Batteryminder 1500 Review

[bdhsfz6]

I guess I kinda want to know,,
have you had to purchase any batteries since 2013,, or has this charger been 100% successful??

I find I can charge most equipment batteries, but, the cars and trucks that hit pot holes seem to have battery failure, that can not be fixed,,,

I use the maintainer on my tractors and marine batteries and have not replaced one since buying the unit in 2013. I don't use it on my vehicles though since it's too inconvenient to connect / disconnect. Consequently, I did have to replace a battery in my 2006 Chevy van.

 

[Billrog]

I've been using a battery minder that I don't see listed any more for between 10 & 15 years now. I was maintaining over 30 battery's until a few years ago when I bought 4 more chargers to have less to move around during the winter. Once a mon. all the equipment that sits for the winter I stick the charger on them for 3 or 4 days. Seems to be doing the job I have some battery's that have been around a while.
The one I use has the temp. sensor and 2 - 4 - or 8 volts.

 

[John_Mc]

I've been using a battery minder that I don't see listed any more for between 10 & 15 years now. I was maintaining over 30 battery's until a few years ago when I bought 4 more chargers to have less to move around during the winter. Once a mon. all the equipment that sits for the winter I stick the charger on them for 3 or 4 days. Seems to be doing the job I have some battery's that have been around a while.
The one I use has the temp. sensor and 2 - 4 - or 8 volts.

Did you mean 2 - 4 - or 8 AMPS?

I wonder if what you have is the BatteryMinder 12248 model. Does it also allow you to select Gel, Flooded, or AGM charging profiles?

The 12248 is a very good charger. Similar to the 128CEC1 except for some differences in the indicators on the panel, and the fact that the 128CEC1 will remember the charging profile selected if the power goes out, while the 12248 resets to "Gel" after an outage.

 

[Billrog]

Yes I meant amps & it resets to gel . I owned it for probably 10 years before I was able to prove it to myself it actually worked. I did it with 6 - 6 volt battery's that wouldn't fully charge. I hooked a wire from neg. to neg. then hooked up the charger to the pos terminals doing 2 at a time for a wk each then after letting them rest for 24 hrs. checked with a hydrometer and they all registered good.
Checked mine this morning it's indeed a 12248.

 

[Ford850]

There are several old threads on battery chargers, tenders, minders, etc. They had me confused and not sure on which one to buy. Then last fall my battery was slowly failing on my Case IH DX55. I finally decided on the BatteryMinder 1500 due to it's new ambient temperature sensor and other features (Charger/Maintainer/Desulfator System). You can see one here: BatteryMINDer Charger/Maintainer/Desulfator System Model# 1500 | Battery Maintainers| Northern Tool + Equipment
When I ordered it, we had a below zero cold blast coming, with lots of snow in the forecast. I didn't think I would receive the minder before the snow, so I bought a new battery for the DX55 but didn't install it yet. The shipment came early, so I connected it to the DX and left it for 2 days. That battery would sit at 11.3 volts normally, but after the batteryminder was on it, it seemed to hold a 12.7 charge even after resting for days. It started great for that snow storm, even with temps near zero.
I also ordered a handful of the quick connect ring terminal cords, and a 25' extension cord with quick connects. I added the cords to the tractor, and each lawn mower, tiller, etc. that had a battery. I began connection each for approx. 3 days, then rotating the minder to the next battery. After charging them all, I left them rest for a couple weeks, and did that again, a couple more cycles. Now each of those batteries is holding a full charge after resting for a couple weeks in this extreme cold. The worst was that battery on the DX, and it now holds a full charge and starts easily every time. I returned the unused battery I purchased, for a full refund.
I like the temp sensor on these batteryminders. That allows for an automatic charge adjustment based on temperature. No need to worry about boiling the batteries in the hot summer months, and it gives the extra boost needed in the cold months. The lights on the 1500 are in appropriate colors so once you've seen them a couple times, you can tell right away if there is a problem, and what function is working at that time (charging, maintaining, desulfating).
I just thought I'd pass along my findings in case someone is thinking of one of these.

I'm not expecting a miracle cure, but it's already saved me from buying a battery for at least another year. What I'm really hoping to do is prolong the life of all the batteries by a year or 4(?) by keeping them topped off during the storage months in cold weather. The way I have things tucked in my barn, I occasionally have to start something to move it out of the way. Since it is then parked again and left resting for weeks/months, that is what really destroys the batteries. With my new process I can plug it in easily after starting the engines and not letting them run long enough to recharge the battery. And then also top all of them off every few weeks.

