HF cheap battery tender.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 386
From: Chandler AZ
Had to put the AE in storage for a couple of months. When I went to retrieve veh the battery was almost dead. Was just enough charge left to start engine. When started the charging system sent a current spike burning out the abs module. My friends at ABSFixer are repairing the module.
To maintain the battery charge, I picked a Schumacher battery maintainer at Walmart. 750 mah output with a green led for charging, red when backwards, and off when fully charged. A very long cord with colored alligator clips to connect.
Works great, well worth the 10 bucks!
To maintain the battery charge, I picked a Schumacher battery maintainer at Walmart. 750 mah output with a green led for charging, red when backwards, and off when fully charged. A very long cord with colored alligator clips to connect.
Works great, well worth the 10 bucks!
Sounds like a good product.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 847
From: Rotonda West, FL 2015 Z51 M7 3LT
Oldtimer
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 386
From: Chandler AZ
This is good information and reviews on all brands of tender type chargers, I have not and will not use the HF tender on the C5, just the battery for my 1965 Chevy pickup, and it's not even in the pickup, just charge for a day or two, then remove.
I will buy Battery Tender junior for C5, and the old pickup to leave on for long periods of time.
Does battery tender Jr show when charging, and when it's in standby or non charging mode?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 847
From: Rotonda West, FL 2015 Z51 M7 3LT
Oldtimer
The Plus will charge batteries at a faster rate than the Jr. How much faster? Don't know. I've used the Plus's from my RV days when I had banks of HUGE 12V cells. I *think* that's about the only difference between the Jr and Plus, if not I'm sure others will chime in.
What does the plus offer over the junior?
This is good information and reviews on all brands of tender type chargers, I have not and will not use the HF tender on the C5, just the battery for my 1965 Chevy pickup, and it's not even in the pickup, just charge for a day or two, then remove.
I will buy Battery Tender junior for C5, and the old pickup to leave on for long periods of time.
Does battery tender Jr show when charging, and when it's in standby or non charging mode?
What does the plus offer over the junior?
This is good information and reviews on all brands of tender type chargers, I have not and will not use the HF tender on the C5, just the battery for my 1965 Chevy pickup, and it's not even in the pickup, just charge for a day or two, then remove.
I will buy Battery Tender junior for C5, and the old pickup to leave on for long periods of time.
Does battery tender Jr show when charging, and when it's in standby or non charging mode?
Last edited by calvins; Aug 13, 2018 at 11:53 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 343
From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
I'm not pushing HF, but you do not need a 3 step smart charger if all you want is a trickle charger or "battery Maintainer" to keep you battery topped up. With the small amount of current these things put out you will never overcharge or damage your battery, you can leave them plugged in and connected forever.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 452
Likes: 159
From: Port Charlotte Florida
agreed
I'm not pushing HF, but you do not need a 3 step smart charger if all you want is a trickle charger or "battery Maintainer" to keep you battery topped up. With the small amount of current these things put out you will never overcharge or damage your battery, you can leave them plugged in and connected forever.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 12,466
Likes: 886
From: Fort Wayne IN
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
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Had to put the AE in storage for a couple of months. When I went to retrieve veh the battery was almost dead. Was just enough charge left to start engine. When started the charging system sent a current spike burning out the abs module. My friends at ABSFixer are repairing the module.
To maintain the battery charge, I picked a Schumacher battery maintainer at Walmart. 750 mah output with a green led for charging, red when backwards, and off when fully charged. A very long cord with colored alligator clips to connect.
Works great, well worth the 10 bucks!
To maintain the battery charge, I picked a Schumacher battery maintainer at Walmart. 750 mah output with a green led for charging, red when backwards, and off when fully charged. A very long cord with colored alligator clips to connect.
Works great, well worth the 10 bucks!
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 452
Likes: 159
From: Port Charlotte Florida
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 343
From: Shell Point (Crawfordville) Florida
Have to disagree with you - if you spent $20 instead of $5, you overpaid.
But at least that's not as bad as spending $50 or more for something that accomplishes exactly the same thing as the $5 one.
But at least that's not as bad as spending $50 or more for something that accomplishes exactly the same thing as the $5 one.
Last edited by mrlmd; Aug 14, 2018 at 01:42 PM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 399
Likes: 31
Over the years ive read alot of storys about cheap $5--from fires to burning computers in cars--i wouldnt trust those cheapies on my lawn mower==They are a POSh--t
Racer
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 399
Likes: 31
Racer
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 452
Likes: 159
From: Port Charlotte Florida
overpriced
The 10 dollar schumacher battery maintainer is a smart charger with circuit protectors.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 386
From: Chandler AZ
I took the battery to the same O'reilly that said it was bad September 2017, they said it's good today. 😎
I don't know how much the 5 dollar charger had to do with that, but I don't regret buying it.
For the way I charge batteries (not while hooked up to car) it works good, if it breaks, I've gotten value out of it.
I don't know how much the 5 dollar charger had to do with that, but I don't regret buying it.
For the way I charge batteries (not while hooked up to car) it works good, if it breaks, I've gotten value out of it.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 399
Likes: 31
Most storys are alot worse--if you want a $5 piece of S--t for a charger-maintainer--you must pull up a chair next to the battery-- babysit and sniff for smoke--24/7