I'm concerned with my charger because it's old (1998 model). The brand is B-W and it's model 3243. This is a built-in converter/charger in the trailer and would be difficult to swap out.
I know with newer chargers, they use microprocessors and whatnot to ensure the batteries get what they need, and usually switch between 1 of 3 different charge settings. I'm good with modern electronics and use MC's in projects, but I'm not sure how something from 1988 would handle charging a battery.
When I plug in my trailer, the voltage to the battery slowly raises over a matter of hours. After 5-6 hours it's up to 13.4 volts. After ~8 hours it's at 13.8 volts. That's usually when I unplug it before going to bed because I don't really trust leaving it plugged in overnight. I'm afraid of how high the voltage might get, and I'm not sure if the voltage will step back down to a trickle charge once the battery is full. I don't want to overcharge and wreck the battery.
I'm not sure my multimeter could handle being hooked up in series for extended periods of time to monitor the amps. It's a max of 10A for a maximum amount of time (I think it says 5 minutes). I know there's some moderate amps running to the battery because the charging wire going to the battery is warm. Not hot, but it is definitely warm, though barely noticeable.
So anyone with some experience out there know about these old chargers? Do they sense the battery charge and adjust accordingly? Are they pretty reliable? Do they have built-in failsafe circuits in case of malfunction? Am I being overly paranoid?
Any info would be awesome!
Thanks