I'm checking in to this thread to update, 3 years after my initial post about my BatteryMinder rejuvenating the battery on my DX55. Other than that battery on my Grasshopper back in 2015, I have had no other replacements. All batteries are still cranking strong, including the original one on the DX55. I continue my routine of connecting the 'Minder' to each battery for a day or so, about once a month. Another benefit I've noticed is that I have little or no corrosion on cables and clamps like I used to have. I assume it is because the batteries are kept fully charged and aren't gassing off like the did when sitting idle with a partial charge. I do keep them coated with Fluid Film, which also helps.

Another year, another success story with no battery replacements just like I reported last year. It's been 6 years since I started using the BatteryMinder, revived my 7 year old weak/dead battery on my DX55, and started this thread. It's now 6 years later and that original battery is still going strong, using the routine I mentioned above. 13 years old now, I've almost doubled it's life since I thought it was dead and gone. I continue to use the BatteryMinder on all my other batteries (other than car and truck due to convenience) and haven't replaced any others in quite awhile now.

 

[BarnieTrk]

Another year, another success story with no battery replacements just like I reported last year. It's been 6 years since I started using the BatteryMinder, revived my 7 year old weak/dead battery on my DX55, and started this thread. It's now 6 years later and that original battery is still going strong, using the routine I mentioned above. 13 years old now, I've almost doubled it's life since I thought it was dead and gone. I continue to use the BatteryMinder on all my other batteries (other than car and truck due to convenience) and haven't replaced any others in quite awhile now.

Thanks for the udate, Ford850! It's great to hear followup reports...be them good or bad, followups are great!

BarnieTrk

 

[Ford850]

Another year, another success story with no battery replacements just like I reported last year. It's been 6 years since I started using the BatteryMinder, revived my 7 year old weak/dead battery on my DX55, and started this thread. It's now 6 years later and that original battery is still going strong, using the routine I mentioned above. 13 years old now, I've almost doubled it's life since I thought it was dead and gone. I continue to use the BatteryMinder on all my other batteries (other than car and truck due to convenience) and haven't replaced any others in quite awhile now.

Another year, and still using that old battery in my DX55. I've now doubled it's life since the year I thought it was dead and started using the Batteryminder on it. 14 years old. I've had some really cold starts in the past few weeks, and some more to come, so I'm hoping it holds out through the winter. If I think of it I'll check it's resting volts and report back, but I expect it's got to be getting lower by now. All other batteries that are in the Batteryminder rotation are still in use too.

 

[tibadoe]

I also have been using the BatteryMINDers on all my vehicles, motorcycle, mowers, tractor, abi grader, and ham radio backup battery. Every piece of equipment including my vehicles are pigtail ready for plugin. If the battery is sitting no matter how long or what time of year - they are plugged in. No regrets using this and highly recommend.

 

[the old grind]

I have four other desulphating chargers from 1.5a to 3.5a and two excellent maintainers, but my four 1500s are the best of the bunch.

Of note is temp compensation with the Battery-Minders. Some others list min temp at 0 deg C and in the teens/twenties the 'full charge' light is on regardless of state of charge.

I could use three more 1500s to reduce rotation every few days and plan to order them soon.

 

[cqaigy2]

Ok, ok already. You talked me into getting one. :laughing: I've only been following this thread for 3 years, i hate being rushed into buying something. BatteryMINDer 1510: 12 Volt-1.5 Amp Battery Charger, Battery Maintainer, and Battery Desulfator – Designed for Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, ATV, Boats, RV.

 

[John_Mc]

I've got several varying models of BatteryMINDer chargers/maintainers. Another model you may want to consider is their model 1215C. Electrically, it's very similar to the model 1500, but it is much more weather resistant. It's rated at IP65: protection from low pressure water jets from any angle. It costs about $20 more than the model 1500, but since I wanted at least one of my chargers to be able to handle being out in a rainstorm, it was worth it to me.

 

[the old grind]

I just opened up my 1500 that quit working. Water intrusion took out a chip on the mobo at the ps end while it sat on/in the skidder.

I ordered another one to get me back up to five 1500s and five others. Two more will get me there.

 

[cqaigy2]

I have one of these Batteryminder 1500 series now, and another manufacture. I'm so thrilled that the pig tails on them are reversed from each other. :laughing: :thumbsup: :smiley_aafz:

 

[the old grind]

So far all of my connectors and pigtails use the same polarity. Some makes are just reversed.

