Battery Tender Purchase Question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 62
From: New Madison Ohio
Battery Tender Purchase Question
I have read the reviews on both the cetek and the battery tenders and both seem to have favorable reviews. As always price is always a factor in everything. I was thinking about purchasing this battery tender for my optima red top battery in my 98 vette. I went out to start mine and the battery was dead. The battery showed no voltage, I charged it with another battery in parallel with my optima for an hour as per a you tube video by optima. The battery after an hour of charging showed a voltage reading of 12.1 volts. I will either take it off the charger around 11:00 tonight or leave it charge overnight (as per their video). Any opinions on this charger?
Deltran Battery Tender/.75 Amp 12 Volt 4 stage fully automatic microprocessor controlled Battery Tender junior battery charger.
Deltran Battery Tender/.75 Amp 12 Volt 4 stage fully automatic microprocessor controlled Battery Tender junior battery charger.
Last edited by DA1984VETTE; Jan 28, 2013 at 03:57 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque NM
I own 4 battery tender jrs; 1 for the vette, 1 for my GN which I switch off every now and then for a pair of RV batteries (in parallel), 1 for my F250 (pair of batteries also in parallel), and 1 to move back and forth between other "toys". I work out of town 2 weeks a month, which kills off the batteries in the Vette and the truck pretty quick. Before the battery tenders, the vette would go through a battery every year, this last battery made it 5.5 years. For less than $30 a piece shipped off the auction site, I really can't complain.
Can't comment on the Ctecs...
Can't comment on the Ctecs...
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 279
Likes: 20
From: Glendale Wisconsin
DA1984VETTE, I'm glad to hear the parallel charging technique successfully recovered your battery. As for chargers, I'm partial to our own, but there are plenty of good options on the market. The best chargers are microprocessor-controlled and will have specific settings for AGM batteries. “Gel” or “Gel/AGM” charger settings should be avoided, as they may not fully-charge non-gel batteries and could damage them over time. If you have any questions about our products, I'll do my best to answer them.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I had two battery tenders go up in smoke, one I thought had taken the car's computer out. Never again. And the first time it went up in smoke (literally, the smell was putrid) I sent it back under warranty since it was only a few months old, the cost for them to inspect and ship back was within a few dollars of the original purchase price. What a sham.
Have been using the CTEK ever since. My battery tenders (I still have two) are used for paper weights.
Have been using the CTEK ever since. My battery tenders (I still have two) are used for paper weights.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
CTEK is decent. I have 2 and dad has one. Unfortunately, dads quit working but he got a replacement free on the 3-year warranty. The only downside I can comment on is that if I connect it onto too large a battery it never goes into "tender" mode and keeps the high charging voltage (about 14.4V) on the battery which boils the battery.
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
CTEK is decent. I have 2 and dad has one. Unfortunately, dads quit working but he got a replacement free on the 3-year warranty. The only downside I can comment on is that if I connect it onto too large a battery it never goes into "tender" mode and keeps the high charging voltage (about 14.4V) on the battery which boils the battery.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
Well, the charger says up to 120Ah batteries. It's a big deep cycle battery rated maybe 160Ah or something like that. The battery is older and isn't in great shape I'm sure but it takes a charge. Still, the Ctek charger won't switch from the bulk charging to the maintain mode.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,923
Likes: 427
From: Dunedin Florida
I had two battery tenders go up in smoke, one I thought had taken the car's computer out. Never again. And the first time it went up in smoke (literally, the smell was putrid) I sent it back under warranty since it was only a few months old, the cost for them to inspect and ship back was within a few dollars of the original purchase price. What a sham.
Have been using the CTEK ever since. My battery tenders (I still have two) are used for paper weights.
Have been using the CTEK ever since. My battery tenders (I still have two) are used for paper weights.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 401
Likes: 40
Well, the charger says up to 120Ah batteries. It's a big deep cycle battery rated maybe 160Ah or something like that. The battery is older and isn't in great shape I'm sure but it takes a charge. Still, the Ctek charger won't switch from the bulk charging to the maintain mode.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 588
Likes: 1
From: Santa Ynez Ca.
