Battery Tender??

[Ford Freak]

Hey Guys! I want to get one of those "Battery Tenders" for my '07 Mustang GT
for when I store it this winter.(6 mo.) I see there are several different models.
What one do you recomend I purchase? I really just want a basic model & cheap as possible. I see Harbor Freight has some different versions for
10-20 bucks. Anybody have expierence w/those? Thanks in advance! - F F

[dmsfrr]

If you get a cheap one it doesn't shut itself off. That charges the battery all the time, NOT a good thing. It will effectively boil the water out the battery and ruin it.
The cheap HF battery tenders cost me 2 batteries last winter a costly lesson.

Fully charge the battery when you park the car for the winter then disconnect a battery cable and let it sit by itself.
A good battery should hold a charge for at least a few months or even longer. If you're concerned it will run down while sitting put a charger on it for a few hours in January. If the battery isn't holding a charge that long it may be getting ready to give up.

If you really want a battery tender get a good one, or put a timer on it so it only charges once or twice a month for a couple hours.

'07 Mustang GT - If you'd prefer to leave the battery connected to the car and maintain electronics memory, use something worthwhile that won't create more problems.
.

[Ford Freak]

dmsfrr - Yes, I do want to keep the battery connected on this car, for the reason you stated above. I was leerie of the HF tenders, as I am well aware of the old adage:
"you get what you pay for". I learned that decades ago, the HARD WAY!!lol
Anyways I will look into a "good one",& thanks for the advice!
Anyone else got anything to add to this? Thanks - F F

[56sedandelivery]

I am using a CTEK. More expensive but works great. Had a battery tender plus and the battery died with it on. Lol.

[miker98038]

I’ve got 7 of these. 3 on small batteries (generators & lawn equipment) and 4 on vehicles, both wet and AGM batteries. On one small Gen set (it’s in a pump house, I don’t check it often) it’s on an appliances timer and runs 1 hr a day. Never had a problem. They will not charge a low battery, but keep them topped up even in unheated areas. Cheaper at Amazon.

Most of mine have the pigtail wired to the battery, one has the alligator clips. They just work.

https://www.batterytender.com/junior

[corvette8n]

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I have the cheap Harbor Freight one but I don’t leave it on for more than a few days out of the month, a timer sounds like a good idea.

[cokefirst]

If you are a Costco member, they sell (or used to) the Deltran brand and they are very good. I have them on 7 of my cars. I got tired of replacing batteries every couple of years or going to use a car and having it not start. I would avoid getting one that is too cheap.

[dmsfrr]

Originally Posted by corvette8n

I have the cheap Harbor Freight one but I don’t leave it on for more than a few days out of the month, a timer sounds like a good idea.

The battery tenders I have are also the cheap 'free with a purchase' HF versions.
I found a timer not currently being used but it's a 24 hr / one day timer. My '55 is out of commission with a broken fuel pump, parked in a garage not as convenient to the house as I'd like. So I set the timer for 15 minutes, the least amount of time per day, just to have somewhere to start from.
.

[Ford Freak]

HF gave them away FREE w/a purchase of ?? How did I miss that? All I ever got free was little flashlights, cheap screwdrivers, etc. lol

[5851a]

I have a double car on one model, small wall one on wife's summer car older small metal box model for lawn tractor in winter. All Deltran tenders. Only problem encountered is sometimes if power goes off, I need to disconnect from vehicle to get it to start again. Not a big deal, just something I check. That probably wouldn't work so well on a timer. Maybe because mine are older models.

[55blacktie]

I've been using battery tenders on cars and motorcycles for years. The only issue I've had is they don't last forever. I don't recommend letting a battery sit long enough that it completely loses its charge; doing so will definitely shorten its life. I would rather use a battery tender, when needed, than not.

[paul2748]

Ebay has the Deltran chargers/maintainers

[dmsfrr]

Originally Posted by Ford Freak

HF gave them away FREE w/a purchase of ?? How did I miss that? All I ever got free was little flashlights, cheap screwdrivers, etc. lol

I'm probably mistaken, it was more than a few years ago. Might have been '4.99 with purchase' or something like that.

[Ford Freak]

Originally Posted by dmsfrr

I'm probably mistaken, it was more than a few years ago. Might have been '4.99 with purchase' or something like that.

Oh.....ok. I feel better now! lol

[flaw'd]

I have a few NOCO brand tenders that are great. Got them for a good deal off Amazon, including a marine version which stays under the hood outside year round. No complaints.

[Southtowns27]

None. I have personally seen one catch fire. Fortunately I was in the right place at the right time so it didn't spread.

[Ford Freak]

Originally Posted by Southtowns27

None. I have personally seen one catch fire. Fortunately I was in the right place at the right time so it didn't spread.

Sounds like you were lucky that day. Good for you! - F F