NOCO and a few others use a different style altogether. I read a lot of reviews and Q&As before I try another brand.

 

[John_Mc]

I have one of these Batteryminder 1500 series now, and another manufacture. I'm so thrilled that the pig tails on them are reversed from each other. :laughing: :thumbsup: :smiley_aafz:

That stinks. I would have thought that everyone who used those SAE 2-pin 12V connectors would set it up so that the side which connects to your battery had the positive connected to the female connector. This would still provide a bit of shielding when you inevitably break off and lose the little connector cover (those little retaining tethers just don't stand up to repeated use, especially in cold weather). I have not actually checked to see which is which on my connectors. I'll have to take a look.

BTW: for everyone else who has lost those little protective caps on the ends of the quick disconnects for their charger or other 12VDC appliance, you can order replacements. You'll need to zip-tie them on or find some other means of attachment, since the little since rings which go around the wire are too small to fit over anything but the wire itself. I'm not sure I could even get it over a ring terminal connector. The retaining straps are the same cheap construction as the original, so don't expect it to last long, especially if you use them in cold weather. I've never been able to find any replacement caps that are more durable in their design and construction. (I've debated drilling a hole and adding my own string to it.)
https://www.amazon.com/Meetou-Replacement-Weather-Waterproof-Connector/dp/B07R7D9F9R/

 

[Ford850]

I think I mentioned earlier in this thread that I use my 1500 on nearly every battery, except for my cars/trucks. This is mainly due to inconvenience of connecting and disconnecting. Well, shortly after writing my latest update back in February, our 3 1/2 year old Ford Escape was having weak battery issues. It started with daily messages on the Sync screen, so I checked the state of the battery with a multimeter. I checked it for several days, and it was only holding 12.2v on it's best day. So I started a weekend routine on it with my BatteryMinder 1500. Every Friday evening I connected the 1500 and left it on until Sunday evening. After 2 weekends I checked the charge to see if I made any progress, but there was barely any difference. I continued the weekend maintenance routine for several more weeks and each week the charge did improve slightly. The Sync messages stopped, and the battery now holds at 12.5v.

 

[Alan W.]

I think I mentioned earlier in this thread that I use my 1500 on nearly every battery, except for my cars/trucks. This is mainly due to inconvenience of connecting and disconnecting. Well, shortly after writing my latest update back in February, our 3 1/2 year old Ford Escape was having weak battery issues. It started with daily messages on the Sync screen, so I checked the state of the battery with a multimeter. I checked it for several days, and it was only holding 12.2v on it's best day. So I started a weekend routine on it with my BatteryMinder 1500. Every Friday evening I connected the 1500 and left it on until Sunday evening. After 2 weekends I checked the charge to see if I made any progress, but there was barely any difference. I continued the weekend maintenance routine for several more weeks and each week the charge did improve slightly. The Sync messages stopped, and the battery now holds at 2.5v.

Wow almost a 10 volt drop
Just kiddin. I could not get a battery to last on my welder over a year or so. Mainly due to lack of use. So I put a Batteryminder on it. Going on 3 years now and just as strong as new. Got one on the tractor too.

 

[Ford850]

Wow almost a 10 volt drop
Just kiddin. I could not get a battery to last on my welder over a year or so. Mainly due to lack of use. So I put a Batteryminder on it. Going on 3 years now and just as strong as new. Got one on the tractor too.

Thanks for pointing that out! I corrected my typo.

 

[Ford850]

Another year, and still using that old battery in my DX55. I've now doubled it's life since the year I thought it was dead and started using the Batteryminder on it. 14 years old. I've had some really cold starts in the past few weeks, and some more to come, so I'm hoping it holds out through the winter. If I think of it I'll check it's resting volts and report back, but I expect it's got to be getting lower by now. All other batteries that are in the Batteryminder rotation are still in use too.

14 1/2 years, and my original battery finally gave up. For the past couple months I noticed it didn't have much depth and was only good for a quick spin or two, so if the tractor didn't start immediately I was going to need a boost. Rather than baby it along until winter when I would definitely need a new battery, I replaced it now. I don't have to worry about needing a jump start if it didn't start while away from the barn. I'll keep up my BatteryMinder routine with this new battery but I doubt it will last half as long as the original. These newer batteries don't seem to have the life span as they used to.