12-09-2019, 09:35 PM | #1 |
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Batter Tender
I'm interested in how many use a battery tender. I have a Cheapo and am scared that it will fail somehow and cause a fire. I've researched them and price wise they're all over the map. I'd hate to lose an original 32 5 window and the entire garage over a few more $. Question is, from personal experience do you use them and if so what brand? 6V is all I need but I find them with everything else option wise. Don't need all the option stuff, just 6V and safe. Thanks for your response.
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12-09-2019, 09:41 PM | #2 |
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Re: Batter Tender
Tomcarman, I use a Deltran 8v battery tender for my 34 roadster for the last year and seems to work well.
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12-09-2019, 09:54 PM | #3 |
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Re: Batter Tender
I have a few Battery Tenders to keep my various car and other batteries including a 6 volt battery up to snuff when not in use.
They have done what they are supposed to do without any issues.
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12-09-2019, 10:01 PM | #4 |
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Re: Batter Tender
Tom, I have 2, one automatically senses whether it is connected to a 6 or 12 volt battery, the other (older one) has a switch on the front you select 6v or 12v. I have been using these several years, the oldest one about 4 years. I have never had a battery that wasn't kept fully charged. Also, if you have an Optima, if it gets run down, you need to charge it slowly or you will kill the battery. The jell mat is wrapped tightly and if you give it too many amps it will cause warpage and shorting out internally. I am pretty sure all the new ones have the ability to sense full charge and then "float" until the charge drops and it will begin to charge again. They charge at such a low rate, I don't think they could cause a fire, if they shorted out it would trip the breaker in the circuit.
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12-09-2019, 10:10 PM | #5 |
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Re: Batter Tender
I've never seen any need for a battery tender on older vehicles and machinery. Newer stuff does drain a battery while parked for weeks or months but the old ones don't. I leave batteries on the farm equipment year round sitting all winter in our severe weather. The batteries hold their charge and their life span is exceptionally good in my opinion.
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12-09-2019, 10:18 PM | #6 |
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Re: Batter Tender
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12-09-2019, 10:27 PM | #7 |
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Re: Batter Tender
Thanks for the input. BTW, I'm a bit embarrased about the thread title. Should have been Battery Tender, not Batter. Duh. Mike, you've seen what we have and I'm just concerned about leaving the unit attached while I'm working and not have to worry, especially when we get the 3 window in there. It's just been my experience lately that these new tools etc. made in everyone knows where are prone to failure, usually sooner rather than later. Having a dead battery is one thing, but a short or an overcharge resulting in who knows what is another.
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12-09-2019, 10:56 PM | #8 |
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Re: Batter Tender
Tom, if the power to the building is on a breaker or even an older fuse, any short or large current draw on the AC side of the charger would cut the power, and 1.5 amps at 6v on the DC side of the charger isn't going to set anything on fire. If you are really worried about it, you could remove the batteries from the cars and put them in a vented metal container like a truck bed tool box with the charger and if either failed they would be contained.
I understand your concerns, you can never be too careful but the wiring in the building might be a larger threat then a battery tender, depending on who wired it and the quality of the wire and outlets and switches. |
12-09-2019, 10:58 PM | #9 |
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Re: Batter Tender
never used one, always have good battery life with what I do now---nothing
when I asked what a battery tender would do for me at the booth selling them i was told it would double my battery life ---at the time my battery was 15 years old --so I said wow, 30 years --they said-No, that it would double the life to 5-7 years |
12-09-2019, 11:11 PM | #10 |
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Re: Batter Tender
I have two 12v Battery Tenders and one 6v, which I've had for 25+ years. The 12v ones are only about 15-years old. All are working fine.
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12-09-2019, 11:40 PM | #11 |
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Re: Batter Tender
I've never used a battery tender. I've just never liked the concept. Every few months I hook my batteries up to a smart charger and to observe how long it takes to top them off. It's almost always less than an hour. Oftentimes it's less than 30 minutes.
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12-09-2019, 11:47 PM | #12 |
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Re: Batter Tender
My cars are in northern Minnesota and I go to Florida for the winter. I hate to leave them completely unattended all winter in an unheated building, so I have battery tenders on all of them. I too, was kinda spooked by having power to the battery tenders 24/7. Also, I had one go bad a few years ago, and it boiled the battery and ruined it. Because of these concerns, I purchased one of those cheap timers that you can get just about anywhere (WalMart, etc.). After experimenting, I have found the 30 minutes a day is enough to keep the batteries up. I have the timer plugged into the wall, and extension cords routed to all of my tenders.
It's probably unnecessary, but it works for me, |
12-10-2019, 12:03 AM | #13 |
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Re: Batter Tender
Thanks for all the input. I'm likely over paranoid but nonetheless I'm concerned. The cheapo (HF) tender has worked fine but my concern still exists. Mike, the garage as of now is wired to a single 20A circuit from the house, hence the lack of 220V. Dad never got to it. It's on my list. Mainly I was interested if there are better or worse Tenders on the market (brand wise) or if it even matters.
