Battery tender?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,304
Likes: 154
From: Green Bay WI
Originally Posted by Vette_Fan
Anyone wanna share the "exact" instructions on how to use it, and what exactly it does..... Looks like a nice gadget to me 
Pretty simple. Hook it up to your battery terminals, and plug it in to a regular 110 outlet. You can use it with the battery in the car or out of the car. I leave my battery in the car, and set the tender on a block on the garage floor beside the Vette.
The tender monitors the strength of the battery and gives it some juice when it needs it. It also has a light which changes to red when it is charging, green when everything is charged.
I only use mine when the Vette's in hibernation for the winter.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 453
Likes: 24
From: Central Ohio
2021 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
For those considering purchasing one, if you don't want to connect directly to the battery terminals, there is an optional connection cord you can purchase allowing you to connect through the cigarette lighter. I started using mine that way last winter and it works great.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Battery Float charger from Harbor Freight..... under $10.
It does exactly the same thing as the expensive ones above....
The micro chip adjusts the charge rate to match the actual drain...
You can pay a lot more but not get any better IMHO
It does exactly the same thing as the expensive ones above....
The micro chip adjusts the charge rate to match the actual drain...
You can pay a lot more but not get any better IMHO
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,219
Likes: 1
From: Somerset Co, NJ
I've heard only the original "Battery Tender" brand is good, and some of the cheapies have been known to explode.
BTW Are they really neccessary? When I had my C4, I had it parked outside, and if I started it up evry 2-3 weeks during the winter, it started right up, and no problems, voltage good. Just asking...
BTW Are they really neccessary? When I had my C4, I had it parked outside, and if I started it up evry 2-3 weeks during the winter, it started right up, and no problems, voltage good. Just asking...
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 0
From: monroeville pa
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Originally Posted by sailohio
What is the Battery Tender of choice? I'm putting her away for the winter. I need to get one.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
Likes: 58
From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
If you leave them hooked to 110 AC all the time, how do you close the hood, or do you leave it unlocked ? Personally, I don't feel comfortable having a AC wire connected to my car ALL the time for 6 months. But thanks for the info..
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Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Morris iL
Originally Posted by Vette_Fan
If you leave them hooked to 110 AC all the time, how do you close the hood, or do you leave it unlocked ? Personally, I don't feel comfortable having a AC wire connected to my car ALL the time for 6 months. But thanks for the info..
RVETTE
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 0
From: monroeville pa
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Originally Posted by Vette_Fan
If you leave them hooked to 110 AC all the time, how do you close the hood, or do you leave it unlocked ? Personally, I don't feel comfortable having a AC wire connected to my car ALL the time for 6 months. But thanks for the info..
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,675
Likes: 58
From: Hayward (Bay Area) CA
Originally Posted by charlene
I open my hood cover the whole car with a car cover and the open hood with sheets and my engine bay with sheets but i leave the battery area uncovered i plug in the battery tender plus and that's it don't worry about leaving the wires connected for 6 months most of the forum members do this and their is no problems unless your car is stored outside is your car outside for the whole winter?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,308
Likes: 1
From: The Beautiful Greater Bay Area California
Originally Posted by JDs00PewterCoupe
I just bought a Battery Tender Plus - nice unit and comes with a 10 year guarantee. It replaced a Sears Diehard battery maintainer that went out in less than 2 years.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 0
From: monroeville pa
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Originally Posted by Vette_Fan
My car's stored in the garage, with a car cover over it. This is the first year I've had it, and the first time I'll be storing it. That's why I was asking such questions. First of all I don't like cords hanging in and out of the car like that. Even if there's space to stick the entire Tender under the hood, I just don't like the idea of having the car HOOKED up to AC (constantly) for next 6 months. I wonder if there's another way of doing this. I'd like to keep the battery in working order, but not keep it plugged to AC constantly. Normally, I'd disconnect the Negative (Black) wire from the battery when storing. But I'm afraid that in "this" case, I might get computer error codes, or lock my stereo. I'm open to hearing suggestions....
