Want info on battery CHARGER / MAINTAINER

pharmvet · Jul 12, 2009

Just replace 2 batteries on my boat which sat in the garage all winter without being used. Guy at WalMart tested them and the machine he used said "Replace" A few guys mentioned getting a battery "maintainer" I have been planning to get a good battery charger anyway. Is there a combination maintainer / charger out there? Does any brand stand head and shoulders above the rest? I would like to buy American if possible. I would like some good advice from some of you guys that use a battery charger / maintainer on a regular basis. I have a boat and tractors as well as work truck, business truck and personal truck. thanks in advance.

MikePA · Jul 12, 2009

I have Battery Tenders from Deltran on my TC25D whenever I am not using it and my garden tractor over the winter. They work great.

Ivan1547 · Jul 12, 2009

If they are going to sit for months on end, try a solar powered trickle charger.

They keep a slight charge going into the battery all winter long.

Ivan

Bedlam · Jul 12, 2009

I have used these 'float chargers' they are usually on sale for about 5 dollars.
they work well for the money. I usually connect the battery side and be sure it has a good contact by the small indicator light. then plug in the 110 end.

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

stumbled upon this one too.

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

RonMar · Jul 12, 2009

I have been using one of these for a while now. Best charger I have ever owned. It will 3 stage charge wet, gel and AGM type batteries and automatically compensates for ambient temperature. It has a pulse charge/battery desulfate function for wet cells and a volt meter as well as alternator check function. When done charging, it automatically slips into float mode. It has about 8 different diagnostic codes and will announce battery faults if it detects problems during hookup or a charge cycle. I took mine to work a few times, and the boss liked it so much he bought one for the shop.

I would not leave it connected all the time, but you can hook it up for a charge, and not worry about exactly when you get back to it. Don't store your batteries on concrete, and give them a charge cycle with this thing every month or so during the off season...

Black & Decker Power Tools

Tread70 · Jul 12, 2009

MikePA said:
I have Battery Tenders from Deltran on my TC25D whenever I am not using it and my garden tractor over the winter. They work great.

^^^ I am with Mike^^^

Been using my Battery Tender Plus for a few years and no problems. I have the quick connect that came with it on my bike. I use the alligator clips for the lawn mower, car, tractor, etc....

Tread

ultrarunner · Jul 13, 2009

I've got about a dozen chargers... some Battery Tenders and some Battery Tender Juniors... the Juniors work well for small batteries found in motorcycles and garden equipment

The same charger is also sold under the interstate battery logo.

They have paid for themselves in reducing battery replacement costs.

I tempted to pick up one of the Black and Decker units RonMar mentioned.

The best chargers I've come across are sold by marine specialty shops and can get a bit pricey... might be worth it with multiple batteries...

Scooby074 · Jul 13, 2009

I got one of the Ctek chargers. works pretty good and can restore a bad battery ( within reason). It also is waterproof and comes with quick connector you can wire in to hard to reach batterys to enable easier connection to the charger. Id recomend it.

Skyco · Jul 13, 2009

The Black and Decker chargers are the same as the Vector brand. I have two and they have worked well, except one of them's fan howls like a hurt cat until it spins for a few minutes. I got both of them at Sam's Club.
BTW to use the desulfate/rejuvenate mode you should disconnect the battery from whatever it is used on.