The Ford Barn

Tom from Drippin' · 12-10-2016, 12:31 PM

Should battery tenders be connected 24/7, or every other week or so?

Merc Cruzer · 12-10-2016, 12:35 PM

I do mine and have for over 10 years now.

Tom from Drippin' · 12-10-2016, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merc Cruzer

I do mine and have for over 10 years now.

Which way? 24/7 or intermittent?

Dollar Bill · 12-10-2016, 12:40 PM

I have five and also keep them connected full time. Most of my batteries are 10-12 years old so they must be effective.

JohnLaVoy · 12-10-2016, 12:40 PM

I have mine on 24/7 and have for years.

bunnyc · 12-10-2016, 12:44 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I have eleven 12V batteries that I maintain. I use two Xtreme charger/desulfators, rotating every week or so.

Mitch//pa · 12-10-2016, 12:51 PM

Any automatic maintainer can be left connected.. make sure your electrolyte level is over the plates...if topping off the level know what your doing as overfilling is a no-no

mshmodela · 12-10-2016, 03:12 PM

I had defective tender which appears to have slowly drained my batter.... Once I fully recharged it my car has been on it's own for the past 14 months without any battery charger... I myself do not trust batteries left alone over night while charging but that's me...

katy · 12-10-2016, 05:17 PM

I put battery tenders or trickle chargers on all our batteries once a month for 24 hrs. At the price of hydro these days I don't see the sense in putting then on 24/7. Done it this way for many years and have never had a battery that didn't last 10 or more years.

Synchro909 · 12-10-2016, 05:24 PM

I use a solar powered tender connected 24/7.
Doesn't do much at night though.

C26Pinelake · 12-10-2016, 05:51 PM

Mine are on a sensory / timer device and run from noon to 8 pm daily.

eagle · 12-10-2016, 06:21 PM

Buy a $3 lamp timer at walmart and use it to turn the charger on for 1 hour a day.

Dodge · 12-10-2016, 07:43 PM

We have one that will charge up to six batteries at a time. One central location and long
Leads to the different cars. On 24/7
Love my tender it's so sweet I'll never let it go. (Hum it to the Elvis song)

henry's 31 · 12-10-2016, 07:44 PM

I keep mine connected all the time. I keep the Deltron ones on every antique car, boat and lawn mower. These smart maintainer/chargers extend the battery life as confirmed here by other members.

midgetracer · 12-10-2016, 08:13 PM

I do 24/7 during the winter months. During the warm months I drive them enough to keEp Them charged.

Mitch//pa · 12-10-2016, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timothy Kelly

What harm comes from overfilling a lead acid battery, aside from maybe increasing the risk of spill?

Hi Tim
When a battery is being used / and charged through normal operation small air bubbles form in each cell which release gas through the little vent in the cap. If the cell is overfilled liquid will come out with the gas which will result in acid getting on top of the battery and surrounding areas. A good height is 1/4" above the plates, along with that there is a gauge built into the battery casing for each cell to show the reccommended height.

Mike V. Florida · 12-10-2016, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eagle

Buy a $3 lamp timer at walmart and use it to turn the charger on for 1 hour a day.

Used to do that when I had R/C cars and planes for the battery packs.

John/CT · 12-11-2016, 06:55 AM

I use a Battery Tender brand unit connected 24/7. These are automatic battery maintainers and you can monitor their activity by the red and green leds. A local storage battery manufacturer claims you can double the life of a lead acid battery by using an automatic maintainer when the vehicle is stored for more than a couple of months. This guy is in the business of selling batteries and has no reason to lie.
John

Merc Cruzer · 12-11-2016, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom from drippin'

which way? 24/7 or intermittent?

