View Poll Results: How do you connect your battery tender during the Winter?
Voters: 45. You may not vote on this poll
Battery Tender Question.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
Likes: 82
From: Brampton Ont.
Battery Tender Question.
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.
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.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 750
Likes: 180
From: Springfield Missouri
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
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Extreme-Max-...item419f9ab030
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 676
Likes: 36
From: Usa
Battery Tender
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.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,232
Likes: 1,232
From: PHX AZ
perpetual motion machine
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
PS...why was this a question?
Next proposed 'poll'. "Do you put the air IN your tires or just on the outside?" LOL
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 674
Likes: 235
From: Louisville Kentucky
2023 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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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!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 750
Likes: 180
From: Springfield Missouri
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.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
Likes: 82
From: Brampton Ont.
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?
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?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 579
From: Pittsburgh PA
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.
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.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
Likes: 82
From: Brampton Ont.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,734
Likes: 2,582
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.
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.
Last edited by MelWff; Oct 5, 2017 at 01:25 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 205
Likes: 15
From: East Greenwich NJ
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!
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!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
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.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
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
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