Batteries and battery tenders - not a good idea?
#2494316
05/10/18 11:09 AM
05/10/18 11:09 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,545 Albany, NY
67SATisfaction
OP
The member whose name is actually Art
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OP
The member whose name is actually Art
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,545
Albany, NY
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Any battery knowledge to share here?
Can battery tenders do more harm than good? Like, the cheap $5.99 ones from Harbor Freight?
I had all my batteries on these tenders (DieHard, Exide and NAPA, plus two 'vintage style' yellow-caps) this winter. They were inside my basement workshop, vented to the outside. Just for my own info, I checked voltage randomly over the months (typically 13.70 - 13.99V), and occasionally took them off the tenders for a week to see how the voltage would stabilize (typically 12.50 to 12.80v).
In middle of March, I noticed two of the 'no-maintenance' types wept some battery acid out of their top lids.
I cleaned it up, then:
- I took one of these off the tender and let it sit. It held 12.66v. I stuck it back in its car, fired up and it seems to work fine.
- I left the other one on the tender and used it in the 67 Satellite yesterday... It measured a healthy 12.56V when taken off the tender. I stuck it in the Satellite and it cranked poorly with no start. That's not usual for this battery.
So I shot some starter gas in the carb, then it fired. It ran well and the D/C gauge showed a good charge, so I took it for an hour drive. I stopped to enjoy the view. Went back to the car.. again it cranked poorly on start-up and then died. So I had to get a jump from a friendly passersby. Then it fired. I looked but didn't really notice any more acid weeping out of the top.
Again, the D/C gauge showed a good charge that stabilized and I drove it an hour back. I parked the car in my storage garage, took the offending Exide no-maintenance battery out and brought it home. Left it on my bench. This morning it measures a healthy 12.75V.
I'll take it to the Satellite and see how it cranks this morning, but in the meantime, -
- any advice as to what's going on with the no-maint batteries?
I didn't think they'd weep anything out the top, that seems like a bad thing.
Maybe this, or both batteries have reached its service life? Did the constant low-amp 13.9 charge cook off some battery acid?
I just don't want to harm my batteries.
Thanks, - Art
65 Satellite hardtop 361/4bbl console 727 2.76 67 Satellite convert 383/2bbl column 727 3.23 67 Lancia Fulvia Sport 1.3 Zagato. Alloy body, 1.3L V4 DOHC 4-spd 67 Lancia Fulvia Rallye 1.3. Alloy panel, 1.3L V4 DOHC 4-spd 71 Alfa Romeo GT Junior 1300 Zagato, 1.3L 4cyl DOHC hemi 5-spd 82 Alfa Romeo GTV6 2.5L SOHC hemi V6 5-spd transaxle 75 Maserati Bora US spec 4.9L DOHC hemi V8 5-spd ZF 77 Maserati Khamsin Euro spec 4.9L DOHC hemi V8 5-spd ZF 07 Aston Martin DB9 6.0L DOHC V12 6spd transaxle
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Re: Batteries and battery tenders - not a good idea?
[Re: lockjaw-express]
#2494331
05/10/18 11:55 AM
05/10/18 11:55 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,545 Albany, NY
67SATisfaction
OP
The member whose name is actually Art
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OP
The member whose name is actually Art
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,545
Albany, NY
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Thanks Mark, The cheap “trickle chargers” are junk, and are nothing more than a step down transformer and a diode...they will cook your battery
I hate that. I'll head out to check the cranking power of this battery now.. - Art
65 Satellite hardtop 361/4bbl console 727 2.76 67 Satellite convert 383/2bbl column 727 3.23 67 Lancia Fulvia Sport 1.3 Zagato. Alloy body, 1.3L V4 DOHC 4-spd 67 Lancia Fulvia Rallye 1.3. Alloy panel, 1.3L V4 DOHC 4-spd 71 Alfa Romeo GT Junior 1300 Zagato, 1.3L 4cyl DOHC hemi 5-spd 82 Alfa Romeo GTV6 2.5L SOHC hemi V6 5-spd transaxle 75 Maserati Bora US spec 4.9L DOHC hemi V8 5-spd ZF 77 Maserati Khamsin Euro spec 4.9L DOHC hemi V8 5-spd ZF 07 Aston Martin DB9 6.0L DOHC V12 6spd transaxle
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Re: Batteries and battery tenders - not a good idea?
[Re: 67SATisfaction]
#2494346
05/10/18 12:14 PM
05/10/18 12:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,083 Niles , Ohio
therocks
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
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oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,083
Niles , Ohio
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Just because the battery shows say 12.6 volts dosent mean its good.had some at work that showed great but were junk.Oh yeah the one inmy 65 last year started it like a champ.went to local cruise went to start and nothing pretty much.Jumped and alt charging.Coming home had to keep revs up so MSD would fire right.Next day charged it checked it and over 13 volts.Turn lights on and went to 2 volts.We have tenders on the harleys.Mine is at least 20 years old.Always has battery charged as does my sons.Mine is a Harley one.Also charge the tractor batterys some in winter.Rocky
Chrysler Firepower
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Re: Batteries and battery tenders - not a good idea?
[Re: 67SATisfaction]
#2494385
05/10/18 02:05 PM
05/10/18 02:05 PM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 96,666 On The Boat, On The Lake, Wa. ...
amxautox
Still Retired. Still Posting on Moparts. A Lot.
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Still Retired. Still Posting on Moparts. A Lot.
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 96,666
On The Boat, On The Lake, Wa. ...
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Do a load test on the battery.
Tom
"Everyone should believe in something; I believe I'll go fishing."
-Henry David Thoreau
Men and fish are alike. They both get into trouble when they open their mouths
author unknown
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Re: Batteries and battery tenders - not a good idea?
