Battery Tender

OldGuy · 04-08-2011, 08:49 PM

In contemplation of an extended absence from home, I'm looking to buy a battery tender.
Questions:
1. One site states,"Optional cigarette plug allows you to charge & maintain your battery directly from your vehicle's lighter socket (only use if socket energized with key off)" Does that work okay for our 370Z in the 12v outlet?

2. Are these tenders safe to leave on when no one will be home for 3 or 4 months? Any problem with a power surge following a temporary power outage?

3. Is there a make or model tender that is made for or best for our cars?

Baer383 · 04-08-2011, 08:54 PM

I have 2

One is on my z and one on my Harley.

My Harley has it on year round I only take it off to ride then when I get home it goes back on.

But to answer your question yes they are very safe b/c they charge the battery to full charge then turns off,and as the battery discharges it turns back on to charge it back to full.

SPOHN · 04-08-2011, 08:59 PM

I call them trickle charger. The one my dad has is hooked directly to the battery. Works great. Never seen an issue with it in two years. Even for months. Not sure if it's good on a motor not to be ran from time to time though.

Xan · 04-08-2011, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPOHN

I call them trickle charger. The one my dad has is hooked directly to the battery. Works great. Never seen an issue with it in two years. Even for months. Not sure if it's good on a motor not to be ran from time to time though.

You don't want to use a normal trickle charger for that long, this would be a small charge that is on 24/7. You want to use a floating charger, a battery tender is a brand name for a floating charger. Which is also a good one to get

So for your questions.
1. I don't think so, but for a 4 month period, I would take the battery out of the car and put it on a charger.
2. Yes it's save, just put it on a stable place with nothing too close to be sure.
3. The Battery Tender is a good one.

Baer383 · 04-08-2011, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPOHN

I call them trickle charger. The one my dad has is hooked directly to the battery. Works great. Never seen an issue with it in two years. Even for months. Not sure if it's good on a motor not to be ran from time to time though.

They are technically not a trickle charger b/c is has a little computer circuit board in it and it senses the voltage and charges accordingly.

And it will not charge unless the battery gets below a certain voltage,plus it has a fuse in it in case of a power surge the fuse pops and saves the charger.

SPOHN · 04-08-2011, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xan

You don't want to use a normal trickle charger for that long, this would be a small charge that is on 24/7. You want to use a floating charger, a battery tender is a brand name for a floating charger. Which is also a good one to get

I'll have to ask him more info on it tomorrow. Maybe it works different than I think. I just know he refers to it as a trickle. But it's worked for years flawlessly.

Xan · 04-08-2011, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPOHN

I'll have to ask him more info on it tomorrow. Maybe it works different than I think. I just know he refers to it as a trickle. But it's worked for years flawlessly.

Old chargers used to be trickle chargers, they work but shorten the life and performance of the battery over time...

kenchan · 04-08-2011, 09:13 PM

i use one with the umbilical cord hardwired to the battery and i just plug the battery tender's harness to that. my car's hood is unlatched while garaged.

SoCal 370Z · 04-08-2011, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldGuy

In contemplation of an extended absence from home, I'm looking to buy a battery tender.
Questions:
1. One site states,"Optional cigarette plug allows you to charge & maintain your battery directly from your vehicle's lighter socket (only use if socket energized with key off)" Does that work okay for our 370Z in the 12v outlet?

This does work, BUT neither of the two (the one under the passenger’s side, or the armrest under the tray) interior outlets are powered when the 370Z is off. Also, using an interior outlet means you will be running a cord over the door weather stripping, and you really want your charger where it will disconnect at the pigtail if you inadvertently kick it. Running it between the door and sill means if you kick it, the charger will become a projectile tethered between the door and can potentially whip into your 370Z. I have my pigtail connected directly to the battery, and simply remove the cover to access it. However, I am looking for a better way to plug-in the charger on the 370Z that will not entail opening the hood.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldGuy

2. Are these tenders safe to leave on when no one will be home for 3 or 4 months? Any problem with a power surge following a temporary power outage?

I’ve had them plugged-in for literally years at a time. Had one battery last ten years on one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldGuy

3. Is there a make or model tender that is made for or best for our cars?

Deltran Battery Tender Plus model works well, and have two of them. Nowadays, I would opt for the CTEK Multi US 7002.

kenchan · 04-08-2011, 09:42 PM

yah, my 04 G35C's battery is 7yrs old, starts car like new.

i crack up at those folks that say batteries only last 3-4yrs tops.

SoCal 370Z · 04-08-2011, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

yah, my 04 G35C's battery is 7yrs old, starts car like new.

i crack up at those folks that say batteries only last 3-4yrs tops.

