Battery Maintainers: Which One Won't Burn Down the Garage
#3200273
12/27/23 02:32 PM
12/27/23 02:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,043 State of Confusion
hp383
OP
Just a normal tag again
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OP
Just a normal tag again
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,043
State of Confusion
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So I am looking for a very dependable and reliable battery maintainer for a vehicle that is being stored all winter, and I will have very limited access to both the building and car.
I don't want to lose everything, and want to keep the battery going over winter I just got it going. I hope to drive it here and there, but on a daily basis I won't be able to oversee the operation so to speak.
I remember a member here lost everything from one of these devices, that was several years ago and hopefully technology has improved.
Join the Penguin Liberation Front!! Stop the Hippo Occupation!
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Re: Battery Maintainers: Which One Won't Burn Down the Garage
[Re: hp383]
#3200277
12/27/23 02:42 PM
12/27/23 02:42 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,364 Banana Republic
FM3AAR
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,364
Banana Republic
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I've been running the Battery Tender brand of battery maintainers for many years. Between my lawn mowers, my cars and my son's car, I currently have 9 Battery Tenders running. Never ever had an issue with the Battery Tender brand.
“You’ll own nothing” — And “you’ll be happy about it.” K. Schwab
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Re: Battery Maintainers: Which One Won't Burn Down the Garage
[Re: hp383]
#3200340
12/27/23 06:55 PM
12/27/23 06:55 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,831 Kirkland, Washington
Pacnorthcuda
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 21,831
Kirkland, Washington
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For about 10-12 years I’ve been using battery tenders and BT jrs. Lately one crapped out (sort of) by no longer going into full float. I just switched to NOCO Genius 1s and so far so good. I like wall warts as opposed to corded on both ends.
Last edited by Pacnorthcuda; 12/27/23 06:55 PM.
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Re: Battery Maintainers: Which One Won't Burn Down the Garage
[Re: hp383]
#3200343
12/27/23 07:05 PM
12/27/23 07:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,445 So Cal
Sinitro
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,445
So Cal
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I had been using Battery Tenders for many years until I had one short out and burn up. The case was totally warped and very hot. I called corporate and reported the issue, they didn't seem very concerned sent me a new one. Then a week later their chief engineer called me in a panic and wanted me to send the defective unit back for evaluation but it was already tossed into the dumpster. Then I learned about desuflating process, won't use another Battery Tender gave the new replacement unit away. And I upgraded to the Battery Minder, great investment. Here is the one I bought from Amazon..
Just my $0.02...
https://www.amazon.com/BatteryMINDe...y-Motorcycles/dp/B00D7HZ6FC/ref=sr_1_28?
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Re: Battery Maintainers: Which One Won't Burn Down the Garage
[Re: 5thAve]
#3200365
12/27/23 09:03 PM
12/27/23 09:03 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,150 Mesa, Arizona
dart4forte
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,150
Mesa, Arizona
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In that situation it woyld be better to disconnect the battery and bring it home. I totally agree. Hopefully we won’t be reading about this in another thread down the road. Ask Rhinodart.
“So if it’s on the internet it must be true”
Abe Lincoln
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Re: Battery Maintainers: Which One Won't Burn Down the Garage
[Re: Dcuda69]
#3200405
12/28/23 01:33 AM
12/28/23 01:33 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,218 Someplace you aren't
SomeCarGuy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,218
Someplace you aren't
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I’ve never fooled with one and I get at least as long a life as the battery is rated for. U hook the cable for the winter is all I do. always hear about issues with these tender things. My latest battery is an odyssey and it the best battery I’ve ever had. Claim is it will go two years without a tender and not lose a beat. Both springs so far it fired the car like lightning first try.
I want my fair share
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Re: Battery Maintainers: Which One Won't Burn Down the Garage
[Re: SomeCarGuy]
#3200436
12/28/23 11:05 AM
12/28/23 11:05 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,774 St. Louis, Missouri area
Cometstorm
"Beat It"
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"Beat It"
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,774
St. Louis, Missouri area
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I’m no exprert, but I think it’s a “vintage Mopar vs. modern Mopar thing.” Vintage Mopar, I suspect can do well without a tender while in winter storage. Modern Mopars have a continual micro battery drain due to all the advanced micro circuits and such. A good tender on such will keep it topped off, so to speak. It’s the “up / down” storage charge factors that are very hard on their batteries. My 2020 Challenger Scat Pack is stored in a drywall insulated garage, which is house attached. It’s on a Deltran 1.25 amp tender for the winter. Battery Tender Plus 12V Battery Charger and Maintainer: 1.25 AMP Powersport Battery Charger and Maintainer for Motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs - Smart 12 Volt Automatic Float Charger - 021-0128 https://a.co/d/ec44JJn
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Re: Battery Maintainers: Which One Won't Burn Down the Garage
[Re: Cometstorm]
#3200443
12/28/23 11:26 AM
12/28/23 11:26 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,719 Portage,michigan
B3422W5
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,719
Portage,michigan
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I’m no exprert, but I think it’s a “vintage Mopar vs. modern Mopar thing.” Vintage Mopar, I suspect can do well without a tender while in winter storage. Modern Mopars have a continual micro battery drain due to all the advanced micro circuits and such. A good tender on such will keep it topped off, so to speak. It’s the “up / down” storage charge factors that are very hard on their batteries. My 2020 Challenger Scat Pack is stored in a drywall insulated garage, which is house attached. It’s on a Deltran 1.25 amp tender for the winter. Battery Tender Plus 12V Battery Charger and Maintainer: 1.25 AMP Powersport Battery Charger and Maintainer for Motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs - Smart 12 Volt Automatic Float Charger - 021-0128 https://a.co/d/ec44JJn Same I use, never an issue
