Battery Tenders
 

For years I have used a Battery Tender to keep my Optimas fully charged. Worked well for years. This was a box about 4x5x6, or close. Well, I think it finally bit the dust, at least the battery did. I replaced the battery but the old Battery Tender seems to have been discontinued, or at least I cannot find one at Wally World. I bought an EverStart 6-12 V Battery Charger & Maintainer 3A Charge rate. but have yet to hook it up. (The Battery tender was 1.25 Amps.) This battery charger/maintainer is not a box looking thing but looks something like a 1 lb link of sausage that has been stepped on and flattened lengthwise if you can envision that. Got it at Wally World for some $23.00, about like the old Battery Tenders. They have served me well over the years. Anyone have any experience with these? or know where I might purchase a new Battery Tender? Thanks guys.

Re: Battery Tenders
 

Lawson, make sure you dont start your engine with that charger still connected to the battery. That charger is probably made in China. For $23.00 it is most likely crap. You only get what you pay for. Regards, Kevin.

Re: Battery Tenders
 

Lawson, I am using a C-Tec battery tender. It's a wonderful unit that does a great job. Been using it continually for last 6 years. Small and compact.
Here's the website. Pick one that works for you.
https://smartercharger.com/

Re: Battery Tenders
 

Battery Tender 021-0144 Battery Tender Plus 6V Battery Charger


http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/image...OKNI.02.lg.jpg


https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/detail...er_6_Volt.html

Re: Battery Tenders
 

Pete. That's the one I have used for years. Very satisfied with it. I'll check out the one I have to see if it is any good and if not I'll get me a new one, The one from Wally World goes back. I bought my last battery trnder from Wally world for a little less than what it is apparently selling for now. Thanks for the input fellows. You always come through.I feel better knowing Battery Tender is still available. Lawson

Re: Battery Tenders
 

3 amps is to much, unless it has a float mode. I f you have a tractor supply near you, see if the still carry the Schumacher trickle charger. it is only 1.5 amps, and has a float mode. I have been using them for years. I bought mine down in Texas. I used to be able to also get them at Walmart. no longer available here in Alaska, and no tractor supply here

Re: Battery Tenders
 

personaly i wound up with a cheap solar panel charger [gift] but i tell you what its an been absolute gem works spot on and bonus costs nothing to run

Re: Battery Tenders
 

I use a NOCO, expensive, but it has a 6v AGM setting

Re: Battery Tenders
 

I'd be interested in hearing a little more. I have a CTEK, and I'm not yet a fan of it. It does things that I don't yet understand... Like flashing green or red lights. The manual that came with mine does not explain what all this means. Sometimes, when I get some light indicator that I don't understand, I disconnect it, and re-connect it, and then it gives light indication that is shown in the manual. Another thing, the light codes are not printed on the side of the unit. I have to go find the manual when I want to 'decipher'.
I also have a Battery Tender, and a Battery MINder Plus, and both of these units seem to be a little more 'friendly' to me.
I have all three of these units currently running. On one car, the CTEK will not work at all, where as the other two units seem to work ok.
The CTEK is probably the best of the three units, if I can believe their published info. I just wish I could understand what it's doing, and when.

Re: Battery Tenders
 

I got a battery desalphator, I connected it to a battery that wouldn’t even crank the flat head when fully charged, after about a month is was as good as new,

Re: Battery Tenders
 

I use NOCO Genuis chargers they are great

Re: Battery Tenders
 

I put a Wally world battery tender on our 38 conv'
, had a new Ford script battery on it; didn't check on it; when I did the battery was hot and boiled dry; put new acid in it, it never charged up, the company send the tender back with $10.00 and they would repair it, I said no thanks; they wouldn't replace my battery

Re: Battery Tenders
 

You could just go here:

https://www.batterytender.com/battery-chargers

Re: Battery Tenders
 

Not recommended to top up a boiled dry battery with acid. Its only water that evaporates so only top up with distilled water. I never leave batteries on charge unattended overnight. Need to keep an eye on them now and then. You never know what a charger is going to do, especially cheap Chinese crap. Regards, Kevin.

Re: Battery Tenders
 

I have battery tenders on my cars when I go to Florida for 6 months every winter. I was concerned about overcharging, so I bought a simple timer from K-Mart. After a few months of experimentation, I found that if you set the timer to power up the maintainers for 15 minutes a day, it will keep the batteries up without worrying about overcharging and boiling. It cost me $6.99.

Re: Battery Tenders
 

Tubman, that is a great idea. I may try it myself.

Re: Battery Tenders
 

Schumaker is the brand that cooked my battery

Re: Battery Tenders
 

We own 4 "collector" cars, we use; 2ea C-tek 4.3us, a Deltran, & a Schauer Charge Master CM6A for our odyssey battery and they are all somewhat different but kinda do the same thing, C-tek and the Schauer are the more advanced models w/newer features where as my Deltran (same size as the 6v one shown above) is a tank workhorse but w/less features. Really comes down to how much you want to spend on one and sorry to say, all of them are made in china, afaik! YMMV

Re: Battery Tenders
 

Friends car was burned badly by a tender that went bad. Luckily a circuit breaker did its job before his shop caught on fire too, I need educated here-why does a person need a tender? I have seven batts and they have all been fine in the spring after a 4 or 5 month siesta.

Re: Battery Tenders
 

My optima is on a c-tek, its 12 yrs old (battery)!!, I drive that car once or twice a year, literally. I use them on power equipment and 5 out of the 7 cars we own that are not daily drivers, YMMV. My 2008 f150 is the worst at parasitic battery drain, its on one too. I drive it about 1 week out of the month.