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12-10-2019, 12:09 AM | #14 | |
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Re: Batter Tender
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12-10-2019, 06:10 AM | #15 |
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Re: Batter Tender
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12-10-2019, 09:25 AM | #16 |
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Re: Batter Tender
I use a battery tender on my 6V battery in my 32 Cab - has worked very well and I see no downside to it.
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12-10-2019, 09:38 AM | #17 |
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Re: Batter Tender
I remove the positive ground strap on the 6v Optima battery and reconnect in the Spring.
No tender or maintenance charger. No problems. |
12-10-2019, 09:38 AM | #18 |
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Re: Batter Tender
I have used Yuasa and Battery Tender for 20+ years. The 6 volt in my 34 is now 7 years old (non-Optima). Motorcycle batteries are normally short lived. The last 2 that I replaced in my Harley were 8 or 9 years old and I only changed them as I felt it was time. They had not shown any sign of weakness.
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12-10-2019, 09:52 AM | #19 |
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Re: Batter Tender
Any battery will go bad just sitting there...... hooked up or not...... current draw or not. That's the nature of the beast. I worked for Douglas Battery and Delco (Delphi). Wrote warranty and did plenty of battery autopsies. You hear a lot of stuff about batteries, that for sure.
On two cars that are literally never driven, I have maintainers. A Genius G750 on one car and a Battery Tender (not sure which) on the other. The argument would be that the cars should actually be driven but with 5 others in constant rotation, we have plenty of wheels for the two drivers in the house. |
12-10-2019, 09:54 AM | #20 |
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Re: Batter Tender
The best battery charger and maintainer I have ever found is the Solar Pro Logix charger. It will do 6 & 12 volt, 10/6/2 amp charges, standard/gel/agm batteries. Plus when it's done it automatically goes into a maintenance mode and will eventually turn itself off if need be. I am really pleased with it's performance. It runs about $60-$70.
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12-10-2019, 10:10 AM | #21 | |
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Re: Batter Tender
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12-10-2019, 10:16 AM | #22 |
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Re: Batter Tender
Discharge & charge cycle battery tenders are a relatively new concept. My customers started using them when they came out with the AGM type batteries for aircraft. These batteries were half the weight of the standard lead/acid types and didn't have the melt down hazzards associated with the NiCad batteries. The batteries were around $2K and they were lucky to get 12-month out of them till they started using the cycle discharge/charge type tender systems. This would give then 2 to 3 more years of battery life. It beat the hell out of an $8k NiCad for sure since they didn't last much longer.
How a battery is maintained make a lot of difference. If you cycle it regularly at 2 week intervals by driving the vehicle around for a while or at least running it for a qhile then no charger would be necessary unless a problem shows up with the electrical system. |
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12-10-2019, 10:54 AM | #23 |
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Re: Batter Tender
Battery life varies so much that I don't think it makes much difference how you "maintain" them. I've had new batteries fail in a year (rarely). Some make it 7. I've had a tractor run 15 years on a set of batteries. Got one big 12 volt "Workaholic" that was retired from combine duty a couple of years ago and re-purposed onto an older diesel tractor. It still started fine last fall. I bought that pair of batteries in 1999. No special treatment. They sat on the combine year round never used or even disconnected all winter.
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12-10-2019, 07:02 PM | #24 |
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Re: Batter Tender
My down side was me,Schnider tender didn't shut off, kept charging, cooked my Ford script battery dry, added new acid, never charged up, out $240'00
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12-10-2019, 07:26 PM | #25 |
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Re: Batter Tender
I'm not comfortable using a tender, so I make sure long term idle batteries are dis-connected, fully charged and then voltage-checked every month or so. I'll then re-charge at a 2 amp rate if needed with an older Sears or Schumacher charger. Most of my 12V maintenance-frees have been Sears Die-Hards and usually last 8-10 years, while the 6 and 12 volt Optimas have gone even longer.
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12-10-2019, 08:21 PM | #26 |
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Re: Batter Tender
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12-10-2019, 08:23 PM | #27 |
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Re: Batter Tender
I use a 12V tender from C-TEK. Excellent product.
If you need one for 6V buy the RED one. https://smartercharger.com/collections/vehicle/?i=1 Last edited by 19Fordy; 12-10-2019 at 08:33 PM. |
12-11-2019, 12:23 AM | #28 |
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Re: Batter Tender
I'd like to graciously thank all who have posted their opinions and experiences regarding this subject. I have reached my personal decision regarding the use of a battery tender. Up here in the Pacific Northwest where it "rarely" rains and our cars can be driven about once every 6 months rain free through the winter it is important that the battery be charged when that exceptional day of sun arrives, or even a lack of fog. In my life right now I believe battery tenders are a safe product to be used as desired. In my case I have chosen to plug in and charge when home on the weekend and unplug when I'm gone. In my life experience as V8COOPMAN has described in post #26 if it's electronic expect failure. I'm just not going to chance it when I can maintain charge once a week when I'm home tinkering on my new aquisition. 47 Chrysler Windsor 4 door.