69 Dart GTS A4 Silver All steel, flat factory hood, 3360race weight 418 BPE factory replacement headed stroker, 565 lift solid cam Best so far, 10.40 @127 1/4 1.41 best 60 foot 6.60 at 103.90 1/8
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Re: Battery Maintainers: Which One Won't Burn Down the Garage
[Re: Cometstorm]
#3200448
12/28/23 11:44 AM
12/28/23 11:44 AM
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Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,289 nowhere
Sniper
master
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master
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,289
nowhere
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I’m no exprert, but I think it’s a “vintage Mopar vs. modern Mopar thing.” Vintage Mopar, I suspect can do well without a tender while in winter storage. Modern Mopars have a continual micro battery drain due to all the advanced micro circuits and such. A good tender on such will keep it topped off, so to speak. It’s the “up / down” storage charge factors that are very hard on their batteries. My 2020 Challenger Scat Pack is stored in a drywall insulated garage, which is house attached. It’s on a Deltran 1.25 amp tender for the winter. Battery Tender Plus 12V Battery Charger and Maintainer: 1.25 AMP Powersport Battery Charger and Maintainer for Motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs - Smart 12 Volt Automatic Float Charger - 021-0128 https://a.co/d/ec44JJn Disconnect the battery and you have no drain.
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Re: Battery Maintainers: Which One Won't Burn Down the Garage
[Re: Sniper]
#3200466
12/28/23 12:41 PM
12/28/23 12:41 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,954 WI
Dcuda69
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4,954
WI
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I’m no exprert, but I think it’s a “vintage Mopar vs. modern Mopar thing.” Vintage Mopar, I suspect can do well without a tender while in winter storage. Modern Mopars have a continual micro battery drain due to all the advanced micro circuits and such. A good tender on such will keep it topped off, so to speak. It’s the “up / down” storage charge factors that are very hard on their batteries. My 2020 Challenger Scat Pack is stored in a drywall insulated garage, which is house attached. It’s on a Deltran 1.25 amp tender for the winter. Battery Tender Plus 12V Battery Charger and Maintainer: 1.25 AMP Powersport Battery Charger and Maintainer for Motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs - Smart 12 Volt Automatic Float Charger - 021-0128 https://a.co/d/ec44JJn Disconnect the battery and you have no drain. On many late model vehicles doing a battery disconnect can be way more complicated.
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Re: Battery Maintainers: Which One Won't Burn Down the Garage
[Re: Dcuda69]
#3200503
12/28/23 02:19 PM
12/28/23 02:19 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,028 Tulsa OK
Bad340fish
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,028
Tulsa OK
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Deltran 1.25 amp battery tender is good. That being said if you put the car away with a fully charged battery (12.7 volts with no loads) it should be fine for several months if there is no draw on it.
68 Barracuda Formula S 340
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Re: Battery Maintainers: Which One Won't Burn Down the Garage
[Re: Bad340fish]
#3200509
12/28/23 03:16 PM
12/28/23 03:16 PM
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Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,289 nowhere
Sniper
master
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master
Joined: May 2019
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I work in the commercial and industrial uninterruptible power supply industry.
We use a lot of batteries. Some things to consider based on my observations and talking solely about lead acid type batteries.
If the batteries go 6 months or more between charges the likelihood of thermal runaway increases. Thermal runaway is when the battery overheats under use (charge or discharge) to the point it goes up in flames. That said, does it happen all the time? Nope. But if it happens you know the customer is going to blame us and potentially cost the company millions of dollars in damages.
The device we use to maintain and charge these batteries costs way more than anything you are going to use, even our cheapest model. They are as scienced out as possible and are continuously monitored and updated to prevent issues, see the millions of dollars mentioned.
We recommend 5 year replacement intervals for the VRLA batteries, similar to a maintenance free, and 20 years for flooded cells, similar to old school add water type batteries. Now these are in climate controlled environments using state of the art technology with regular testing and maintenance. Something you in your garage cannot match.
With all of this there is still the, very, occasional issue with thermal runaway. So, I would never leave my battery on any kind of continual charge, especially unmonitored and unobserved.
I would go thru whatever monkeyshines I needed to unhook my fully charged battery during storage. I would attach a charger when I came back to prep it for the driving season and disconnect when I left, if I were the type to store a car for the season. I real life, I just drive them.
But what I never do is leave them on a charger and walk away.
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Re: Battery Maintainers: Which One Won't Burn Down the Garage
[Re: FM3AAR]
#3200511
12/28/23 04:01 PM
12/28/23 04:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,445 So Cal
Sinitro
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,445
So Cal
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Basic problem with the Battery Tender products is that they don't have a current/thermal shutoff...So if something is shorted the Battery Tender should shut down, rather than continuing outputting a voltage and eventually overheating/shorting out.. In my personal case, I caught it early enough before it started a fire. The product is built in China and its basic design should be modified to include a current/thermal shutoff..But then its price would likely double.. Just my $0.02...
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