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the 064703 is a battery charger and not a battery maintainer (sometimes called a conditioner).
the difference being a battery maintainer will charge and discharge a battery in a cyclic routine. when a battery charger like the 064703 automatic charger is used, it uses voltage sensing to determine when a battery is charged and will then enter into final charge and then float mode. in this mode it will not damage a serviceable battery if left connected and switched on. it will not switch back into main charge mode until the battery voltage falls to lower than the switching voltage setting, this will not happen with the charger in float mode.
where an automatic charger is left connected indefinitely to a charged battery the charge rate is very low and a surface voltage can build up on the plates where this happens, the charger stays in float mode with little charging taking place and the battery can self discharge and lose its effective capacity.
the automatic type of charger is designed to charge a serviceable battery and can be left unattended without fear of damage due to overcharging (i.e. over a long break or holiday) it is not designed to be left for weeks or months, that is where a battery maintainer is used.
a simple way of using an automatic charger like a battery maintainer, is to fit a timer switch to the mains supply to switch the charger off and allow the battery to self discharge and or be discharged by any load attached to the battery i.e. an alarm and to then to switch on and start the cycle over again, this requires a degree of trial and error whilst the cycle timing is established.
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