Charging batteries

[phil_phil]

Do you charge both batteries together and do you pop the vent caps when you charge a battery? I’ve gotten conflicting info everywhere. One ford dealer said to just disconnect one battery’s negative then charge each battery separate, one said to disconnect each battery completely. One said to pop the vent caps, the other said they never pop the vent caps.

My only real problem with popping the vent caps is that the driver’s battery is under a plastic case that is under the terminals, so to pop the caps I have to remove the terminal and fight the plastic cover.

[2 stroker]

I have a battery tender plus hard wired to the passangerside battery and just plug it in works for me, charges both batteries at one time.
2 stroker

[JSchuricht]

You can charge both batteries together. That is the same way they are charged by your alternator. If you have a problem and suspect the batteries, then you would try charging them seperately.
Under normal circumstances, you don't remove the vent caps. Most car batteries are sealed where you would never remove the vent. If you had flooded batteries, you would remove the cap to add distilled water or if you had hydrocaps and were trying to equalize the batteries you would remove them to prevent ruining them.

[HeavyAssault]

I use the Battery Tender Waterproof 800 for my charging. Direct wired to the passenger battery and tops off both batteries just fine.

[phil_phil]

Is the battery tender attached to your truck? If so where did you find the room?

Phil

[HeavyAssault]

Yes. It's behind the grill on the right side. Fits easily and I can plug the block heater and charger into the same cord if needed.

[phil_phil]

Thanks, I just googled it, it's not that big at all, I was thinking of a different model.

[TampaSteve]

Take a dremmel and cut that cover on the drivers side around the battery caps. Makes for easier access to that battery then you dont have to fool with that again....

[hotrodracer]

Methinks the alternator only charges to the level of the highest battery cell in the system. So if there is a low cell, it will always stay low. If one disconnects the batteries and charges the batteries separately, then each should be fully charged. If there is a bad cell in a battery, after charge it will still be bad...