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12-11-2019, 12:31 AM | #29 |
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Re: Batter Tender
Late post. Tenders are fine. Not sure there is any info in a garage burning down from a tender, electronic can be faulty I guess. Batteries like to be discharged and recharged, not constantly charge (same with phone batteries). Guess it depends on the battery also.
I have a optima 6v battery. I disconnect when not running (key in my brain). Use a old schumacher charger sometimes (once twice a yr). and have a gen that charges as I run. so far so good. 11 & 15 yrs on two batteries. Last edited by Tinker; 12-11-2019 at 12:38 AM. |
12-11-2019, 01:29 AM | #30 |
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Re: Batter Tender
I have 6 batteries that get almost no use over the winter. No tenders and never had a problem in the spring.......maybe just lucky!
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12-11-2019, 06:10 AM | #31 |
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Re: Batter Tender
I have a '63 C**** that I did a total chassis refurbishment on. I put the car back on the road in 2004 with a Costco battery and a green knob disconnect. The car is stored over the winter and with the battery disconnected, no tender or charger. When I bring the car home from a run, same thing- disconnect and no charger or tender. It always starts in the spring as soon as it pumps gas to the carb. Same battery for 15 years now. What am I doing wrong?
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12-11-2019, 08:50 AM | #32 |
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Re: Batter Tender
I have gone through several brands of "Tenders" as I have at least 10 pieces of equipment and automotive applications that require "Tending". I agree the use of a Battery Tender will greatly extend the life of a battery. The brand I have the most units currently in use is Schumaker.(spelling??) I am not saying they are best but not worst. That belongs to some Dewalt Tenders I tried. I think the old "get what you pay for" is true. So, do not be swayed by the $10 or $15 piece and go for a "good-un".
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12-11-2019, 10:16 AM | #33 | |
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Re: Batter Tender
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The link below is but one example out of just how many do you want to look for on the www. This particular report is by HAGERTY, one of the antique insurance companies we all know and trust. DD https://www.hagerty.com/articles-vid...rned-out-bikes |
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12-11-2019, 06:27 PM | #34 |
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Re: Batter Tender
I just ment out to the garage and unplugged the 2 Schumacher tenders . Had them on timers but not in the garage . I do have the solar chargers on 3 cars I drive ( very occasionally) . These Harbour freight solar chargers have kept lawn tractors , jeeps , race cars and batteries for my electric gates charged and are very little charging rate . Plus they have a built in timer , it's called night time .
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12-11-2019, 11:13 PM | #35 |
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Re: Batter Tender
Here are my pictures of my two 6 Volt Battery Minders, a NOCO and CTEK. I bought two new 6 Volt Batteries in May 2016, and have hooked them up with a Battery Minder/Charger from the beginning. The Battery that my NOCO unit is attached to is fully charged and easily starts my 34 Ford each time. However, that is not the case with the Battery that has had my CTEK unit attached. As a matter of fact, that Battery is dead flat. I added my NOCO unit to if for a few hours, and the car started immediately. With my CTEK unit, for the last year, it has never gone to green, and always stays on red? This is actually my third CTEK 6V unit. The first one died and was replaced under warranty. After a while, the light on my replacement also stayed on red, so I purchased a new one. Because of all these problems, I have just purchased a second NOCO unit. I was very happy with my first one, so decided to buy a second. Regarding the CTEK brand, I also have two CTEK 12V units and both of them work fine. One advantage with the NOCO units is that they are 6V and 12V which is very handy. These are my experiences. Someone my be able to tell me why I have not had any joy with my 6V CTEK units. |
12-11-2019, 11:30 PM | #36 |
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Re: Batter Tender
Thank you for your sharing your experience. Electronics can be a frustrating gremlin prone to failure. I work for a multi-million dollar company that frequently gets completely shut down by some computer glitch. Simple things like a battery tender/charger/minder or what have you I'm interested in quality, performance and reliability. Your results are helpful but I am still unwilling to leave mine plugged in 24/7 when I'm not here. Sounds like the NOCO wins out.
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12-12-2019, 07:48 AM | #37 |
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Re: Batter Tender
Get yourself a shutoff switch, it will isolate the rest of the car from the battery, less wires to melt. Since my car is stored in an unheated storage unit, I bring my battery home in set it on a wooden bench in my cellar, I throw it on charge a couple of times during the winter.
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