Battery Tender?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,133
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From: Ponderables, yes. My opinion, not totally. Preaching...I don't have a pulpit. Fact and generalizations about what I am reading on behalf of what you tell me...absolutely.
Battery Tender?
Snow on ground already...looks like it is going to be a long winter. 
Never used a battery tender before...which one does anyone recommend? Price?
I always drove the car through the winter, but with this early snow, don't think it will be an option for a little while (more snow on way tomorrow).
Never used a battery tender before...which one does anyone recommend? Price?
I always drove the car through the winter, but with this early snow, don't think it will be an option for a little while (more snow on way tomorrow).
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 375
Likes: 0
From: Montreal Drive it like you test it !
There are two type of battery tender. The first one, including solar system, does not stop when battery is full. Since the C5 drains less than 30 milliamps, this type of charger can over charge the battery. I recommend a battery tender that stops when battery is full and automatically restart when required.
Last edited by vette747; Dec 7, 2005 at 04:38 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
There are a lot of these things on the market right now and some of them are very cheap. Some are cheap for a good reason… they're nothing but a small battery charger. If cheap is your goal, this is the way to go, but you owe it to yourself to verify the features of the unit.
The following are things you should look for and expect in a charger you will be leaving connected and unattended for extended periods of time. If it isn't in the writing, it probably isn't there and might explain the cheaper price.
1. Charger/Maintainer - it charges the battery and turns itself off when the battery reaches full charge, monitors the voltage and turns itself back on if the battery drops below a certain level.
2. Conditioner - desulphates the battery…
"Every element known to man has a magnetic moment at a resonant frequency ie, a point at which the chemical bonds that hold the molecules together to form a crystal can be broken. Sulphation, the number one cause of early battery failure, is simply crystals of lead sulphate (PbSO4) which have formed on the lead storage plates in a lead-acid type battery.
When a battery is used over time, improperly charged (over/under) or allowed to self discharge (as occurs during storage/non-use), these crystals build up on the battery's storage plates. This prevents the battery from ever again being fully charged and able to deliver their full power/capacity. "
3. It should also be polarity, short circuit and temperature protected.
The bottom line is you can get all of these features for less than $50, and the safety of your vehicle and home as well as peace of mind, ought to be worth that much. Deltran and BatteryMINDer are just two that have these features.
By the way, never charge a frozen battery or one that is over 120 degrees F.
Good luck with your decision… GUSTO
The following are things you should look for and expect in a charger you will be leaving connected and unattended for extended periods of time. If it isn't in the writing, it probably isn't there and might explain the cheaper price.
1. Charger/Maintainer - it charges the battery and turns itself off when the battery reaches full charge, monitors the voltage and turns itself back on if the battery drops below a certain level.
2. Conditioner - desulphates the battery…
"Every element known to man has a magnetic moment at a resonant frequency ie, a point at which the chemical bonds that hold the molecules together to form a crystal can be broken. Sulphation, the number one cause of early battery failure, is simply crystals of lead sulphate (PbSO4) which have formed on the lead storage plates in a lead-acid type battery.
When a battery is used over time, improperly charged (over/under) or allowed to self discharge (as occurs during storage/non-use), these crystals build up on the battery's storage plates. This prevents the battery from ever again being fully charged and able to deliver their full power/capacity. "
3. It should also be polarity, short circuit and temperature protected.
The bottom line is you can get all of these features for less than $50, and the safety of your vehicle and home as well as peace of mind, ought to be worth that much. Deltran and BatteryMINDer are just two that have these features.
By the way, never charge a frozen battery or one that is over 120 degrees F.
Good luck with your decision… GUSTO
Last edited by GUSTO14; Dec 5, 2005 at 03:23 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Originally Posted by tiojames
Check Harbor Freight- thet have one with the late technology to only supply battery with what it needs. Cost is $10. 
GUSTO
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
this is the one to buy.... at Harbor Freight. I have two and bought two fo rmy brother.... they work great!
AUTOMATIC BATTERY FLOAT CHARGER
Skip the aggravation of a jump-start by keeping your vehicle's battery fully charged. Use on 12V batteries while in storage or during cold weather. The floating circuit maintains a full charge without overcharging. Includes automatic safety shut off.
Leads: 10 ft. overall length
ITEM 42292-1VGA $7.49
AUTOMATIC BATTERY FLOAT CHARGER
Skip the aggravation of a jump-start by keeping your vehicle's battery fully charged. Use on 12V batteries while in storage or during cold weather. The floating circuit maintains a full charge without overcharging. Includes automatic safety shut off.
Leads: 10 ft. overall length
ITEM 42292-1VGA $7.49
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Originally Posted by rws.1
...AUTOMATIC BATTERY FLOAT CHARGER
Skip the aggravation of a jump-start by keeping your vehicle's battery fully charged. Use on 12V batteries while in storage or during cold weather. The floating circuit maintains a full charge without overcharging. Includes automatic safety shut off.
Leads: 10 ft. overall length
ITEM 42292-1VGA $7.49
Skip the aggravation of a jump-start by keeping your vehicle's battery fully charged. Use on 12V batteries while in storage or during cold weather. The floating circuit maintains a full charge without overcharging. Includes automatic safety shut off.
Leads: 10 ft. overall length
ITEM 42292-1VGA $7.49
By the way, the Solar Charger does come in handy for keeping a battery charged without running power to the vehicle, I have one for that purpose. But alas they don't desulfate either. As I mentioned earlier, you can get all the features I listed for under $50 (~$39.99)... but not in a $10 one.