[Re: amxautox]
#2494407
05/10/18 02:55 PM
05/10/18 02:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,545 Albany, NY
67SATisfaction
OP
The member whose name is actually Art
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OP
The member whose name is actually Art
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,545
Albany, NY
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Thanks for the insights guys, it's an evolving lesson. A battery's voltage can be fine, but if the amps aren't there - that's a problem. So yeah - just cuz it reads 12v+ won't automatically mean it's good. Do a load test on the battery. Yeah, I was going to have this done at our local AutoZone if things went badly today - but it cranked over and fired just fine.. so not clear what happened yesterday - but I'll keep jumper cables close by, and discontinue the use of the crappy tenders, that's for sure. Last year I had only two tenders, so I took the 5 batteries out of the cars , brought them inside, and rotated the tenders to different batteries every month roughly. At the end, I put them on a 2amp charger for an hour. They all worked normally. Cheers, - Art
65 Satellite hardtop 361/4bbl console 727 2.76 67 Satellite convert 383/2bbl column 727 3.23 67 Lancia Fulvia Sport 1.3 Zagato. Alloy body, 1.3L V4 DOHC 4-spd 67 Lancia Fulvia Rallye 1.3. Alloy panel, 1.3L V4 DOHC 4-spd 71 Alfa Romeo GT Junior 1300 Zagato, 1.3L 4cyl DOHC hemi 5-spd 82 Alfa Romeo GTV6 2.5L SOHC hemi V6 5-spd transaxle 75 Maserati Bora US spec 4.9L DOHC hemi V8 5-spd ZF 77 Maserati Khamsin Euro spec 4.9L DOHC hemi V8 5-spd ZF 07 Aston Martin DB9 6.0L DOHC V12 6spd transaxle
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Re: Batteries and battery tenders - not a good idea?
[Re: 67SATisfaction]
#2494449
05/10/18 04:46 PM
05/10/18 04:46 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,447 So Cal
Sinitro
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,447
So Cal
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I have used multiple Battery Tenders for many years with good success.. Except last year I went out into the garage and was surprised to find 1 of the Battery Tenders was super hot... A closer examination showed that it had an internal short and its bottom case had actually come apart due to its extreme heat exposing all of its internal components and transformer. I called Battery Tender to report the problem since it had a 5 year warranty and they asked me to send them some photos of the defective Battery Tender. I did and they responded they have never seen a unit having this type of defect??? Anyway they sent me a new replacement Battery Tender which I never used and gave to my son. After having the original Battery Tender shorting out I discontinued using any Battery Tender. Funny about 2 weeks later, Battery Tender contacted me and requested I return the defective for their inspection and failure mode analysis... However I had already threw the defective unit in the trash.. So in the end I would caution anyone using a Battery Tender to check it occasionally for overheating as to avoid a possible fire. Just my $0.02...
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Re: Batteries and battery tenders - not a good idea?
[Re: 67SATisfaction]
#2494450
05/10/18 04:55 PM
05/10/18 04:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,580 Motor City
6PKRTSE
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,580
Motor City
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I never trust them. I just disconnect my car batteries not in use for the winter & ocassionally fire them up throughout the odd seasons. Any of my cordless drills etc. I always unplug when I am not out in the garage. I have heard & read too many horror stories about them either over charging & causing fires or shorting out & causing fires.
1963 Belvedere 440 Max Wedge Tribute 1970 Charger R/T S.E. 440 Six Pack 1970 Challenger R/T, 528 Hemi 1970 Charger 500 S.E. 440 4 BBL 1970 Plymouth Road Runner 383 1974 Chrysler New Yorker 440 1996 2500 RAM 488 V-10 4X4 2004 3500 Dually Cummins 4x4 2012 Challenger R/T Classic.
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Re: Batteries and battery tenders - not a good idea?
[Re: mopars4ever]
#2494465
05/10/18 05:35 PM
05/10/18 05:35 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
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While your talking about batteries, I have a fairly new marine deep cycle battery that won`t go above 75% charged. I assume the plates are sulfated. Any way to get it back or is toast? I used my good optima charger on it and still won`t go above 75%. I thought the trickle charger would of helped it through the winter but I guess not. look at the battery minders, my link above^^^
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Re: Batteries and battery tenders - not a good idea?
[Re: 6PKRTSE]
#2494466
05/10/18 05:36 PM
05/10/18 05:36 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 18,880 -
RSNOMO
Moparts Torchbearer
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Moparts Torchbearer
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 18,880
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I never trust them. I just disconnect my car batteries not in use for the winter & ocassionally fire them up throughout the odd seasons. Any of my cordless drills etc. I always unplug when I am not out in the garage. I have heard & read too many horror stories about them either over charging & causing fires or shorting out & causing fires. Bingo... All my batteries go in the basement when not in use... When needed, a little time on the charger, then back in the 'tray'...
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Re: Batteries and battery tenders - not a good idea?
[Re: 360view]
#2494481
05/10/18 06:24 PM
05/10/18 06:24 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio
Challenger 1
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 28,312
Cincinnati, Ohio
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I have owned and used 2 different load testers like you show above, neither was worth a sh!t because they really can't put the correct load on a battery. I have used my hand held load testers and all three batterys show good. But in the truck you can tell something is wrong. I take them out and to the battery supplier and they test them with a real load tester and find one bad. Waste of money the hand held ones IMO. You are just as good to put a volt meter on your battery and have someone crank the engine and watch the voltage. This is still the only real way to load test your battery. The battery store has one and they test every battery I replace in my truck fleet. My trucks have 3 batterys each and I buy my far share of battery's. LINK
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