Battery Tenders
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,221
Likes: 118
From: Matthews NC
Battery Tenders
On my ’70 and my ’98 I have a Battery Tender connected due to both being driven occasionally, the ’70 mainly to car shows and the ’98 monthly. I figured since I had the Battery Tenders connected I wouldn’t have starting issues but over the past 2 months both batteries have died with the Battery Tender showing a green float light. I’m especially torque’d on the ’98 because it’s an AC Delco battery and my first lasted 8 years and this one has lasted only 4 years. Researching I found that one tender has what’s called a “desulfator”…. So the question is….Is that feature important? I’ll bag both my Battery Tenders and purchase new ones if it helps. Or am I out of touch expecting too much longevity of a battery with a tender attached?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 6
From: www.Z16.org North/West Pennsylvania
I just wondered because I've been using 4 of them for several years now without any problems. I had a battery go dead while on the charger but it was over 10 years old. I keep the car and generator batteries hooked up all the time. I park it I hook it up.
Curious as to what you find.
Curious as to what you find.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 1
From: Greensboro NC
I've got two of these and they seem to get the job done.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...2045_200422045
One for my JD riding mower is a couple years old, the other is in it's first year on the Vette.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...2045_200422045
One for my JD riding mower is a couple years old, the other is in it's first year on the Vette.
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Cape Cod, Mass.
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Go with a C-Tek 3300. They are the best battery tenders in the industry IMO. I use them on my Corvettes old and new. It has the desulfator design to keep down sulfur buildup which kills batteries. I have used many over the years and really like these alot 
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,221
Likes: 118
From: Matthews NC
Will the C-Tek bring an old battery back to life if it has the sulfur buildup? Their tech data says so...true/false in real life?
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Joined: Oct 2004
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False. They are more for the maintenance of a good battery. I would start with a new battery, hook it up to the C-Tek and your battery issues are over.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
I also own two Ctek's, and batteries seem to last forever on these thing's. Xtreme also has the technology, but a bit pricier. These wont give you a green light unless the battery's truely charged. If the battery plate's are shorted due to lot's of vibration, no kind of charger can save it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 801
Likes: 1
I have a battery tender junior on a 7 year old optima.It still shows 12.8 volts after being off the charger.Its in my boat.I also have the same battery in the vet with a battery tender plus on it now for almost a year with no problems.They wont bring a sufated battery back to life although I have a full size charger thats supposed to.
