Solar Battery Maintainer, AKA: Tender Recommendation

[deserteagle71]

I used the $5 HF cheapie charger and found it boils the water out if it is left on continually, even though they say it won't.

And I've tried the HF license-plate size solar charger. Then a second one. I'm not convinced those did anything at all.

I see Battery Minder, Battery Tender, and HF's equivalent all around $30. Anybody have comments on those? Can they stay attached indefinitely?

The solar-powered Battery Minder I referenced in my post above has been connected to the battery in my Miller Bobcat for around 10 years now. It has NEVER boiled out the water in the battery. Since I attached the Battery Minder that battery is always at full charge so it starts the Bobcat when needed. Never needed to change that battery since the Battery Minde was attached.

My motorcycle and my ATV both have one of these Battery Minder units attached - these run off 120v.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200332201_200332201

The motorcycle and ATV are parked from October to April and it used to be I'd need to buy a new battery for each about every 3 years. Since I put this smaller BatteryMinder on each about 5 - 6 years ago I've not had to change out either battery.

The BatteryMinder units do not charge constantly. They monitor the battery and go to a "float" stage when the battery is fully charged. Read the description. I love these things; they've saved me a lot of money in battery replacements. I just bought two more - one for my John Deere and one for the Kubota.

 

[California]

My motorcycle and my ATV both have one of these Battery Minder units attached - these run off 120v.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200332201_200332201

The motorcycle and ATV are parked from October to April

I had one of those on my tractor/backhoe which isn't run often. But a power surge smoked it when a limb chafed through the ranch's neutral wire from the pole. I'm wondering if I should replace it with same, or are there are better choices. If you keep yours attached permanently that's a great endorsement.

==========
Update: I ordered a new one from Northern Tool's Ebay listing.
Battery MINDer, 12V Battery Maintainer - Model 12117TC | eBay

 

[TnAndy]

10-15watts won't harm most batteries of any size, but once you get much over that, you need a charge controller to keep from cooking the battery over time. I have a 40w panel permanently mounted to the wall of my sawmill building, runs to a charge controller, then a 8' cord that plugs into the battery to keep it ready to go when I don't use it for months.

 

[Fallon]

I have this one and it works good.....BatteryMINDer(R) Model SCC515-5: 12V Controller w/5 Watt Panel Solar Battery Charger

I'll 2nd that. I got mine with the 20@ pannel not 5 though. I ended up using a different 20@ panel to fit on the tongue box on my deckover power tilt. I've never plugged that trailer in for the 2 years I've owned it. Solar keeps it topped up & charged. I'm sure the truck charges it a bit as well, but it's not hooked up that often.

 

[Fallon]

I'll 2nd that. I got mine with the 20@ pannel not 5 though. I ended up using a different 20@ panel to fit on the tongue box on my deckover power tilt. I've never plugged that trailer in for the 2 years I've owned it. Solar keeps it topped up & charged. I'm sure the truck charges it a bit as well, but it's not hooked up that often.

Plenty of potential shading issues on my setup, but it's never been enough of an issue for me to bother caring.

A small wattage pannel with no controller can still do bad things to a battery. Open circuit voltage can get over 18v. Also, a plain pannel will drain a battery at night. You need a diode in the circuit. That diode will cause voltage loss making the battery much less likely to charge fully due to less volts & amps making it through. You are MUCH better off with a smart charge controller to get the right voltage in at the right time.

 

[Peter 315]

It was 123.90 when I got it........ still is if you look for it.......

 

[two_bit_score]

I've used one of these many years, works great. I mounted the 15w panel on the roof of the barn to keep the battery on my Miller Bobcat welder topped off.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200328565_200328565

The solar-powered Battery Minder I referenced in my post above has been connected to the battery in my Miller Bobcat for around 10 years now. It has NEVER boiled out the water in the battery. Since I attached the Battery Minder that battery is always at full charge so it starts the Bobcat when needed. Never needed to change that battery since the Battery Minde was attached.

My motorcycle and my ATV both have one of these Battery Minder units attached - these run off 120v.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200332201_200332201

The motorcycle and ATV are parked from October to April and it used to be I'd need to buy a new battery for each about every 3 years. Since I put this smaller BatteryMinder on each about 5 - 6 years ago I've not had to change out either battery.

The BatteryMinder units do not charge constantly. They monitor the battery and go to a "float" stage when the battery is fully charged. Read the description. I love these things; they've saved me a lot of money in battery replacements. I just bought two more - one for my John Deere and one for the Kubota.

Thanks for these recommendations!



TBS

 

[mikester]

Beware...I bough a cheapo Chinesium $20 solar battery charger and it ended up fully discharging and killing my $150 battery. If the diode isnt working properly, at night the solar cell acts as a short circuit resistor across your battery terminals.

 

[TimberXX]

I've had this on my dump trailer for 8 months. I love it, but I have it zipped tied to the tongue, since I will eventually will crack it. Attention Required! | Cloudflare

 

[TimberXX]

Etrailer 2.5 watt by performance tool