Battery Manager

I

imported_MBenz

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The -15º temps here have been killing batteries left and right. I am looking at getting a trickle charger or two for my vehicles that get driven once a week or less. I came across this



Battery Manager IV - Everyday and Storage - Car Maintenance - Griot's Garage



but the price is a bit steep considering a new battery can be bought for under $100. Has anyone used one of these or have recommendations on a similar device to maintain a battery while the car is in storage?
 
No experience with those but I have been using Battery Tender chargers on the bikes and cars for more than.... I guess 15 or so years now.



Battery Tender - Home of the Battery Tender Jr. - Batterytender.com



Here is the Battery Tender model I have for sale at Summit Racing for $59



Battery Tender 021-0128 - Deltran Battery Tender Plus Systems - Overview - SummitRacing.com

dtn-021-0128.jpg




For $39 you can get the Battery Tender Jr. Works the same, will just take longer to charge. The Battery Tender charges at 1.25 amps while the Battery Tender Jr charges at .75 amps.



Battery Tender 021-0123 - Deltran Battery Tender Junior Systems - Overview - SummitRacing.com

dtn-021-0123_w.jpg
 
I have used a battery tender for a few year. They come with a 10 year warranty. Can't beat that for only $45
 
I've been using one like rjstaaf uses and it works perfectly. Easy on, easy off. I put one on the M coupe each winter and in the late spring, it starts like a dream.

Save yourself 30+ bucks and get one of these instead of the Griot's version.

-John C.
 
My first post. so hello to everyone

I have a battery tender the waterproof one and

a CTEK 3300 that desulphates the battery automatically via pulses

battery tenders do not they use a High freq charging current which does not sulfate the battery
 
jfelbab said:
FWIW, the Battery Minder does de-sulphate batteries and I believe I bought mine for around $35 on sale, a much less less expensive alternative. I've stored my MR2 for at least 10 winter seasons and the battery is still in great condition.



Battery Minder, BatteryMinder Battery Chargers $39.90
Click to expand...



I have the Minder, and while I have really enjoyed its desulphation feature, I don't like it for battery tending duty. While it has resurrected a few dead dead batteries, I have had issues where the power will go out and come back, and the Minder goes dumb and ends up not charging anymore and actually running the battery down. I emailed the mfg, and they have told me that if the battery voltage drops below 11.8 it won't know to start charging after a power loss. Yeah, it sounds like bunk to me, but that is what I was told.



I actually really like the Schumacher battery charger/maintainer I purchased from Wal-Mart. $18 and it works very well. If I needed another, I'd grab one of those in a heartbeat.
 
I've been using Battery Tenders since forever with no problems, and they're popular with folks in my Jag Club who let their cars sit for ages.



I was all revved up to buy some fancy new-tech replacements this winter, but I decided not to fix what doesn't seem to be broken.



As I post this, I have Battery Tenders on the Yukon, the S8, and the RX-7. And I suspect my mechanic has one on the XJS.



BUT...I've had them "get stupid" during/following power outages. Sounds like that might be par for the course with a lot of different such devices.
 
Sears has their trickle chargers as well, very good for the money.



Regular price is 30 bucks, most of the time on sale for 19.99 or 22.99 (depending on area) with a 3 year warranty.



Plus it comes with 3 attachements (one hard wire, one cigarette lighter, and one alligator clips to clip on the battery)
 
Accumulator said:
BUT...I've had them "get stupid" during/following power outages. Sounds like that might be par for the course with a lot of different such devices.
Click to expand...



Glad to know I'm not the only one. What do you do after a power outage? Unplug and re-plugin? I've come back to more than a couple of dead batteries. I guess I need a UPS for my battery charger!
 
yakky said:
Glad to know I'm not the only one. What do you do after a power outage? Unplug and re-plugin? I've come back to more than a couple of dead batteries. I guess I need a UPS for my battery charger!
Click to expand...



Heh heh, I didn't do any better than you did...discovered dead batteries and had to charge 'em up from scratch with my "big" charger. The affected Battery Tenders seem to be working fine now though, so I guess the unplug/rest/replug is OK.



Heh heh#2, yeah...I often think I need a scad of UPS units for all sorts of stuff!
 
Battery Tender's work great. I have them on all my motorcycles and one for my car also. I've never had a problem with any of them and they keep the battery cranking strong.
 
I have a car that i rarely drive in the winter and it has a slow battery drain somewhere, summer is not a problem for what ever reason.



I bought one of these on sale from Can. Tire for $25. I installed it under the hood on a timer for half hour a day. Works great.





Motomaster Eliminator Intelligent Battery Charger, 2A





- Built-in intelligent microprocessor makes charging faster, easier and safer



-Ideal for charging small batteries and maintaining car and truck batteries



-Fully automatic, multi-stage charging provides a faster, more thorough battery charge



-Suitable for all types of 12V lead-acid batteries, including gel cell and AGM



-Automatically switches from full charge to maintenance mode to maintain batteries during prolonged periods of storage without overcharging or damaging the battery



-Choose from 3 connection options - standard clamps, ring terminal connectors or 12V accessory plug



-Built in mounting tabs for optional permanent installation



-LED indicators provide charge status and reverse polarity
 
Frankly, I think the battery tender or the typical trickle charger is extremely overpriced. There are battery chargers out there that serve as a trickle charger, battery warmer (same concept as battery tender), amp booster, and rapid charger for around $80.
 
the_invisible said:
Frankly, I think the battery tender or the typical trickle charger is extremely overpriced. There are battery chargers out there that serve as a trickle charger, battery warmer (same concept as battery tender), amp booster, and rapid charger for around $80.
Click to expand...



How much are the Battery Tenders these days? I got mine soooo long ago I have no idea what I paid for 'em.
 
the_invisible said:
Frankly, I think the battery tender or the typical trickle charger is extremely overpriced. There are battery chargers out there that serve as a trickle charger, battery warmer (same concept as battery tender), amp booster, and rapid charger for around $80.
Click to expand...





:eek: :faint:



I got my trickle charger at Harbor Freight, it sits on a car that is rarely driven (I'm talking once a month at times). I've never had a hot battery (over charged), I've never had a dead battery, its been on there for 6-8 months now. I want to say it was $9.99 on sale, it was $15 at the most.
 
This is a message I posted to an aviation site I participate in. Timely to this thread.



My neighbor had a beautiful hangar that, along with a turbine Comp 10, two Glassairs, and a ton of tools and equipment, was destroyed by a fire a few weeks ago. Everything was a total loss. The cause still hasn’t been determined but the first question the fire investigator asked was whether any battery chargers were in use (there weren’t). The investigator said the number one cause of hangar fires are battery chargers left unattended. Apparently they often fail in such a way that they go to full charge, melt the battery, and cause a fire.



I immediately went to my hangar and unplugged the two Battery Tenders I had continuously hooked up. I’m not saying anything bad about Battery Tenders but based on what the investigator said I’m not going to use any type of charger unless I’m in the hangar during their use.
 
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