Battery Maintainer

[pudgybear]

does anybody have an idea about putting batteries on a maintainer or should i just let the die off gracefully, for years i have put the motorcycle and tractor batteries on the maintainer and NEVER had any problems, BUT some people say that it is a bad thing, what can it hurt?

 

[rshadd]

I leave my BatteryTender's connected all the time.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Letting them die off is wasted money.

I use several Battery Tender Juniors .

Sears had them on sale back in the fall for $20 ea., normally $35.

I;ve used them for years and have a Humpty Dumpty one my friend ran over with her car that I am trying to get going again.

IIRC Schumacher makes one that has a desulfate cycle that is even better.

 

[3 at 8]

I am using the harbor freight one's this year for the first time on my lawn tractor and garden tractor. They are in a non attached garden shed so I am not concerned with them burning the house down. Why are they saying they are a bad thing?

 

[Ray916MN]

I've left all of my toys on Battery Tenders for over a decade. The only downside I've noticed is that they will enable a battery which should be replaced to start a vehicle in your garage, leaving you to figure out that it needs to be replaced when you try to start the vehicle somewhere else.

 

[pudgybear]

that's what i thought - - - i have for years had mine on " BATTERY TENDERS " SOME PEOPLE say that the battery should be allowed to run low, recharge and it helps the life of the battery? me personally i don't go with that

 

[jkwilson]

Discharging a battery uses it up, and the longer it stays that way the worse it is for the battery. Keeping them at full charge as much as possible is best for a long life. The idea that you need to run them all the way down occasionally is so wrong it boggles the mind.

 

[astroracer]

A good tender is just that... A tender. It will monitor the battery and let it discharge to a certain level before re-charging. A maintainer just applies a small trickle charge at all times without monitering the actual charge level. Be careful of those as they can boil a battery dry if you don't keep an eye on the electrolyte level.
Mark

 

[mrbreezeet1]

Run my battery tender Jr pretty well 24/7 esp. In the winter.

 

[larry_g]

Discharging a battery uses it up, and the longer it stays that way the worse it is for the battery. Keeping them at full charge as much as possible is best for a long life. TRUE

The idea that you need to run them all the way down occasionally is so wrong it boggles the mind.

The idea of running a battery down comes from the Nicad battery field. One needs to run a Nicad to full discharge for it to maintain capacity. Lead acid NO.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[PA Woody]

I've been using a Sears Diehard version of a Battery Tender on my motorcycles for a couple years with good results. Its controlled by a micro processor that analyzes your battery and prevents overcharging. Until recently, I only had one so I had to switch it back and forth between bikes. It has the quick connect plugs like a Battery Tender so you can just plug it in to whichever vehicle you want to charge. It also comes with clamps and a 12v accessory plug adapter. Sears has them on sale right now so I bought a second one. Regular price is $44.95 but SYWR members' price is $24.99. Not a bad price IMO. For anyone who might be interested, here is the link to it:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02871239000P

 

[mjn]

I have been using CTEK chargers now for the last few years from ATVs to my vehicles and love it.

 

[jayoldschool]

I keep seven batteries topped with my CTEK. Just rotate it every couple of days.

 

[mustanginky]

I have the harbor freight cheapo trickle charger, is there an advantage or disadvantage to using this type?

 

[TJJP77]

I've been using a Sears Diehard version of a Battery Tender on my motorcycles for a couple years with good results. Its controlled by a micro processor that analyzes your battery and prevents overcharging. Until recently, I only had one so I had to switch it back and forth between bikes. It has the quick connect plugs like a Battery Tender so you can just plug it in to whichever vehicle you want to charge. It also comes with clamps and a 12v accessory plug adapter. Sears has them on sale right now so I bought a second one. Regular price is $44.95 but SYWR members' price is $24.99. Not a bad price IMO. For anyone who might be interested, here is the link to it:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02871239000P

I have three of these and I love them. They work much better than the HF ones I used in the past.

If you do get one of these, be sure to check it right away to make sure it works properly. Sometimes they are DOA right out of the box and will tell you you have a bad battery that you know is perfectly fine. If they aren't DOA, they will last for a good long while. I had one of the three I bought that did this to me.

 

[PA Woody]

I have three of these and I love them. They work much better than the HF ones I used in the past.

If you do get one of these, be sure to check it right away to make sure it works properly. Sometimes they are DOA right out of the box and will tell you you have a bad battery that you know is perfectly fine. If they aren't DOA, they will last for a good long while. I had one of the three I bought that did this to me.

I hooked it up as soon as I got home with it. It's working fine.

 

[oilslick]

I use the harbor freight religiously .

 

[unslow1]

I use HF ones on the regular cars and trucks. Deltran on the expensive stuff.

 

[baimasanji]

I;ve used them for years and have a Humpty Dumpty one my friend ran over with her car that I am trying to get going again

 

[mrbreezeet1]

I;ve used them for years and have a Humpty Dumpty one my friend ran over with her car that I am trying to get going again

What is a Humpty Dumpty battery charger?

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

I am using the harbor freight one's this year for the first time on my lawn tractor and garden tractor. They are in a non attached garden shed so I am not concerned with them burning the house down. Why are they saying they are a bad thing?

I have had all types and had the HF on a golf cart for several years and worked fine. paid about $6

 

[jjjrmx5]

What is a Humpty Dumpty battery charger?

LOL.

A Humpty Dumpty battery charger is what happens when you leave it hooked up to a Miata and forget it's there on the floor (since battery is in trunk) only to run over the transformer portion of the unit with the back tire crushing the case and splitting it open. A female friend did this.

I have to glue the screw stakes back in and try to re-solder a broken ground wire and lord knows what else. Thus putting it "back together again."

