Auto battery float charger

[bradleykd]

I've got an expensive battery that I dont want to have to recharge every time i want to start my truck (every 4 months or so). I've been looking at float chargers, but wanted to hear some reviews of some that people are using. Anybody got one?

 

[Catalyze]

I have used a Battery Tender brand on both my 6 volt BMW R60/2 (for 3 years) and my 12 volt Corvette (for 4 years). They never come off unless the vehicle is driven. Never a problem. Neither unit is costly and both are flawless for my expectations.
Craig

 

[5lima30]

+1 for Battery Tender made by DelTron in DeLand FL. I personally know people who worked there. It is a very good responsible company and they make them for other companies such as Harley Davidson.

 

[strnjss]

I also have a Battery Tender plus, and love it! I got a Battery Tender Jr. model for my grandfathers old car, and it has been hooked up to the car non-stop for about 3 years now. They're great little maintainers.

I also have a Schumacher maintainer which has been pretty good, but not as nice as the Battery Tender.

One of the things I really like about the BT is the light starts blinking when the battery is 80%+ charged, which is really nice. I always have a sense of how things are going.

 

[gatchel]

Battery tenders here too. I have 4 of them in varying applications and the do the job. I have two of the marine versions. One for the tractor and one for the Skid Loader that I am borrowing. Battery condition is important but if you add a tender it definitely won't hurt. If anything it can extend the life of a battery.

 

[MartyO]

I have three battery tenders -- a 10 bank in the shop, a 4 bank in the garage, and a one bank just because.

Get one and don't look back!!!

 

[bradleykd]

Thanks everyone. That's what I was leaning towards, now i'm definitely sold...

 

[moss9994]

+1 more on Battery Tender

 

[d33pt]

i use a battery tender jr on my motorcycles. i just swap it around every few weeks between the different bikes. keeps me from having to buy batteries every season like my lazy friends do.

 

[Joe92GT]

The battery tenders are great, but remember there is a difference between a tender and a charger.

The tenders will do a great job of floating the battery, but make sure you know that they are not the only thing you need to do. A 12v battery is made up of multiple cells, and these cells all have different levels of charge to equal out to ~12.6v at room temperature.

That does not mean that each cell is equal, some have higher voltages, and some have lower voltages. The reason this matters is because the lower voltage cells will begin to sulfate, and if they get to far gone they will never be able to get back to full charge again. Though the battery will look good still, you lose some capacity every time this happens.

To make sure a lead acid battery stays in optimal condition, you need to do an equalize charge. By bringing the battery voltage up to ~14.7v temperature depending for a period of time, it will force all of the cells to their max charge level. This is critical every few months to keep your batteries in great shape. You can use either a real battery charger, or the car/motorcycles alternator to do this.

 

[gatchel]

Battery Tenders do equalize the cells:

http://batterytender.com/resources/battery-basics.htm

Check out stage 3 near the bottom

 

[strnjss]

The battery tenders are great, but remember there is a difference between a tender and a charger.

The tenders will do a great job of floating the battery, but make sure you know that they are not the only thing you need to do. A 12v battery is made up of multiple cells, and these cells all have different levels of charge to equal out to ~12.6v at room temperature.

That does not mean that each cell is equal, some have higher voltages, and some have lower voltages. The reason this matters is because the lower voltage cells will begin to sulfate, and if they get to far gone they will never be able to get back to full charge again. Though the battery will look good still, you lose some capacity every time this happens.

To make sure a lead acid battery stays in optimal condition, you need to do an equalize charge. By bringing the battery voltage up to ~14.7v temperature depending for a period of time, it will force all of the cells to their max charge level. This is critical every few months to keep your batteries in great shape. You can use either a real battery charger, or the car/motorcycles alternator to do this.

Battery Tenders do equalize the cells:

http://batterytender.com/resources/battery-basics.htm

Check out stage 3 near the bottom

Yup, they do take very good care of your batteries, and do just about everything. Float mode is only the last step in the process.