24/7 - both of mine are Optimas's

V4F · 12-11-2016, 09:19 AM

I use one solar charger on my optima & maintainer on my m/c batt. 24/7 when not in use

12-10-2016, 12:31 PM	#1
Tom from Drippin' Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dripping Springs, Texas Posts: 286	Battery Tenders? Should battery tenders be connected 24/7, or every other week or so? __________________ The pursuit of excellence is healthy and rewarding. The pursuit of perfection is frustrating, neurotic and a terrible waste of time.

12-10-2016, 12:35 PM	#2
Merc Cruzer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Conifer, Colorado Posts: 2,429	Re: Battery Tenders? I do mine and have for over 10 years now.

12-10-2016, 12:40 PM	#4
Dollar Bill Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Keystone Heights, FL Posts: 647	Re: Battery Tenders? I have five and also keep them connected full time. Most of my batteries are 10-12 years old so they must be effective. __________________ I Love Anything That Turns Money Into Noise

12-10-2016, 12:40 PM	#5
JohnLaVoy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Rocklin, CA Posts: 779	Re: Battery Tenders? I have mine on 24/7 and have for years.

12-10-2016, 12:51 PM	#7
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: Battery Tenders? Any automatic maintainer can be left connected.. make sure your electrolyte level is over the plates...if topping off the level know what your doing as overfilling is a no-no

12-10-2016, 03:12 PM	#8
mshmodela Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,763	Re: Battery Tenders? I had defective tender which appears to have slowly drained my batter.... Once I fully recharged it my car has been on it's own for the past 14 months without any battery charger... I myself do not trust batteries left alone over night while charging but that's me... __________________ -Mike Late 31' Ford Model A Tudor, Miss Daisy I don't work on cars --I'm learning about my Model A. Cleveland, Ohio

12-10-2016, 05:17 PM	#9
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,044	Re: Battery Tenders? I put battery tenders or trickle chargers on all our batteries once a month for 24 hrs. At the price of hydro these days I don't see the sense in putting then on 24/7. Done it this way for many years and have never had a battery that didn't last 10 or more years. __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

12-10-2016, 05:24 PM	#10
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,496	Re: Battery Tenders? I use a solar powered tender connected 24/7. Doesn't do much at night though. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

12-10-2016, 05:51 PM	#11
C26Pinelake BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto. Posts: 5,800	Re: Battery Tenders? Mine are on a sensory / timer device and run from noon to 8 pm daily.

12-10-2016, 06:21 PM	#12
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: Battery Tenders? Buy a $3 lamp timer at walmart and use it to turn the charger on for 1 hour a day. __________________ "There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."

12-10-2016, 07:43 PM	#13
Dodge Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Sonoma, CA. Posts: 1,495	Re: Battery Tenders? We have one that will charge up to six batteries at a time. One central location and long Leads to the different cars. On 24/7 Love my tender it's so sweet I'll never let it go. (Hum it to the Elvis song)

12-10-2016, 07:44 PM	#14
henry's 31 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Columbus(Cataula) Georgia Posts: 849	Re: Battery Tenders? I keep mine connected all the time. I keep the Deltron ones on every antique car, boat and lawn mower. These smart maintainer/chargers extend the battery life as confirmed here by other members. __________________ Henry' s 31

12-10-2016, 08:13 PM	#15
midgetracer Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bismarck ND Posts: 1,189	Re: Battery Tenders? I do 24/7 during the winter months. During the warm months I drive them enough to keEp Them charged.

12-11-2016, 06:55 AM	#18
John/CT Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eastern Connecticut Posts: 50	Re: Battery Tenders? I use a Battery Tender brand unit connected 24/7. These are automatic battery maintainers and you can monitor their activity by the red and green leds. A local storage battery manufacturer claims you can double the life of a lead acid battery by using an automatic maintainer when the vehicle is stored for more than a couple of months. This guy is in the business of selling batteries and has no reason to lie. John

12-11-2016, 09:19 AM	#20
V4F Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ca. Posts: 2,522	Re: Battery Tenders? I use one solar charger on my optima & maintainer on my m/c batt. 24/7 when not in use __________________ V4f