A quick way to throw $35 out the window.
Derp.

I'll get a pic up so ya'll know what they look like from the inside.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

LOL.

A Humpty Dumpty battery charger is what happens when you leave it hooked up to a Miata and forget it's there on the floor (since battery is in trunk) only to run over the transformer portion of the unit with the back tire crushing the case and splitting it open. A female friend did this.

I have to glue the screw stakes back in and try to re-solder a broken ground wire and lord knows what else. Thus putting it "back together again."

A quick way to throw $35 out the window.
Derp.

I'll get a pic up so ya'll know what they look like from the inside.

That's too funny, I never heard that one.....lol

 

[jkwilson]

There are three types of maintainers, and only two of them are good.

The first type is the trickle charger. This generally supplies a constant 2A charge to the battery. It will cause constant water loss and can damage the battery, so I don't recommend them at all.

The second type is known as a float charger. This charger maintains the battery at its float voltage, which is generally around 13.2-13.4V. The battery draws very little current at this voltage, and the charge just adds enough to offset self-discharge of the battery. Water loss is low with a float charger.

The third type incorporates a timer. The charger turns on once every 24 hours and applies a charge to the battery until the current draw drops below about an amp. Once that happens, the charger goes back to sleep. Water loss is low with this type of charger too.

The float and timed chargers are often combined into a full capability charger, and the maintenance mode comes on after the charge process is complete. These chargers are usually marketed as 3-stage or 4-stage chargers or smart chargers.

Whatever you use, if your battery has vent caps, check the electrolyte level about every 30 days if you have a charger connected. As a battery ages, it can begin using more water.

 

[jjjrmx5]

There are three types of maintainers, and only two of them are good.

The first type is the trickle charger. This generally supplies a constant 2A charge to the battery. It will cause constant water loss and can damage the battery, so I don't recommend them at all.

The second type is known as a float charger. This charger maintains the battery at its float voltage, which is generally around 13.2-13.4V. The battery draws very little current at this voltage, and the charge just adds enough to offset self-discharge of the battery. Water loss is low with a float charger.

The third type incorporates a timer. The charger turns on once every 24 hours and applies a charge to the battery until the current draw drops below about an amp. Once that happens, the charger goes back to sleep. Water loss is low with this type of charger too.

The float and timed chargers are often combined into a full capability charger, and the maintenance mode comes on after the charge process is complete. These chargers are usually marketed as 3-stage or 4-stage chargers or smart chargers.

Whatever you use, if your battery has vent caps, check the electrolyte level about every 30 days if you have a charger connected. As a battery ages, it can begin using more water.

What about AGM batteries?

 

[jjjrmx5]

OThat's too funny, I never heard that one.....lolj

Attached is Humpty Dumpty.

It started life as a Battery Tender Junior. Still is...kinda.
I think I can save it as the plug prongs, trans and circuit board area a-ok.

I think. Ha.

 

[Iggi]

I have several batterminders and they work great. Each charger can maintain several batteries once they are charged. Also like the Noco genius like as well.



[URL="http://www.geniuschargers.com/"]http://www.geniuschargers.com/[/URL]

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

The Optima one is great, just bought it for my Show Car.
Charged a depleted battery in 24 hours, conditions, then maintains.

http://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/products/charger/

 

[jkwilson]

What about AGM batteries?

They really don't need to be maintained. Their self-discharge is extremely low and they are less subject to damage from sitting at lower charge levels, so unless the equipment they are installed in has a steady draw like a computerized engine, they will be fine for months at a time. It would be simpler and cheaper to add a battery disconnect switch to keep them from running down unless the equipment needs power for something like storing radio stations or engine/transmission programming.

If you need to maintain an AGM, you need to make sure your charger float voltage is appropriate for your particular battery. There is quite a bit of difference between battery brands.

 

[pop pop]

I have an 03 Harley with AGM battery and a Harley Davidson Battery Tender (what else if it's a Harley, right?). I've replaced the battery once since new.

 

[White 99]

BMW AGM batteries do have a lot of troubles and short lives if not charged fully because of short trips and too much sitting. Seems to be much more so than other cars.

Voltage for a AGM battery is slightly different. I have read conflicting advice on proper voltage for charging. Right now I am of the opinion that AGM batteries do better with any battery charger maintainer. Some chargers do have a setting for AGM and are probably better than one without. May have something to do with more than voltage.

I just got the NOCO genius one for my AGM battery because it has a setting for AGM batteries.

If anyone has more information on charging AGM batteries I would like to learn more.

 

[HOTFR8]

I leave my BatteryTender's connected all the time.

Same here. Only come off when the vehicle, mower or trailer has to be used.

 

[O RLY]

I think my Battery Tender JR killed the OEM battery in my Yamaha Waverunner last winter. I upgraded to a Deka AGM battery this season and will not be putting it on the tender. Maybe test/charge it once in February and then again before it goes back into the ski in May.

 

[BK13]

Caution, might be venturing off topic:

I seem to remember an article in a 4wd magazine maybe 10 years ago about a charger/maintainer/tender that would desulfite batteries, but was powered by a solar cell. Anybody have any recollection of this?

 

[Haveblue]

I have a NAPA #85-302 maintainer that I use for my truck. It works well...It claims that in maintenance mode it will desulfate..Ive read that that it takes days, to weeks to desulfate..I've also read that it cannot be reversed once the plates get build-up. Batteries have been around for thousands of years, but we still cant figure them out.

 

[Nocturnal-G]

Attached is Humpty Dumpty.

It started life as a Battery Tender Junior. Still is...kinda.
I think I can save it as the plug prongs, trans and circuit board area a-ok.

I think. Ha.

You might consider getting a CTEK charger, you can run over them no problem.