I'm not sure if the BT has a desulfication mode, but my Schumacher does. It will detect if the battery is sulfated and will enter a special charging mode to try and break up the deposits.

The only thing you'd need a full out charger for would be for a severely discharged battery, like under 10 or 11v charge. Maintainers (and even smart chargers) don't like heavily discharged batteries like that, and will blink at you to 'replace battery'.

But in terms of all the maintenance your battery needs, the Battery Tender will take care of just about anything.

 

[Joe92GT]

Battery Tenders do equalize the cells:

http://batterytender.com/resources/battery-basics.htm

Check out stage 3 near the bottom

That page is a little confusing. It says that equalization mode is optional for only certain manufacturers.

From what I have seen on small battery tenders they do not have an equalize setting.

I am curious, I may put a data logger onto one of my tenders for a month and see what happens.

Edit: I am talking about battery tender brand battery tenders, I am not familiar with the other manufactures. Also, I am not implying any negative, they are a great product. Just precautions to help your batteries.

 

[gatchel]

That page is a little confusing. It says that equalization mode is optional for only certain manufacturers.

From what I have seen on small battery tenders they do not have an equalize setting.

I am curious, I may put a data logger onto one of my tenders for a month and see what happens.

Edit: I am talking about battery tender brand battery tenders, I am not familiar with the other manufactures. Also, I am not implying any negative, they are a great product. Just precautions to help your batteries.

If I had a data logger at my disposal I would have already done it as I have been curious too. If you do get to this I would definitely be interested in the results.

 

[HOTFR8]

Battery Tender or C-Tek ar both good. Be aware there are some nasty Chinese copies of C-Tek getting about now and C-Tek are aware of the issue. My Choice is the C-Tek as it is weather proof.

 

[mustangmccance]

I use battery tenders as well. on my dads blue mustang he had the battery disconnected while he had the car apart and it sat in the trunk for 6 years until I finally got him moved out here and we finished it. naturally the battery was completely dead. I put the battery tender on it for 3 days and it started. he still has that same battery in there a year later. we keep the tender on it when it is not in use.

 

[IndyGarage]

I've used battery tenders for years, with success.

But they haven't updated them for probably 15 years, and I think there's surely something better out there.

I find that they don't work well on AGM batteries - at least they haven't for me.

A friend of mine who has used them for years also switched over to battery minder a couple years ago and he says they are much better. Supposedly they de-sulphate the battery with high frequency waves as they maintain the charge.

Coincidentally I just got one this week and have yet to try it out.

 

[GrantM2Gar]

+1 for C-Tek. I have used it for over five years.

Brought the wal-mart battery in my 944 back after a one-year deployment, expect nothing less again in a few months...

 

[dwright406]

I've had this one for a couple of years:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000U0JCPO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I keep it on my 1970 Camaro most of the time, it does a good job for me, has great reviews and is reasonably priced.

FWIW The label on the back says it's made by Xantrex.

 

[Dragster Racer]

I just bought a C-Tec, but have heard good things about the battery tenders and the Autometer model.

 

[SCutchins]

I was a HUGE Battery Tender fan for years, easily a decade I'm sure. I told my friends to get them, I used them with everything, even included one with the sale of a used motorcycle. I still currently have 3 in the garage (tractor and 2 motorcycles) although I have discovered the Optimate 4 and can't see myself going back to Battery Tender any more.

BTW I made the switch because a AGM battery in a streetbike died on the Battery Tender. Hopefully this won't happen with the Optimate 4.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EBDXLM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Teken]

BT also has a 10 year warranty as well . . . Last night I saw an ad for the CTEK 3300, for $49.99.

Don't know if that is a fair price for the unit but am going to give it a try.

 

[Paco Pena]

I have used a Yuasa 900ma Smart charger for the last 6 years on my motorcycle battery. Still going strong. Any of these type of charger/maintainers are money well spent compared to replacing even one battery early.

Paco

 

[Broken Tool]

I've got a Battery Tender and it has doubled the life I have gotten out of my last lawn tractor battery. I leave it on the battery all winter and I'm ready to go in the spring! I've been very happy with it.