TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Jun 09, 2014 9:57 pm

I have been working steady since January and haven't had the " purple car " [ 63 three fold rag ] out of the carport....the other day I had to move it and the battery was dead ; probably from the radio . Has anyone tried a battery tender and what results have you had ?

NOTE..battery tenders are small 110 volt electrical devices that maintains battery voltage levels while the car is parked for long periods

Tue Jun 10, 2014 1:56 am

I've used Battery Tender Jr. for many years on my motorcycles. The Battery Tender Jr. charges at .75 amps. It will take a long time to charge a dead battery. I would suggest at least a 20 amp charger and once the battery is charged you can maintain it with a Battery Tender Jr. or one of the other higher amp rated Battery Tender products. I use a Battery Tender Jr. on my 2013 RAM 1500 while I'm driving my Bug.

Battery Tenders Jr. charger were not designed to charge a dead battery. I would recommend at least a Battery Tender PLus 1.25 amp charger for a car battery.

http://batterytender.com/battery-tender-plus-12v-at-1-25a.html

Tue Jun 10, 2014 4:32 am

If you need the battery charged quickly, then a 20, 40 or 60 amp charger would be ok. The best thing for the battery would be to slowly charge it, by means of a trickle charger or even a battery tender. I have charged few batteries up from near dead with a 1amp tender. Works good if I don't plan on driving within the next 12 or 24 hours or so, depending how depleted the battery was.

I've left the tender on there when not using the car (which is what it's for). Car batteries last longer if kept charged up, so it's really a good idea. Anytime you let it go dead you cut its life in half.

A tender when car is not in use and one of these when your car is in use will really give a few more years of life to your battery. Also a voltmeter plus possibly an ammeter and a concientious eye will help too.

Tue Jun 10, 2014 5:14 am

I have used a solar battery tender to keep my batteries in the shop charged.

Tue Jun 10, 2014 5:40 am

eyetzr wrote: I have used a solar battery tender to keep my batteries in the shop charged.

I've also seen ones that mount to the roof of the car. Of course you have to park outside.

But putting the batteries inside is also a good idea to keep them out of the heat. Heat makes them wear out quicker too. Also it would be a good idea to keep them from freezing. Freezing a topped off fully charged battery isn't a problem, but just in case it looses its charge. As a battery looses charge and goes dead the acid, which acts as an antifreeze, leaches out leaving pure water in the cells. This can lead to the water freezing and cracking the battery. Not good!

Ideally, if you aren't using the battery, sticking it in a refrigerator connected to a battery tender would be best for it.

It also doesn't hurt to check the electrolite level and top off with distilled water from time to time.

Tue Jun 10, 2014 6:58 am

Great info...Thanks guys :D

Tue Jun 10, 2014 7:12 am

I've used a battery tender for a year now. Got it on Amazon for 40 bucks. Does the job.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00068XCQU/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i04?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Note: I purchased the cigarette lighter accessory. Since the cig ltr on my 12V 65 is always hot, I can plug the battery tender into it and charge it that way without messing with the battery itself.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003CJ927I/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also bought an available extension so I could keep the tender out of the way on a shelf.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DU3TTO/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Tue Jun 10, 2014 9:05 am

I've had one battery tender jr. for 10 years now - its still going great. I used it to keep the battery charged on my Harley after buying it in 2005 - it had a new battery in it. I replaced the battery in 2012 because I was selling the bike but the battery tested good.

I now have 4 battery tenders - a pair of jr. tenders for a couple of scooters (Yamaha Majesty and Suzuki Burgman 650cc) - one for the new VW (for wintertime) - and one on the Ghia for winter storage. One tender is cheaper than having to replace a battery. I won't be without one for everything that has a battery. PERIOD!

I need to get one more for the trolling motor battery.

Tue Jun 10, 2014 11:54 am

My daughter got me one from Sears for my lawn tractor.

Tue Jun 10, 2014 3:28 pm

Of course a Smart Charger will do both jobs.

You get a higher charging voltage and 10, 20 amps (whatever it's designed to give) to get the battery up to a full charge, then the charging voltage drops back so the charge current drops to just an amp or so to keep the battery fully charged.

I have an older model 10amp version which has accurate volt and amp meters, and it's interesting to watch it charge my Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) "house" battery in the caravan. Full amps until the battery charge comes up to near full, then the amps quickly drop to less than 1 amp continuous. So it can safely be left on for long periods and the battery remains fully charged. AGM batteries wont die as fast as a car battery (called Flooded Cell batteries) if allowed to go very flat, but keeping them fully charged does extend the life of the battery, just as it does with a car battery.

This Projecta brand charger also has 6 and 24v settings so it will safely charge old VWs, motorbike, emergency battery pack, and my truck battery system too.

This one charger does all my charging needs.

Though I do have a 12v 2.7amp "dumb" charger as a backup if I ever need it. Large enough to bring a battery up to a useful level overnight, but not so much that it will cook smaller car batteries if accidentally left on for days.

Wed Jun 11, 2014 6:45 am

I have used basic tenders on my motorcycles before and recently got this which I use on my BMW K1200LT. TecMate TM-141DUAL OptiMate 4DUAL 0.8Amp Weatherproof Desulfating Charger/Maintainer. This unit charges for 30 min then rests the battery 30. Microprocessor controlled.

Works great.