GUSTO
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 10
From: Monticello MN
Originally Posted by cebars
Thanks for the info re desulfating ability. What make and model of battery tender are you using?
What he is discussing in this thread appears to not be the ability to de-sulphate, but to ensure the battery does not sulphate during storage by keeping battery voltage proper and constant during storage without continuous charging....big difference.
Fleet Farm sell maintainers for $20-25. They work great. I've never had a battery failure, either on my boats, or C5, and those batteries are placed on these every winter, all winter.
Ed
Last edited by C5XTASY; Dec 7, 2005 at 07:18 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 61
From: Fort Wayne IN
Originally Posted by rws.1
this is the one to buy.... at Harbor Freight. I have two and bought two fo rmy brother.... they work great!
AUTOMATIC BATTERY FLOAT CHARGER
Skip the aggravation of a jump-start by keeping your vehicle's battery fully charged. Use on 12V batteries while in storage or during cold weather. The floating circuit maintains a full charge without overcharging. Includes automatic safety shut off.
Leads: 10 ft. overall length
ITEM 42292-1VGA $7.49
AUTOMATIC BATTERY FLOAT CHARGER
Skip the aggravation of a jump-start by keeping your vehicle's battery fully charged. Use on 12V batteries while in storage or during cold weather. The floating circuit maintains a full charge without overcharging. Includes automatic safety shut off.
Leads: 10 ft. overall length
ITEM 42292-1VGA $7.49
I've got 2 myself. Harbor Freight had them on sale last week for an amazing low price of $5. These are floaters and do shut off.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,802
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From: monroeville pa
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Originally Posted by lioninavette
Snow on ground already...looks like it is going to be a long winter.
Never used a battery tender before...which one does anyone recommend? Price?
I always drove the car through the winter, but with this early snow, don't think it will be an option for a little while (more snow on way tomorrow).
Never used a battery tender before...which one does anyone recommend? Price?
I always drove the car through the winter, but with this early snow, don't think it will be an option for a little while (more snow on way tomorrow).
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 50,808
Likes: 10
From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
Originally Posted by GUSTO14
There are a lot of these things on the market right now and some of them are very cheap. Some are cheap for a good reason… they're nothing but a small battery charger. If cheap is your goal, this is the way to go, but you owe it to yourself to verify the features of the unit.
The following are things you should look for and expect in a charger you will be leaving connected and unattended for extended periods of time. If it isn't in the writing, it probably isn't there and might explain the cheaper price.
1. Charger/Maintainer - it charges the battery and turns itself off when the battery reaches full charge, monitors the voltage and turns itself back on if the battery drops below a certain level.
2. Conditioner - desulphates the battery…
"Every element known to man has a magnetic moment at a resonant frequency ie, a point at which the chemical bonds that hold the molecules together to form a crystal can be broken. Sulphation, the number one cause of early battery failure, is simply crystals of lead sulphate (PbSO4) which have formed on the lead storage plates in a lead-acid type battery.
When a battery is used over time, improperly charged (over/under) or allowed to self discharge (as occurs during storage/non-use), these crystals build up on the battery's storage plates. This prevents the battery from ever again being fully charged and able to deliver their full power/capacity. "
3. It should also be polarity, short circuit and temperature protected.
The bottom line is you can get all of these features for less than $50, and the safety of your vehicle and home as well as peace of mind, ought to be worth that much. Deltran and BatteryMINDer are just two that have these features.
By the way, never charge a frozen battery or one that is over 120 degrees F.
Good luck with your decision… GUSTO
The following are things you should look for and expect in a charger you will be leaving connected and unattended for extended periods of time. If it isn't in the writing, it probably isn't there and might explain the cheaper price.
1. Charger/Maintainer - it charges the battery and turns itself off when the battery reaches full charge, monitors the voltage and turns itself back on if the battery drops below a certain level.
2. Conditioner - desulphates the battery…
"Every element known to man has a magnetic moment at a resonant frequency ie, a point at which the chemical bonds that hold the molecules together to form a crystal can be broken. Sulphation, the number one cause of early battery failure, is simply crystals of lead sulphate (PbSO4) which have formed on the lead storage plates in a lead-acid type battery.
When a battery is used over time, improperly charged (over/under) or allowed to self discharge (as occurs during storage/non-use), these crystals build up on the battery's storage plates. This prevents the battery from ever again being fully charged and able to deliver their full power/capacity. "
3. It should also be polarity, short circuit and temperature protected.
The bottom line is you can get all of these features for less than $50, and the safety of your vehicle and home as well as peace of mind, ought to be worth that much. Deltran and BatteryMINDer are just two that have these features.
By the way, never charge a frozen battery or one that is over 120 degrees F.
Good luck with your decision… GUSTO
Just ordered two at Battery mart 29 ea and 6 bucks shipping. I wouldn't go for a 5 dollar charger as the store needs to make money on it and the manufacturer does so what is the actual cost 2 bucks. Deltran has 5 year warranty also. Pep Boys was 40 bucks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Originally Posted by John Shiels
Just ordered two at Battery mart 29 ea and 6 bucks shipping. I wouldn't go for a 5 dollar charger as the store needs to make money on it and the manufacturer does so what is the actual cost 2 bucks. Deltran has 5 year warranty also. Pep Boys was 40 bucks
http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?p=DEL-021-0128
... it's $43.95
The Battery MINDer that has the desulphation capability is this one...
http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?p=VDC-12112
... it's $39.90... it's the one I have.
Deltran makes a good Charger/Maintainer regardless.
Good luck... GUSTO
