Battery Maintainer vs. Trickle Charger

[Whitnel]

What is the main difference between a maintainer and a Trickle Charger. Looked at both this weekend at Northern Tool. Both were solar, looks like the trickle charger puts out a little more power. Both prevent discharge when no or low light and both are supposed to prevent overcharging.

Which would you go with? I think I want to hook this up to my tractor as I don't plan on running it much over the winter. It will be sitting under a tent and want to make sure the battery survives the winter.

Coleman Solar Battery Maintainer — 1.25 Watt, Model# 58014 | Solar Panels + Accessories | Northern Tool + Equipment

NPower 5 Watt Amorphous Solar Panel | Amorphous Solar Panels | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[JoeL4330]

I believe the actual "maintenance" you want involves a small (occasional) superimposed AC waveform that prevents/reverses sulfates from forming on the plates which would, over time, partially "insulate" them...I could be wrong, but these are examples
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/BatteryMINDer-Charger-Maintainer-Desulfator-Model/dp/B000P23HZS%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAJASE6HSSVXTNREYQ%26tag%3Dfstchrm-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB000P23HZS?afsrc=fstfx]Amazon.com: BatteryMINDer Charger/Maintainer/Desulfator - 1.3 Amp, 12 Volt, Model# 12117: Automotive[/ame]

or [ame=http://www.amazon.com/BatteryMINDer-Battery-Charger-Maintainer-Desulphator/dp/B000JFLSL6%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAJASE6HSSVXTNREYQ%26tag%3Dfstchrm-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB000JFLSL6?afsrc=fstfx]Amazon.com: BatteryMINDer Battery Charger / Maintainer with Desulphator - 12 Volt 2/4/8 Amp, Model# 12248: Everything Else[/ame]


Here is a solar version with useful description

Battery Minder Solar BMSCC005 | Batteryminder 5 watt solar Battery Charger Desulphator

or the higher powered

Battery Minder Solar BMSCC015 | Batteryminder 15 watt solar Battery Charger Desulphator

and either of the latter, while pricey, would be my recommendation

 

[amigauser]

I use these and they work flawlessly. I have them on two tractors and a car that I store over the winter months. Also gave one to my parents who store a car for the winter while they are in Florida. Highly recommended and Amazon has the best delivered price.

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0123-Junior-Charger/dp/B000CITK8S/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1323476358&sr=1-1[/ame]

 

[JoeL4330]

Yep, they are great ... but not solar...previous post also referenced solar versions as (I thought) the OP was interested in. But, I agree, the one's you use are excellent if you have access to shore power.

 

[Inspector507]

If I was looking at Solar, I'd consider this one [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-1163-Solar-Maintainer/dp/B004Q83TGO/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1323478164&sr=1-1"]Battery Tender[/ame]

 

[Rfisher7381]

I use these and they work flawlessly. I have them on two tractors and a car that I store over the winter months. Also gave one to my parents who store a car for the winter while they are in Florida. Highly recommended and Amazon has the best delivered price.

Video Link: http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0123-Junior-Charger/dp/B000CITK8S/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1323476358&sr=1-1

I have also had very good success with battery tenders. I have a Kill-A-Watt device ( you plug it in and then the appliance plugs into it. Then you can measure how much power it uses.) The junior model drew about 40 watts when the battery showed charged. The next model up (Battery Tender 021-0128 Battery Tender Plus 12V Battery Charger) drew 8 watts under the same circumstances. I suppose 32 watts isn't that much but if you have it plugged in all the time, as it's intended to be, it will add up over time. However, it costs around $40 versus around $20 for the junior model.

 

[wrangler6831]

Battery Tender all the way! I have a motorcycle that I bought in 2003 and it still has the original battery. In the winter it stays plugged in on the battery tender.

 

[Whitnel]

Thanks for the recomendations. I don't have power at the land where the tractor is so solar is the only option at the moment. I was curious if getting the bigger panel that is labeled a trickle charger is only really needed as a maintainer at the moment vs buying the smaller maintainer panel.