I have used Schmuacher tenders for many years, cost about $40 at Auto Zone. Fully sealed and automatic. Check out their web site as they manufacture many different types of chargers and have info there on them all.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 401
Likes: 40
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 588
Likes: 1
From: Santa Ynez Ca.
Well just to be clear: I have 5 Schmuacher Model SE-1-12S connected full time to both my Corvette, Ford Lighting, motorcycle,JD tractor and Gator and both my lawn mowers. Never had a problem with overcharging as this model is the 1.5amp charger/maintainer. Maybe I've just been lucky! I'm sure that there are other good brands to choose from so just do your homework and choose one that fits your price point. But don't by a maintainer that charges at over 1.5amps and be sure it has a circuit that prevents it from overcharging. Then you should be OK.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville TN
The best chargers are microprocessor-controlled and will have specific settings for AGM batteries. “Gel” or “Gel/AGM” charger settings should be avoided, as they may not fully-charge non-gel batteries and could damage them over time. If you have any questions about our products, I'll do my best to answer them.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
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I have been using a Deltran Battery Tender Plus on my car for years. Works great in keeping the battery fully charged when the car is sitting for a while.
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 279
Likes: 20
From: Glendale Wisconsin
sereneDelusions, we've tested most of the popular models on the market and the recommendation from our engineers is to avoid any setting that references “gel,” even if it also says AGM. I don't know which chargers with those setting caused issues, but I know it was enough of an issue for some that they told us to steer folks clear of those settings entirely. You don't need to avoid the charger, just avoid using those settings in favor of regular lead-acid battery settings.
I've seen comprehensive recommended charger lists from other AGM battery manufacturers that read like VCR instructions and they'll void your warranty if your charger doesn't meet their requirements. We're not that strict with our warranty coverage, but folks should know bargain basket battery maintainers probably aren't worth their low prices. They tend not to have as many safeguards and may not properly regulate voltage or amperage.
We're confident enough in the performance of our chargers, that we add a year of warranty coverage on batteries purchased from us at the same time as the charger and we would encourage all Optima owners to leave our charger (and soon to be maintainer) connected to their battery as long as they like.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
I've seen comprehensive recommended charger lists from other AGM battery manufacturers that read like VCR instructions and they'll void your warranty if your charger doesn't meet their requirements. We're not that strict with our warranty coverage, but folks should know bargain basket battery maintainers probably aren't worth their low prices. They tend not to have as many safeguards and may not properly regulate voltage or amperage.
We're confident enough in the performance of our chargers, that we add a year of warranty coverage on batteries purchased from us at the same time as the charger and we would encourage all Optima owners to leave our charger (and soon to be maintainer) connected to their battery as long as they like.
Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
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sereneDelusions, we've tested most of the popular models on the market and the recommendation from our engineers is to avoid any setting that references “gel,” even if it also says AGM. I don't know which chargers with those setting caused issues, but I know it was enough of an issue for some that they told us to steer folks clear of those settings entirely. You don't need to avoid the charger, just avoid using those settings in favor of regular lead-acid battery settings.
I've seen comprehensive recommended charger lists from other AGM battery manufacturers that read like VCR instructions and they'll void your warranty if your charger doesn't meet their requirements. We're not that strict with our warranty coverage, but folks should know bargain basket battery maintainers probably aren't worth their low prices. They tend not to have as many safeguards and may not properly regulate voltage or amperage.
I've seen comprehensive recommended charger lists from other AGM battery manufacturers that read like VCR instructions and they'll void your warranty if your charger doesn't meet their requirements. We're not that strict with our warranty coverage, but folks should know bargain basket battery maintainers probably aren't worth their low prices. They tend not to have as many safeguards and may not properly regulate voltage or amperage.
Rugged, reliable. Been a good unit for me.