Battery Tender Question
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 3
From: Southern NH
Page 6-32 inthe Owners Manual (2000):
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or more, remove the black, negative (-) cable from the battery. This will help keep your battery from running down.
This is due to the norman parasitic drains of the various computers in the car. The Battery Tender will prevent the battery from draining.
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or more, remove the black, negative (-) cable from the battery. This will help keep your battery from running down.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
Originally Posted by HD Rider
Are there any issues with disconnecting the battery cables for a couple of minutes while attaching the battery tender yoke wires, such as needing to reconfigure some of the computer settings, etc?
there will not be a problem. you will not even lose your radio stations...
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
The BATTERY TENDER PLUS maintenance chargers each come with two types of connectors for the battery. They're fused leads about 12" long with a male/female quick disconnect which connects to the BATTERY TENDER PLUS.
There is a lead with alligator clips to connect to the battery terminals and a lead with ring terminals. I selected the ring terminals for my '04 Z16. I just removed the battery cable nuts under the red/black plastic insulators to attach the ring terminals. On another car, I use the alligator clip lead. Both stay on the cars when I disconnect the BATTERY TENDER PLUS.
There is a lead with alligator clips to connect to the battery terminals and a lead with ring terminals. I selected the ring terminals for my '04 Z16. I just removed the battery cable nuts under the red/black plastic insulators to attach the ring terminals. On another car, I use the alligator clip lead. Both stay on the cars when I disconnect the BATTERY TENDER PLUS.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 760
Likes: 251
From: MD
Battery Tender Jr. not safe?
Originally Posted by ronnie948
Get the regular battery tender. It is a little more expensive but much safer then the Jr. model. You can leave the regular hooked up for up to a year. It will reset if the electric goes out. It is pretty much fail safe as the Jr. is not.
I've had one on my '57 full time for 3 yrs. now, works great, and never a problem. Also plan to get another for my '04 unless there's an issue...
Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
...the BATTERY TENDER JR. is a three step maintenance charger, five year warranty @ $39.95. The BATTERY TENDER PLUS is a four step maintenance charger, ten year warranty @ $59.95. Look at their website, batterytender.com for the specifics.
I'm not sure myself why the BATTERY TENDER JR. would be considered "unsafe", but I've only used the BATTERY TENDER PLUS.
I'm not sure myself why the BATTERY TENDER JR. would be considered "unsafe", but I've only used the BATTERY TENDER PLUS.
Last edited by hotwheels57; Aug 22, 2006 at 04:23 PM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 409
Likes: 0
From: Albany NY
think about this
Ever notice how if you charge your cell phone every night regardless if it needs it or not that down the road it wont hold a charge? Some batteries develope a memory. Is this true with a car battery?
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 607
Likes: 9
From: Sandy Eggo, California
Originally Posted by Lightgomez
Has anyone else had any experience with Schumacher?
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,289
Likes: 129
From: Providence Forge, VA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
I have put my 99 on a battery tender whenever I know I'm not going to drive it the very next day. I know that's overkill but vettes are so inter-dependent on the various control modules, etc, that any drop in battery power seems to drive the systems crazy. The DIC throws all kinds of seemingly unrelated codes, etc, because of it. As a consequence, I'm still using original OEM battery (soon to be switched out as a precaution).
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 10
From: Monticello MN
Originally Posted by moserbe
I also use the battery tender plus during winter storage. I drive the car as much as possible in the spring, summer, and fall so the battery needs no assistance.
Same here. And, as general input to this thread, that Schmacher maintainer will work fine, BTW. The same with the Sears, I'm sure. No reason to spend big bucks. The Schumacher (I have two of them I purchased at Fleet Farm), have been working great for the past three years.
Ed
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 455
Likes: 11
From: Roanoke VA
Originally Posted by Lightgomez
Has anyone else had any experience with Schumacher?
Schumacher is the world's largest producer of battery chargers, they must be doing something right.
Don is also an avid hot rodder - 2 top fuel dragsters, 4 top fuel funny cars, 2 pro stock motorcycles and 2 pro stock cars. If you are into drag racing support other drag racers.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 710
Likes: 1
From: Fremont (Livin' On The Fault Line!) CA
Originally Posted by PARTS DESTROYER
Obviously by this question I don't have one. But am getting one today. Can you close the hood with the tender working or do you leave it up...
Just wondering 4 now..
Just wondering 4 now..
Works like a champ 
If you go with the Schumacher or some other brand, check and see if they provide a similar adapter.
Larry
Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
I know that a lot of people use the Delran Battery Tenders around here, but, have to keep in mind one thing these tenders don't do...keep the plates clean and free of sulfate crystals 
(that form from the sulfuric acid) that ultimately do in the battery over time. Plate sulfation occurs continuously over the life of a battery even as you charge it.
The only way to stop and reverse the process and keep the plates clean,is to use a charger with pulse technology to reverse the formation of these sultate crytals.
The only charger on the market that currently offers this technology is the VDC Electronics Battery MINDer Plus: http://www.vdcelectronics.com/batteryminder_12117.htm. Just a consideration if you all want to keep your batteries in tip top shape.
(that form from the sulfuric acid) that ultimately do in the battery over time. Plate sulfation occurs continuously over the life of a battery even as you charge it. The only way to stop and reverse the process and keep the plates clean,is to use a charger with pulse technology to reverse the formation of these sultate crytals.
The only charger on the market that currently offers this technology is the VDC Electronics Battery MINDer Plus: http://www.vdcelectronics.com/batteryminder_12117.htm. Just a consideration if you all want to keep your batteries in tip top shape.
Last edited by peter p; Aug 24, 2006 at 08:09 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
...I'll repeat what I've mentioned in the past. I know this discussion isn't about OPTIMA batteries, but it's the only battery I'll use in any of my personal cars as well as my past "company" vehicles.
I participated in testing of the OPTIMA red top batteries provided by the manufacturer to my employer, prior to their availability to the general public. I've always used a DELTRAN BATTERY TENDER PLUS on the OPTIMA batteries I've personally owned. I've never used a BATTERY TENDER PLUS on any oem lead acid batteries. I used to replace those batteries every two years in AZ climate.
The longest lasting OPTIMA battery I had was seven years before I sold that '55 210 sedan hotrod to another party. To my knowledge the owner of that car is still using the same OPTIMA battery with a BATTERY TENDER PLUS which I recommended to him.
I participated in testing of the OPTIMA red top batteries provided by the manufacturer to my employer, prior to their availability to the general public. I've always used a DELTRAN BATTERY TENDER PLUS on the OPTIMA batteries I've personally owned. I've never used a BATTERY TENDER PLUS on any oem lead acid batteries. I used to replace those batteries every two years in AZ climate.
The longest lasting OPTIMA battery I had was seven years before I sold that '55 210 sedan hotrod to another party. To my knowledge the owner of that car is still using the same OPTIMA battery with a BATTERY TENDER PLUS which I recommended to him.
Last edited by hotwheels57; Aug 24, 2006 at 06:01 PM.
