Battery tender starting..

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Jan 1, 2007 | 12:32 PM

bdvdvh7

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Burning Brakes

Joined: Oct 2004

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From: Pittsburgh Pirates PA

Battery tender starting..

Happy New Year to all.

Is it okay to start the car with a battery tender still connected to the battery? Or should the clips be removed before I start it?

Jan 1, 2007 | 12:43 PM

trulytex

Burning Brakes

Joined: Apr 2006

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From: Okeechobee FL

It shouldn't matter either way, but I would unhook the tender just for safety. It doesn't produce enough amperage to help start tha car if it is a true battery tender - 1/2 - 2 Amps.

Jan 1, 2007 | 02:52 PM

topgunvette

Melting Slicks

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i usually disconnect my tender before i start my car although don't do it for any paritcular reason im sure it would be fine even if it was still connected... its just that once i forgot it was plugged it and it got dragged along with the car

Jan 1, 2007 | 09:46 PM

jfb

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From: Cincinnati, Oh USA

Electrically it won't matter.

Jan 1, 2007 | 10:35 PM

AGENT 86

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From: Summerland B.C. Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by vancityguy

I know an idiot that did just that, fortunately i noticed before i left the driveway.

Jan 1, 2007 | 10:55 PM

white96

Heel & Toe

Joined: Jan 2005

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I always unplug mine before I start it, just to be on the safe side.

Jan 1, 2007 | 10:58 PM

j3studio

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From: Philadelphia Burbs

Cruise-In V Veteran

St. Jude Donor '06

Quote:

Originally Posted by vancityguy

I usually disconnect my tender before I start my car although don't do it for any particular reason I'm sure it would be fine even if it was still connected ... its just that once I forgot it was plugged it and it got dragged along with the car.

Jan 2, 2007 | 08:09 PM

topgunvette

Melting Slicks

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Quote:

Originally Posted by AGENT 86

I know an idiot that did just that, fortunately i noticed before i left the driveway.

my tender got all busted up so back in the box it went and back to canadian tire for a exchange

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Jan 2, 2007 | 08:13 PM

Perfusion

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From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero

I use a tender on my other car that only sees weekend duty, and I've started the car before with it hooked up - no problems...

Jan 2, 2007 | 08:24 PM

#10

Road Agent

Drifting

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jfb

Electrically it won't matter.

Jan 2, 2007 | 08:27 PM

#11

AGENT 86

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From: Summerland B.C. Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by vancityguy

my tender got all busted up so back in the box it went and back to canadian tire for a exchange

Mine stayed in place but pulled the cord out of the wall. When i saw the cord flying, i knew i had done something stupid.

Jan 2, 2007 | 10:06 PM

#12

eschoendorff

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From: Director of Bands

St. Jude Donor '08

I just did this today.... unplugged the battery tender and started the car. I even remembered to take the plastic off the exhaust tips first. What I forgot to do, though, was take the moth ***** out of the engine bay. I put some moth ***** in a pair of old socks and stick these in the engine bay to kep "wire-chewers" out. Problem is, taht if you start the car and forget to take them out, your garage will stink to high heaven for a bit!

Jan 3, 2007 | 12:23 AM

#13

jfb

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Joined: Mar 2001

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From: Cincinnati, Oh USA

Next time don't put them on the exhaust manifold!

Jan 3, 2007 | 12:29 AM

#14

bldavis11

Burning Brakes

Joined: Aug 2005

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From: Portsmouth VA

The tender only adds charge when needed. I have forgotten the threshold voltage. Either way, the charge it delivers is minimal (like 750 mA) for the normal car chargers.

Starting the car only puts a drain on the battery, so the worst that would happen is the battery tender switching on to recharge the battery. You would be putting an extra 750mA into the battery above what the alternator is recharging it with. No great shakes. It would take an amp of current for quite some time to boil the battery.

Jan 3, 2007 | 12:30 AM

#15

bldavis11

Burning Brakes

Joined: Aug 2005

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From: Portsmouth VA

As an aside, you can build your own battery tender with parts from Radio Shack for WAY less than the retail ones. You gotta be handy with little electrical parts though!

Jan 3, 2007 | 09:13 AM

#16

HeeHaw89

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Joined: Jan 2002

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From: Middle River MD

Quote:

Originally Posted by bldavis11

As an aside, you can build your own battery tender with parts from Radio Shack for WAY less than the retail ones. You gotta be handy with little electrical parts though!

Maybe true, but the $7 I paid for mine means less to me than the time to make my own. (Not that I would know how to anyway)

Jan 3, 2007 | 04:54 PM

#17

topgunvette

Melting Slicks

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Quote:

Originally Posted by HeeHaw89

Maybe true, but the $7 I paid for mine means less to me than the time to make my own. (Not that I would know how to anyway)

i paid like 50 bucks for mine!

http://canadiantire.ca/browse/produc...romSearch=true

Jan 3, 2007 | 10:46 PM

#18

eschoendorff

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From: Director of Bands

St. Jude Donor '08

Here ya go:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...444&pricetype=

I got three of them and they all work great.

Jan 3, 2007 | 10:48 PM

#19

trulytex

Burning Brakes

Joined: Apr 2006

Posts: 805

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From: Okeechobee FL

Solar Battery Chargers

Just FYI. They now have battery tenders that run off of a small pliable solar panel. No electricity needed. Very helpfull if you store your Vette or Boat in a barn or building without electricity. They are offered quite regularly in boating magazines & stores.

Jan 4, 2007 | 09:51 AM

#20

HeeHaw89

Drifting

Joined: Jan 2002

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From: Middle River MD

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschoendorff

Here ya go:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...444&pricetype=

I got three of them and they all work great.

That is what I referred to above...I have 2 and they work great.

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