Charger Noise

[chris roche]

The charger in my stock Silver Shadow makes an annoying, loud hum. From research here, it seems advisable to replace it with a Battery Tender 5 amp unit. Can anyone tell me if these chargers are quiet? I would really prefer one that is silent. Thanks.

[Dale M.]

Hum from chargers are usually noise from laminations in transformer vibrating.... A fully solid state (no transformer) charger shroud no produce any noise...

Dale

[brian_bp]

While I agree about the source of the noise, I don't think you'll find a charger without a transformer. Modern designs need much smaller transformers than traditional units, but I would still expect all of them to have a transformer. The transformer may run at a much higher frequency than 60 Hz, which could help.

My old manual charger hums, but my new regular "smart" charger and my battery maintainer do not make any noise that I've noticed... although I don't sleep right beside them. The trailer's built-in converter is in-between: it hums, but not objectionably - it doesn't buzz.

I doubt a new 5 amp of any decent design would make noticeable noise.

[Alphacarina]

While I agree about the source of the noise, I don't think you'll find a charger without a transformer. Modern designs need much smaller transformers than traditional units, but I would still expect all of them to have a transformer. The transformer may run at a much higher frequency than 60 Hz, which could help

Most of the new, all solid state battery chargers don't use transformers any more - The ones used on sailboats haven't had them for several years and I think even the smaller portable units don't anymore either

"Solid-state chargers
The latest thing in battery charging, these chargers are lightweight (no transformer) and very efficient, but expensive. The only 2 brands currently available are from Todd and Statpower. And if they say "50 amp," you'll get 50 amp into empty batteries.. Charging current is controlled electronically for best efficiency"

I'm going to use a small Vector charger in my tear and I'm pretty sdure it doesn't have a transformer either, though it is a little expensive - About $50 for the 15 amp version

http://www.vectormfg.com/battery-chargers.php

Most inverters still use (toroid) transformers I think, but thery're not really needed in chargers anymore. I'll take apart my Vector when it gets here and check and see for sure

Don

[brian_bp]

Most of the new, all solid state battery chargers don't use transformers any more - The ones used on sailboats haven't had them for several years and I think even the smaller portable units don't anymore either

That's interesting. I know that small (1 A or less) low-voltage (e.g. 5V) DC supplies have become much smaller recently, and I assume that they don't use transformers, but I didn't expect a transformerless battery charger.

I'm going to use a small Vector charger in my tear and I'm pretty sdure it doesn't have a transformer either, though it is a little expensive - About $50 for the 15 amp version

My charger is a VEC1088 AF. Curious after this discussion, I just pulled out the 11 screws which hold the rear case part, providing access to 8 more screws holding the aluminum housing onto the front... and found that it still doesn't readily come apart. Not wanting to break anything, I settled for a peek into the interior, and saw at least one small transformer, in addition to a couple of toroidal coils presumably serving as parts of filters.

My "smart" battery maintainer (house-branded by Canadian Tire but built by Schumacher) also has a small transformer (that one was easier to get apart when I needed to clean it up a while ago).

Anyway, I doubt the transformer is taking the 60 Hz AC input directly, and I wouldn't expect much hum.

[BrwBier]

Is it possible to insulate the charger form any hard surface. That might make it quet.
Brwbier