Vector VEC1092 Smart Battery Charger (2/10/20/35 Amp)

by Vector

Product Features

• Uses microprocessors to create pure DC current for faster charging
• Offers 2-minute fast charge and 1-hour full charge
• Reverse polarity and internal short circuit protection
• Digital display shows charge rate, operating mode, charging status
• Features 3-stage automatic rapid charging, and 4 charging modes

Product Details

Product Manual [1.19mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 8.4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00009RB0S
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: VEC1092
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,513 in Automotive (See Top 100 in Automotive)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Vector's Smart Battery Charger is advanced, convenient and efficient. It uses microprocessors to create pure DC current, allowing for a fast charge in just 2 minutes and a full charge in just 1 hour. The digital display shows charge rate, operating mode, fault codes and charging status. Other helpful features include an alternator voltage check (indicating good/bad), 3-stage automatic rapid charging, spark-resistant reverse polarity and short circuit protection, 4 charging modes, digital control and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Beware using on gel cells!, November 1, 2005

By 

Sand Fiddler - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vector VEC1092 Smart Battery Charger (2/10/20/35 Amp) (Tools & Home Improvement)

The box and printed manual for this charger say it is "safe for all lead acid batteries including flooded, gel and AGM." But when I set it to charge at 10 amps, the output voltage was 14.9-14.9 volts. This far exceeds the max voltage for every 12volt gel I have seen. A label on my batteries says the max charging voltage "should not exceed... 14.2 volts".

A call to Vector led to their claim "we cannot match every gel battery out there". But on my query they acknowledged they do make more expensive chargers which have a battery type selector switch, w/gel one choice. When I pointed out that obviously they knew some, if not most or all, gel batteries need special settings since their more expensive chargers have a switch for them, and asked, "So how can you claim on your box and in your manual that the 1092 is safe for _ALL_ lead-acid batteries including gels?" I heard only silence.

"_All_ is a pretty inclusive term you know" I added. More silence. After another 20 seconds of silence I hung up.

Bottom line: If you have gel cell batteries, don't buy or use this charger!

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New technology, April 16, 2004

By 

Allyn Rothman (Commack, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vector VEC1092 Smart Battery Charger (2/10/20/35 Amp) (Tools & Home Improvement)

Finally a manufacturer designed a battery charger using the same switching technology that makes computer power supplies so small, light, and powerful. Output is insensitive to input voltage drops, meaning, contrary to instructions, you can very conveniently use a light extension cord and still get full output. Disadvantage?: It is light enough to easily topple if not placed securely. Hefty output cables, battery clamps, and case with cable storage compartment. Another disadvantage: it is a multi-stage (several charging plans kick in), but one shot. Once the battery is fully charged, it turns off, and will not turn on again to keep the battery topped off. Suggestion for their next model. You can start your car from dead after 5 minutes. Highly recommend.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Heard great things, but wouldn't shut off on my deep cycles, April 26, 2005

By 

G. Smith (Socal) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vector VEC1092 Smart Battery Charger (2/10/20/35 Amp) (Tools & Home Improvement)

This review is for the 2/10/20 Amp version, but my guess is that the technology is the same.

Everything I read on this charger told me it was the best I could get (reviews, the user manual, the product description, etc.) However, they (I bought two) simply would not consistently shut off when done charging my deep cycle marine batteries.

I have fairly large batteries (one series 27 and two series 29) and am not sure if that has something to do with it. They get stuck at about 3.2 amps and don't shut off; one night I went to bed and one battery was at 3.2 amps and the next morning it was at 5 amps and the battery was hot and boiling over (not so SMART!). The other battery had been fully charged and the charger shut off. I switched chargers and batteries around and could not find one charger or one battery that it consistently happened on, so it can only be the charger's design. Yes, my batteries are fairly new and I maintain the water level religiously.

Beware if you have bigger marine batteries...the first few times you try any of the Vectors make sure you are home and can check on them now and then to make sure the charger shuts off!