Could have gone past ten, but psychologically decided to go new. (Yeah...I know...what a wimp!)

Rooskey · 04-09-2011, 12:24 AM

I have a Battery Tender Jr. on my 67 Camaro. I leave the battery connected to the car, and I have the leads hooked directly to the battery on secondary terminals (optima battery). My car has set at some times for 6 to 9 months and I have never had a problem. Its a great product. Just remember to use some fuel stabilizer as well. Add the fuel stabilizer and then put a few miles on it to make sure it mixes well and gets all through the fuel system. I would NOT use one that connects to your cig lighter. Seems to risky and why run a charge through your entire car to get to the battery. Just my opinion, better safe than sorry

OldGuy · 04-09-2011, 08:46 AM

Thank you all very much.

HonestlyLying · 04-09-2011, 10:13 AM

I just wanted to mention that if you use a Battery Minder it will desulfate your battery after it fully charges it and keep it charged. Kind of a bonus. Also I should add that this winter I had it hooked up through my cig lighter and it was perfect. So much easier than connecting to the battery itself.

OldGuy · 04-09-2011, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HonestlyLying

I just wanted to mention that if you use a Battery Minder it will desulfate your battery after it fully charges it and keep it charged. Kind of a bonus. Also I should add that this winter I had it hooked up through my cig lighter and it was perfect. So much easier than connecting to the battery itself.

Could I ask what make of minder or tender (same thing, I assume), what store and how much? That's what I'd like to get if it's safe to have hooked up when no one is home for a few months at a time.

04-08-2011, 08:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
OldGuy Base Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Greensburg PA Posts: 899 Drives: '09370Z Red Base A7 Rep Power: 17	Battery Tender In contemplation of an extended absence from home, I'm looking to buy a battery tender. Questions: 1. One site states,"Optional cigarette plug allows you to charge & maintain your battery directly from your vehicle's lighter socket (only use if socket energized with key off)" Does that work okay for our 370Z in the 12v outlet? 2. Are these tenders safe to leave on when no one will be home for 3 or 4 months? Any problem with a power surge following a temporary power outage? 3. Is there a make or model tender that is made for or best for our cars?

04-08-2011, 08:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
Baer383 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lawrenceville,Ga Posts: 4,293 Drives: My foot up your azz Rep Power: 30	I have 2 One is on my z and one on my Harley. My Harley has it on year round I only take it off to ride then when I get home it goes back on. But to answer your question yes they are very safe b/c they charge the battery to full charge then turns off,and as the battery discharges it turns back on to charge it back to full. __________________ 2013 ZL1 754 rwhp 747 rwtq

04-08-2011, 08:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
SPOHN A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Covington, GA Age: 46 Posts: 14,844 Drives: Waiting on next Z Rep Power: 221	I call them trickle charger. The one my dad has is hooked directly to the battery. Works great. Never seen an issue with it in two years. Even for months. Not sure if it's good on a motor not to be ran from time to time though. __________________

04-09-2011, 12:24 AM	#12 (permalink)
Rooskey Track Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: South Carolina Posts: 974 Drives: 2014 Alpha7 GTR Rep Power: 16	I have a Battery Tender Jr. on my 67 Camaro. I leave the battery connected to the car, and I have the leads hooked directly to the battery on secondary terminals (optima battery). My car has set at some times for 6 to 9 months and I have never had a problem. Its a great product. Just remember to use some fuel stabilizer as well. Add the fuel stabilizer and then put a few miles on it to make sure it mixes well and gets all through the fuel system. I would NOT use one that connects to your cig lighter. Seems to risky and why run a charge through your entire car to get to the battery. Just my opinion, better safe than sorry Last edited by Rooskey; 04-09-2011 at 12:29 AM.

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04-08-2011, 09:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	i use one with the umbilical cord hardwired to the battery and i just plug the battery tender's harness to that. my car's hood is unlatched while garaged.

04-08-2011, 09:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	yah, my 04 G35C's battery is 7yrs old, starts car like new. i crack up at those folks that say batteries only last 3-4yrs tops.

04-09-2011, 08:46 AM	#13 (permalink)
OldGuy Base Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Greensburg PA Posts: 899 Drives: '09370Z Red Base A7 Rep Power: 17	Thank you all very much.

04-09-2011, 10:13 AM	#14 (permalink)
HonestlyLying Base Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Mpls, Mn Posts: 31 Drives: Public transport Rep Power: 14	I just wanted to mention that if you use a Battery Minder it will desulfate your battery after it fully charges it and keep it charged. Kind of a bonus. Also I should add that this winter I had it hooked up through my cig lighter and it was perfect. So much easier than connecting to the battery itself.