Comments on: Vector 2/10/20 Amp Battery Charger – Model# VEC1097A

By: A. G. Crivello

A. G. Crivello — Thu, 06 May 2010 16:50:21 +0000

I feel very lucky. Contrasting what everyone else has said in their reviews mine works great. I keep two batteries on this thing constantly for my kart starter and I have reconditioned two batteries for family members with positive results. If I had to gripe about anything it would be the buttons feel very delicate.
Rating: 5 / 5

By: norm1909

norm1909 — Thu, 06 May 2010 14:23:48 +0000

I too have found the F03 error code, but only on batteries that have been EXTREMELY drained. In the few cases that I have gotten the F03 fault code, using the chargers 80AMP “Start” mode a couple times was enough to “bring the F03 batteries back to life”, allowing for a normal recharging. The chargers recondition mode also revived a battery AutoZone said was bad, though the recondition mode took 2 days to complete. I do strongly recommend it, particularly at the $74.95 Lowes regular price. Despite poor instructions on troubleshooting from the fault codes it generates, as a charger, it does perform well (and with some trial & error, fault code’s can be troubleshot).
Rating: 4 / 5

By: L. Wilborn

L. Wilborn — Thu, 06 May 2010 12:46:15 +0000

I've owned one of these chargers for over a year now, and it's done a fine job of charging batteries. The cheaper Harbor Freight chargers dont come close.

It doesn't have an on/off switch, so you unplug to turn it off. You should connect the charging leads to the battery before plugging it in. It's safer that way, and you have less risk of shorting out your charger.

When it turns on, you select the battery type (wet, gel, etc) and then choose the lowest charge rate you think suits the battery: 2 amps for motorcycle or 20 amps for a car battery. The charger tries what you suggest but then sets the rate to what it thinks the battery can support no matter what you do, so you dont have to worry if you get it wrong. Just choose 2 amps if you dont know. That's the safest and easiest.

Normally I would remove the battery from the vehicle before charging, but there are sometimes good reasons not to.

I have gotten F03 errors if I try to charge an acid battery using the gel setting. Sealed batteries, like those for motorcycles, still use acid and have to be charged using the wet setting. It's only a gel cell if those words are printed on the battery.

I have tried the battery reconditioning option on one or two batteries, but they didn't magically come back to life. Sometimes, batteries are just too far gone so nothing is going to help them. I'll keep trying though. If it helps even one old battery start working again, I'll be content.
Rating: 4 / 5

By: J. Kirby Johnson

J. Kirby Johnson — Thu, 06 May 2010 12:30:19 +0000

I bought this charger about two years ago, with a five year warranty. It worked pretty good on auto, lawn mower, burglar alarm and boat batteries. The basic concept is very good. Then it developed mental problems it seemed. The “Smart” charger began to believe that an occasional battery was not chargeable and provided an “F03″ error code. Now not every time, just enough to cause me to discard an occasional perfectly good battery and replace it with a new one. Yesterday I tried it on a brand new battery, and sure enough, my brand new battery was not able to accept a charge via the “F03″ error. I then tried it on the car, same thing. Now every battery is shown as faulty and I will spend hours looking for my receipt. It is hardly worth it to dig out a years old receipt, package the thing, pay for shipping and wait to see if it is actually fixed when it ever returns.
Rating: 1 / 5

By: Alan Seegert

Alan Seegert — Thu, 06 May 2010 11:41:02 +0000

I just got a Vector 1097A, and same as the other reviewer, worse, actually, it won’t charge any of the three in-service batteries I tried it on. Throws the F03 error code. Too bad, had good features, was nice and light.
Rating: 1 / 5