# Question about automobile battery charger **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [November 12, 2019, 4:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-about-automobile-battery-charger/152633 "2019-11-12T04:49:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Joe\_Parcell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/848f3c/32.png) [@Joe\_Parcell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joe_Parcell)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 4:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-about-automobile-battery-charger/152633/1 "2019-11-12T04:49:51Z")
Bad amp switch on DieHard battery charger. Does anyone know if I can bypass the two 10 and 50 amp switch to jest say up 50 amp. I know I wouldn’t want to leave that on a battery for a long, butt in case of emergency could I take the old switch out and directly wire it to work on a either the 2amp, 10 am or 50 amp setting. Does anyone know what wires to connect on the back of the switch for each setting? ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 5:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-about-automobile-battery-charger/152633/2 "2019-11-12T05:39:40Z")
I would look for a replacement switch, if it is only the switch, or just buy a new battery maintainer. Post your model, I can see what I can find. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 5:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-about-automobile-battery-charger/152633/3 "2019-11-12T05:55:57Z")
For the last 30-40 years, all I have used it the $30-40 chargers. They’ve worked just fine for home use and I’m only on my second one. I’d just consider buying a replacement and be done with it. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 8:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-about-automobile-battery-charger/152633/4 "2019-11-12T08:12:44Z")
If I ever have to replace my 50+ year old 6 amp Sears battery charger I would buy thr 2-10-50 one that HF has on sale for $29 repeatedly. ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 4:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-about-automobile-battery-charger/152633/5 "2019-11-12T16:17:11Z")
Wouldn’t it be a lot safer and easier to just buy a new battery charger charger? ---
**Author:** ![tcmichnorth](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tcmichnorth/32/25126_2.png) [@tcmichnorth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tcmichnorth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 4:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-about-automobile-battery-charger/152633/6 "2019-11-12T16:47:53Z")
Reminds me of the time I had a new generator. For years I had to fiddle with the carberator and use starting fluid to start it. After years of frustration, I finally searched for a carberator replacement and low and behold, they were only $15. Installed it and it started and ran perfectly. A month later, the generator half wore out and I had to buy a whole new generator. Sometimes it’s best not to assume repairing is not always better than replacing. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 6:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-about-automobile-battery-charger/152633/7 "2019-11-12T18:27:21Z")
> [@bing](#): > > For the last 30-40 years, all I have used it the $30-40 chargers. They’ve worked just fine for home use and I’m only on my second one. I’d just consider buying a replacement and be done with it. Yep. I’ve still got one I bought at Menards back in the late 90’s. It’s ugly and beat up, but still works. You can get nice ones wtih automatic trickle charging for less than 50 bucks nowadays. Why mess with re-wiring the old one. Especially since > [@Joe\_Parcell](#): > > Does anyone know what wires to connect on the back of the switch for each setting? means you shouldn’t be messing with it in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![tom418](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/da6949/32.png) [@tom418](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tom418)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-about-automobile-battery-charger/152633/8 "2019-11-12T21:11:46Z")
I think I must have the same charger as you do. Meter on the left side? I bought mine in 1980. That was when Sears had quality items. I still have several Craftsman black garden hoses. And my Fisherman’s Knit socks lasted me two decades! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-about-automobile-battery-charger/152633/9 "2019-11-13T04:32:00Z")
Its possible to that, at least in theory. But even a [professional electrical engineer would be leary of doing that job unless they had an electrical schematic of the battery charger to refer. 12 volts at 50 amps is quite a bit of wattage. There’s safety circuity in the charger’s circuits to minimize the chance of overheating, overcharging, fires, etc, and you’d want to know for certain you weren’t inadvertently bypassing those safety functions by monkeying with the switch. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 5:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-about-automobile-battery-charger/152633/10 "2019-11-13T05:20:38Z")
I’d just replace the switch, assuming you have a model 200.71222 Diehard battery charger I’m going by the 2-10-50 amps > **[0499000066 Schumacher 3 Position Slide Switch (8 pins)](https://www.acrctools.com/products/0499000066-schumacher-3-position-slide-switch-8-pins)** > > ACRC Tools has the 0499000066 Schumacher 3 Position Slide Switch (8 pins) in stock. Shop for battery charger parts from Schumacher Electric. Ships anywhere in North America. Shop Now! ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 9:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/question-about-automobile-battery-charger/152633/11 "2019-11-13T09:35:39Z")
Yep, gauge on left, gray body. I have had to reolace the fuse twice.