Help Deciding Between IP65 and IP22

Q&A and troubleshooting
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1

Hi All,

Hoping someone can help me out deciding between the IP65 and IP22. This will only be used for charging/topping off car (2 AGM) /SUV (1 AGM ) /lawnmower (1 wet cell) / generator starter (1 wet cell) batteries going to different areas around the house/yard. Goal is to get something more reliable than say a Noco 5/10 or some other similar brand.

So far I have been getting by with my ~20 year old Craftsman 2a/15a charger but looking for something more intelligent and I’m not sure it is charging in the best way for the batteries. I foresee charging on a monthly basis.

This is what I was able to determine from my research - I appreciate any help!

IP22

  • +5 amps vs. IP65
  • Intended for permanent installations (though people use as portable).
  • More expensive (better?)
  • Have to build my own cables with fuse / clamps
  • Read that it can get very hot

IP65

  • -5 Amps vs IP22
  • Intended to be portable
  • Less expensive (not as good?)
  • All in one - comes with the DC cables I need
  • Reviews indicated some failures
  • No fan, will throttle amperage if it gets too hot
2

Both will work.

The IP22 version has Bluetooth VE smart network capability that the IP65 and IP67 chargers lack. This means it can access actual (at-the-terminals) battery voltage and temperature from a smart shunt or BMV battery monitor and thereby compensate for temperature differences between charger and battery and charging cable volt drop. If you are only charging cars/mower/generator it is unlikely you will have a BMV/Smartshunt setup and this feature will not be useful to you.

The smaller batteries on ride-on mowers/generators may not like a high charging current so be sure to select a unit with a LOW mode that is low enough for them. Both the IP65 and IP22 models have a low current charging mode to enable slower charging of smaller batteries.

I prefer the better weatherproofing of the IP65 models and the convenience of their plug-and-play cables but I have had two of them fail on me, each after about a year of occasional use.