Hi All,
Happy Holidays to all. Winter finally came to lower New York state and it now doesn't look like I will be taking out my baby any time soon. It will probably be sitting in my garage until the spring thaw (I don't want to get all that road salt on the under carriage and all that aluminum). My question of the day is; Since the vette is not moving for a couple of 3 months do I need a battery tender and if so what should I buy?
Thank,
Mike

 

Yes, get a battery tender (not the same as a battery charger). Lots of products. I have a CTEK 3300, from a Forum vendor:
http://www.customcorvetteaccessories...rycharger.html

Lots of threads on this topic:
http://www.customcorvetteaccessories...rycharger.html

 

Just google "battery tender plus" it runs about 59.95, it's one of the most popular. I've got one and it works perfect.

 

I recommend the "Battery Tender" brand. I use the two bank model.

 

I'm using the Sears Diehard tender, $19.99. Comes with all the different quick connectors and works just as well as the higher priced units. My battery died 3 times the first year without it. No problems since.

 

I got a "Deka" ?? from Carquest.. for $39.00 it will charge until the battery is fully charged, then just "Maintain" that charge.. it has three lights

Red to show its plugged into 110V outlet

Yellow if its charging the Battery

Green if the battery is charged, & its just maintaining the charge

I've had it 3 yrs with NO problems... I'm not sure how this price compares to the ones sold here.... but mine works fine.. and C5Pilot is doing ok with an inexpensive unit..

Its your $ and your car...bottom its also your choice... but you do have a large selection and prices that vary widely!!

Maybe someone can enlighten me.. unless you are in Donald Trumps income bracket why spend $70 for something you can get for less than $30 if they both do the same job ??

 

I bought one of these at walmart for $45.

http://store.schumachermart.com/sc-1200a.html

 

I bought a Schumacher tender at Walmart for $19.95

http://store.schumachermart.com/sem-1562a.html

I can leave this connected all the time.

 

i have had 3 of them for the last 4 years use them for my car, bike and lawn tractor. they work perfect and are much cheaper than the over priced Battery Tender and the others on the market plus it helps support Tony Schmachers Top Fuel Car.

 

You should get a tender that also DESULPHATES the battery-makes it last longer. The Battery Minder Plus and a few others do that.



http://www.batterymart.com/p-battery...y-charger.html

 

This one plugs into the cigarette lighter ans only charges when the voltage falls below 12v.


http://e-partssales.com/Merchant2/me...electronics997

 

Battery Tender Plus - doesn't get any better

 

Second the Battery Tender Plus

 

thanks guys for all the advice I'm going w/ the battery tender plus and I'm buying at Autogeek. I might have found it cheaper somewhere else but they have done very well by me w/ all the advice and help on cleaning my cars.
Mike

 

I bought my battery tender at Harbor Freight for $5.99. It's been working great for the last six months or so on my seldom driven Camaro.

 

Bought the BatteryMinder as it supposedly desulphates the battery and makes them last longer.

 

Automatic battery chargers do not fully charge the battery. They take it to about 85% and leave it there. Intelligent chargers like the BT+ are 3 stage: bulk, absorption (85-100%), float.
They change current and voltage, not voltage or current alone.
Vector explains theirs along with desulfation
http://www.battery-rechargeable-char...-brochure.html

http://www.electric-cars-are-for-gir...y-charger.html

http://www.superiorcarcare.net/btplus.html

I can't find a certain page that went into great detail about the various modes of chargers and how they work and what they do. Suffice to say it was over my head. I just know that a stage is minimum and an intelligent one at that.

I have a CTEK and it's very nice. It does what its supposed to do. Does it do what the BT+ does, I dont' think so. The BT+ will exercise the battery for lack of a better term to keep them going well past their expected life cycle.

I have two motorcycles. One battery has been in two bikes. I've had it for at least 8 years. Odyssey batteries and Battery Tender Plus chargers. On the negative side I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but I keep breaking the BT+ every year and a half or so at least that's all the last one lasted. Shipped it off to them in FL and they sent a new one. The first one lasted me 6 years plus. I don't know if it's the Oddyssey is so old it is taking the BT+ out or whether its the stuff in-line with the power cord. I have had it plugged into a professional EMI/RFI protected work bench which is plugged into the same garage outlet as my air compressor. I've even put a surge protector between the charger and the work bench which has all its outlets protected. Beats me. I do know they do what they're supposed to do and that is extend the life of the battery, not just keep them charged.

 

I use the Battery Tender Plus and is work great. Attach it a forget it!

 

Me too, very happy with it.

John

 

Don Schumacher will be very happy to hear this. The price of NITRO for the Army Dragster team has really gone up, good for sales.