Battery Tender vs. doing nothing
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: East Aurora, NY, USA
Battery Tender vs. doing nothing
Ok, I'm not up on all the pros and cons of battery maintaince during storage, however for the price of a battery tender would it really pay for it self over time? A battery only last so long anyways. I have new 2002 vert and want to do the right thing for the money. Please give me advice as to how to store giving me reasons why.......I don't mind spending money, but I would like to know I'm doing the right thing.....Thanks :confused:
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 17,710
Likes: 1,219
From: Phila PA, Bonita Springs FL
Re: Battery Tender vs. doing nothing (mrspice)
Well, you know all about the C5's constant at rest draw, so if your car will sit for more than say 2 weeks at a time, I would definitely keep some type of trickle charger on it.
Even with my Optima Yellow top battery, if I'm not gonna drive my car for a while, or if I go on vacation, the Battery Tender gets hooked up.
Even with my Optima Yellow top battery, if I'm not gonna drive my car for a while, or if I go on vacation, the Battery Tender gets hooked up.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 959
Likes: 2
From: Hartford CT
Re: Battery Tender vs. doing nothing (mrspice)
I don't drive mine in the winter and two weeks in storage is normal. You shouldn't have any problems with this amount of inactivity.
After two weeks I take a short drive or let it idle in the driveway for 10-15 minutes. Works fine for me.
After two weeks I take a short drive or let it idle in the driveway for 10-15 minutes. Works fine for me.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 455
Likes: 7
From: Peoria AZ
Re: Battery Tender vs. doing nothing (mrspice)
I have been storing my vettes ('98 and '01) since '98, generally for 6 months. I cannot see having a live electrical source on in the garage...unattended for that period of time. If you disconnect the POS (+) terminal when you store, in all likelyhood the battery will perform when you reconnect it, even after 6 months and your programming remains (radio, memory, etc.). After hearing the many horror stories about ACDelco batteries, I would suggest you change to a AGM type (Optima/Interstate Orbital). By the way, if you do nothing the non-AGM battery will probably lose its charge in 2-4 weeks and if it does, it will not fully recover a full charge and may die when you least expect it. My $.02. :)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,205
Likes: 40
From: Tucson AZ
Re: Battery Tender vs. doing nothing (mrspice)
Get the "Tender" and use it. Cheap way to keep the battery up (I use it if we are not using the car for more than a week. When not in use on the car, it keeps my camper battery happy. Does a great job. :smash:
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,932
Likes: 20
From: Welland Ontario
Re: Battery Tender vs. doing nothing (mrspice)
Left my battery tender on from last December to April 1st, didn't even bother to go look at & everything worked perfectly during the spring when I brought it home.Also during the summer, if I'm going to be away for more than a week without using the Vette I hook up the Tender. Probably saves the alternator in the long run. Good Luck!!
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Naperville IL
Re: Battery Tender vs. doing nothing (mrspice)
I bought this one from ecklers. It monitors and charges when appropriate. Doesn't stay on like some tricklers. And for only 49.99!!!!
Hope this helps, JAM
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1110
[Modified by C54LIFE, 9:55 PM 11/3/2001]
Hope this helps, JAM
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1110
[Modified by C54LIFE, 9:55 PM 11/3/2001]
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Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: East Aurora, NY, USA
Re: Battery Tender vs. doing nothing (C54LIFE)
Thanks everyone....I have decided to do the battery tender......I found one in Autozone for 24.99....it's a 1.5 amp Automatic Maintainer made by Schumacher. Can any electrical engineer or someone with this knowledge, tell me if this one is fine or should I go with the extra bucks and get the "Tender"? :crazy:
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Re: Battery Tender vs. doing nothing (mrspice)
If it's the one that is square and has a red and green light, I used that one for years on my C4 and it works very well. I got mine from Wal Mart at the time but now they have their own name on it and I don't know if they changed the quality. Thanks for the tip, will check Autozone.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: East Aurora, NY, USA
Re: Battery Tender vs. doing nothing (vettenuts)
After asking the question about the cheaper battery Tender/Maintainer I have been researching the issue. I have the new AGM battery in my 2002 vert. If you have this technology you want the "Tender Plus", NOT the cheaper ones. Here is a link where I order from......... http://www.tucmoto.com/cgi-bin/store...SPECIAL-STREET
Best deal I found.....Thanks for your help all! :cheers:
Best deal I found.....Thanks for your help all! :cheers:
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: Slidell, La. USA
Re: Battery Tender vs. doing nothing (mrspice)
I have the Delray Battery Tender on the Vette and the Stealth.
The charge rate during the first few minutes of driving is noticably less after using the Battery Tenders.
Two years use on the Vette, no problems.
The charge rate during the first few minutes of driving is noticably less after using the Battery Tenders.
Two years use on the Vette, no problems.
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 405
Likes: 1
From: Dallas
Re: Battery Tender vs. doing nothing (mrspice)
I have used one of these $15 units on an old Camaro for years with great success:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42292
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42292
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Naperville IL
Re: Battery Tender vs. doing nothing (mrspice)
Mr Spice
No thats not bad same as mine around 8 bucks...
Maybe this will save a few members some money.
Although I can try to justify the added 10 bucks by using a forum vendor which keeps this website going..... :cheers:
No thats not bad same as mine around 8 bucks...
Maybe this will save a few members some money.
Although I can try to justify the added 10 bucks by using a forum vendor which keeps this website going..... :cheers:
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: East Aurora, NY, USA
Re: Battery Tender vs. doing nothing (C54LIFE)
C54LIFE...
nothing wrong with that, but lets create competition...it's good for America!
And good for everyone on this Forum! :cheers:
nothing wrong with that, but lets create competition...it's good for America!
And good for everyone on this Forum! :cheers:
