGary1 said:

My Concorde was getting weak. My tester computed it at 100cca. So I put it on my regen for 48 hours and then afterwards charged it. Flew with it and then the plane sat for 2 weeks. On the next start it paused at the first compression but then spun like a top. Ever since it’s been working far better. 
 

So I’m not sure if it’s necessary to buy an Aviation regen system as the automotive seemed to work well. I’ll probably run a regen on it annually. 
 

-Robert 

So what brand/ model are you using 

[Hank]

I'm on my third year with Concorde #2, still going strong (replaced #1 preemptively at six and a half years before flying into the hinterlands). All I've ever done is drop them in that black bix in the firewall and fly every niw and again--not near enough, and certainly not every week. YMMV, etc.

[jetdriven]

the concorde manual shows how to do a capacity test, my first RG35AXC lasted 7 years.  This one, 14 months.  its 22% capacity.

 

[Steve W]

1 hour ago, jetdriven said:

the concorde manual shows how to do a capacity test, my first RG35AXC lasted 7 years.  This one, 14 months.  its 22% capacity.

 

And it also shows how to do a Conditioning charge, but 22% may be beyond help.

[LANCECASPER]

9 hours ago, jetdriven said:

the concorde manual shows how to do a capacity test, my first RG35AXC lasted 7 years.  This one, 14 months.  its 22% capacity.

 

It's suffering from a case of Gill-itis.

[RobertGary1]

This is what I used. It something I keep around for boat batteries, motorcycle, etc. It seems to have done well with my Concorde too.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BYFSUJW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

-Robert

[lotsofgadgets]

Kitplanes magazine ran an article last year reviewing an inexpensive Harbor Freight charger.  To quote the author

"But when a $40 product¹ from Harbor Freight saves me a $300 battery, it is worth writing about". 

I have used the same charger on my Concorde and on golf cart/rv batteries with good success

https://www.kitplanes.com/aero-lectrics-66/

 

 

[GeeBee]

You have to be careful with "Battery Reconditioning" modes. Some chargers use higher voltage to de-sulphate the battery plates. In AGM batteries high charge voltages can permanently damage the battery unless the voltage spikes are sent in pulses of 22-28 kHz. If your charger has an AGM mode and a reconditioning mode you are good to go, otherwise check the manual of the charger.