Maymyvetteliveforevr

I need to pick up a battery tender this year as last year the battery went dead when it was time to start it up come beginning of the season. I don't remove the batter from the car nor do I disconnect the battery cables on the 1975.

Question:

For those that use the battery tender, are most of you plugging the battery tender into a 120 volt outlet or the 12V cigarette lighter of the car?


Please post in the poll.

ntfday

I bought one just like the one posted below for my 76. The ring terminals are a little undersized though a round jewelers file solves that problem. It has a green light to indicate the battery is fully charged and it's easy to disconnect and so far trouble free.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Extreme-Max-...item419f9ab030

resdoggie

I plug my BT into a 120V wall outlet. It works better that way.

gr8t73

I have been using a battery tender on my 73 for the past seven years and my current battery is 5 years old and still going strong. It extends battery life significantly. Prior to using the battery tender I was replacing my battery every two to three years. I also leave the battery in the car and use the quick connect with the ring connectors for the battery.

croaker

120

L-46man

I plug my battery tender into the cigarette lighter....then connect it to the battery...now all I need is for god to re-invent the laws of physics and I'm good.

PS...why was this a question?

Next proposed 'poll'. "Do you put the air IN your tires or just on the outside?" LOL

jts90vette

Personally I wouldn't charge a battery inside the car. Charging a battery produces Hydrogen gas, which we all know is dangerous for obvious reasons. It might be OK if you leave the windows down and don't use a car cover. I like to use a car cover during the winter months, so I remove my battery from the car. I set it on the work bench, hook up my charger and forget about it till spring. You may never have a problem long term charging your battery in the car, but why chance it? especially if your garage is attached to your home! Just my 2 cents!

ntfday

A battery maintainer, such as what's being discussed, draws less than 2 amps and is merely keeping the battery topped off. I don't find it any more harmful or dangerous than charging a cell phone. At 74 pulling the battery in and out of my Vette is something I try to avoid.

Grumpy 427

Heated garage 1 amp battery tender plugged in all winter. I drive the car enough during the nice months that i dont have to leave it on in the summer months.

Maymyvetteliveforevr

Thanks everyone for the replies as well as those that contributed to the poll.

I'm actually surprised that more people don't plug the tender into the 12V cigarette lighter as it would be easier to install. There would be no extension cord to deal with and everything would be self contained. I guess there is a good reason for using 120 volts instead of 12V, or is it because the cigarette lighter 12V attachment is an option?

Tiger Joe

wait, is this a serious question? you want to plug the battery into the cigarette lighter in the center console of your vette and then hook it up to the battery, using the cig lighter to power the charger?


so you want to draw power from the battery to charge the battery?


the idea with the cig lighter adapter was that you could connect there rather than the battery, then plug into the wall out.

resdoggie

You need to go back and read the operating manual for the BT.

Maymyvetteliveforevr

I've never owned one, therefore I've never read the manual, thanks for clearing that up.

Grumpy 427

Just get the plug in wall unit and be on your way till spring. lol I have had one on my vette now since 2010.

MelWff

As others have stated in various ways, the Poll choices make no sense.
For winter storage you will always have to plug the battery tender into a 120 Volt outlet.
For the connection to the vehicle you have a choice of the cigarette lighter or direct to the battery.
I have been using a tender for over a decade connected to the battery and my last battery I replaced at about 8 years not because I was having an issue but just felt I didnt want to push it too far.

Shoevette

I own 2 battery tenders. The first I bought several years ago and have one end secured to the secured to the Vette's battery. It has an easy to use quick connect, and you just disconnect from the BT (think unplugging the battery from the BT), use the included rubber "cover" on the battery side of the cable (not sure what to call it, but there is no exposed metal), stuff the cable in the battery compartment, and you are good to go. It is such a pleasure to be confident that the battery will not be the thing to Pi__ you off when you are excited to fire it up from a slumber. A must have.

I bought a second one for a summer only jeep and a DR brush mower. I pull those batteries and alternate the clips weekly. Upon switching, the charge comes right back up to full. It is such a small price today to avoid the trip to wherever you get your batteries when you have a day planned around your car, machine or toy!

694speed350

I have a 10a charger if I don't drive the cars (have 3-2 Jaguars and 1 corvette)I'll hook them up once a month for a recharge.

TimAT

I've had a number of battery tenders. Everyone of them has totally cooked the battery they were connected to. Boiled them dry. Brands of tenders seem to make no difference. I've got a big white spot on the concrete under the Vette where the box drained the acid/water out. On the bike, it just killed a new battery in 90 days. And that was a big buck tender from H-D.

Grumpy 427

If your buying a battery tender get one with a 900MA output just under 1 amp. Thats all that is required.

Street Rat

A few years back when I was having battery drain issues I purchased an Optima tender. This thing has literally saved a few batteries that I thought were dead. It was a little high priced but I was ready for something else.
I can't say enough about this tender/charger.

It plugs into 120v and has a quick disconnect at the battery.


https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/ult-150-40008