Battery Tenders

[John_Mc]

Lol 2 weeks.

I hope you guys know that these tenders can do damage and even boil off water in batterys. Theres no need for a battery tender for a few months in the off season and def not 2 weeks.

This is not a problem with a good quality smart charger, I use BatteryMinder chargers, since they include temperature compensation and a desulfation feature (some other brands - even some highly regarded ones - do not include these features). I have probably half a dozen of them (including one left on my $500 24V aircraft battery any time the plane is not flying). My oldest one is close to 20 years old and still going strong. I've never had a problem with boiling off electrolyte.

Cheap trickle chargers can damage a battery. Their voltage regulation is often poor or set to an inappropriate voltage, resulting in constantly overcharging the battery and boiling off the electrolyte.

 

[fried1765]

Me to fried,have the boat battery,3 cars,kubota 900,tractor all on battery tenders over the winter months.Some folks have NO CLUE..

Yup!
You are absolutely correct!

 

[fried1765]

Until I started using maintainers on my batteries it was a give that every year I would have to replace the battery in the lawn mower. After I started using them the battery on the lawn mower went from replace every year to 5+ years. I always used the cheap Walmart battery since it would last as well as a higher priced batteries in that particular application. I also noticed a marked increase in the life of the batteries in the big tractors and generator. In fact all every thing with a battery in it that is not daily use like a car or truck might be saw an increase in battery life and that adds up to big $$$ with the number of battery equipped units I have on the place.

I can certainly relate to the "adds up to big $$$", since I have 18 batteries.

 

[arits74]

i have 9. all HF models, NONE boil the battery.

same here i got 3 batterys on the HF ones hear at home and 3 more at camp.never had a problem with them.i had one on a boat battery that was used only in the summer months and got 5 years out of the battery

 

[shooterdon]

I have been using the name brand Battery Tender on everything that is not regularly used for 6 years and have not had any problems. The longer battery life is nice....having equipment start is nicer.

I have a cheap $20 lawn mower battery that is over 3 years old.

 

[fried1765]

I have been using the name brand Battery Tender on everything that is not regularly used for 6 years and have not had any problems. The longer battery life is nice....having equipment start is nicer.

I have a cheap $20 lawn mower battery that is over 3 years old.

The cheap lawn tractor batteries are the positive proof that Battery Tenders/BatteryMinders etc. really do work.
Without them, a cheap lawn tractor battery is usually all done at a maximum of 3 years.
I have one now well into it's 4th year.

 

[ruffdog]

If you use a battery maintainer, be sure to use a voltmeter to double check it is actually working. I have two Schumacher SEM-1562a maintainers and I'm finding out they are not working and may be actually discharging the batteries. Do not assume that the green light that means "fully charged" is true. One battery was below 11v and the other was below 10v when the maintainer green light was on. Check your batteries with a voltmeter!

 

[fried1765]

If you use a battery maintainer, be sure to use a voltmeter to double check it is actually working. I have two Schumacher SEM-1562a maintainers and I'm finding out they are not working and may be actually discharging the batteries. Do not assume that the green light that means "fully charged" is true. One battery was below 11v and the other was below 10v when the maintainer green light was on. Check your batteries with a voltmeter!

I have found that Schumacher products are generally low end stuff, with only HF electrical stuff being worse.

 

[ruffdog]

I have found that Schumacher products are generally low end stuff, with only HF electrical stuff being worse.

Yes, my maintainers were low end. I am busy using real chargers to get the batteries up to the 12.6v+ level and I will "maintain" them like I have for years.....grrr.

 

[oldballs]

I "had" two of the Shumacher brand battery maintainers. Both went into the trash barrel. Deltran is all that I use now with about 10 years experience and no failures. Never have tried the sun light kind.