? Battery tender
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: O'Neill (Home of St. Pat's Weekend) NE
? Battery tender
OK this might be a dumb question but, Can you unplug a tender from the car and leave it plugged in to the wall and not hurt the tender? I used the search and all I found was to leave it on the battery and not to worry but no mention of leaving it plugged in. My tender is mounted on the ceiling so I won't unplug it if I don't have to.
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OK this might be a dumb question but, Can you unplug a tender from the car and leave it plugged in to the wall and not hurt the tender? I used the search and all I found was to leave it on the battery and not to worry but no mention of leaving it plugged in. My tender is mounted on the ceiling so I won't unplug it if I don't have to.
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When I disconnect my battery tended from the battery, I always unplug it from the wall also. Just a habit I got into as I don't see a need to have it plugged in when not connected to the battery.
Drifting
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From: Long Island New York
I have the battery tender and it is also plugged into the ceiling, I leave it plugged in all the time, I disconnect the connection between battery clips and the unit so it does not come in contact with metal.
I know the sears battery tender states on the box that you must unplug the unit or risk burning it out, I know someone who had his Sears tender fail because of this.
I know the sears battery tender states on the box that you must unplug the unit or risk burning it out, I know someone who had his Sears tender fail because of this.
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: O'Neill (Home of St. Pat's Weekend) NE
Thanks for all the replies and the general thinking is that it "might" shorten the life of the tender or (burn down the house?), it also seems that it is possible that it will not do "anything". Again THANKS FOR THE REPLIES! 
Drifting
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OK this might be a dumb question but, Can you unplug a tender from the car and leave it plugged in to the wall and not hurt the tender? I used the search and all I found was to leave it on the battery and not to worry but no mention of leaving it plugged in. My tender is mounted on the ceiling so I won't unplug it if I don't have to.
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From: Kelowna BC
My opinion... if you've gone to the trouble of ceiling hanging a charger, do a bit more work and create a way to unplug it. It's an active electrical device (creating electricity/heat), I wouldn't leave it plugged in without being hooked up.
Run a cord to a wall outlet, run a remote plug switch...
Your choice.
Run a cord to a wall outlet, run a remote plug switch...
Your choice.
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I have a Battery Tender Junior plugged into a ceiling outlet above my C5 and I use the supplied end with ring terminals. The positive terminal is connected to the B+ post on the side of the fuse box and the ground terminal is connected to the ground post on the frame rail by the battery.
The Tender has been plugged in for over 5 years now ans still works fine. I usually connect the Tender to the car if I won't be driving it for a week or more. I don't think there is any problem with leaving this brand of maintainer plugged in to 120v power when not in use.
The Tender has been plugged in for over 5 years now ans still works fine. I usually connect the Tender to the car if I won't be driving it for a week or more. I don't think there is any problem with leaving this brand of maintainer plugged in to 120v power when not in use.
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I've had my Battery Tender Jr plugged into the wall for several years now, no issues. Just make sure the ends/clamps are in a safe place without risk of touching metal or each other.
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From: Long Island New York
If you think about it....
I also have a better tender on my house generator, I start that about 5 times a year, the rest of the time it is plugged in.
These are made to be plugged in 24/7 and when they fail, you buy a new one.
I learned the hard way with the generator and had to buy a new batter at $75.00 6 months or so after I replaced it.
I also have a better tender on my house generator, I start that about 5 times a year, the rest of the time it is plugged in.
These are made to be plugged in 24/7 and when they fail, you buy a new one.
I learned the hard way with the generator and had to buy a new batter at $75.00 6 months or so after I replaced it.
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You're always going to draw some current if it is plugged in whether it's charging the battery or not. You might want to feel the body of the charger after it's "idled" for some time to make sure it's not hot. If so, you should definitely unplug it between uses.
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I don't think it a problem, but it is an open circuit , and should be considered as such, at least by me, so I would unplug, or de-energize the circuit.
I didn't think about any riskalong those lines until I was getting some electrical help over the phone. He mentioned the possible risk to the car , how he would never leave a battery tender hooked up to the car.
I apply the same thinking to the wall circuit. The risk is very low, but the loss could be high. Anything without a switch, I unplug, in case of fire. I think it also is a recommended policy, cutting parasitic loss nationwide reduces consumption.
I didn't think about any riskalong those lines until I was getting some electrical help over the phone. He mentioned the possible risk to the car , how he would never leave a battery tender hooked up to the car.
I apply the same thinking to the wall circuit. The risk is very low, but the loss could be high. Anything without a switch, I unplug, in case of fire. I think it also is a recommended policy, cutting parasitic loss nationwide reduces consumption.