battery mantainers

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dshebuski

Junior Member
Recently i have heard comments that the small battery maintainers shorten the life of a battery? Any one have any info on these chargers??
 
dshebuski, I hadn't heard that they shorten the battery life. Some say that they don't need them or they could present a fire hazard. I've been using them on my bikes, lawn tractors, boat, travel trailer and the A batteries that don't get used in the winter, for a LONG time and I haven't had any problems. I use timers that kick on for 1 hour a day just to keep 'em topped up so they are ready to go when I am. Just what I do, not sayin' its right, just works for me.
 
I use battery tenders and find them great, the only problem I have ever had was with my softail. Had a close lightning strike that surged thru the tender, blew the inline fuse and fried my voltage regulator and a couple circuit breakers.
 
I've used a battery tender for 20 years and it's extended the life of my batteries from four years to ten. I hook it up about once a month in the winter and alternate between two Model A's. Great investment.
 
The trick to a good battery maintainer is a small enough charge. If you are charging more than 1/2 amp continously you will shorten the life of your battery. Especially at 6 volts, most battery tenders are charging too much. (NEVER use the "Smart" ones)Use a good digital "in line" (not inductive coupled) milliamp meter and check the current. It should be less that 500mA. Preferably about 200 to 350mA. If you're up over that you are CHARGING your battery, not maintaining it. Look in your junk drawer and find an old cordless phone/calculator/cell phone power supply that says 6vdc on it and test it on a fully charged battery and find one that charges in that 300mA range, it will be the best battery tender ever! next go to a Radio SHack and by a 2 pin connector and mating end of some sort and wire it directly on the starter fuse. WhaLah, you have a quick and easy battery tender that just plugs in and will make your 2-4 year battery life into a 8-10 year battery life. Use it EVERY day, winter and summer.
 
I have been using Battery Minders on all of my old cars for many years now.

http://www.batteryminders.com/batte...motive-Battery-Chargers-orderby0-p-1-c-3.html

They come in both 6 volt and 12 volt varieties. They also have one designed for 12 volt Optima Batteries.

I leave a fused pigtail connected to the battery all the time, with a 2-prong plug quick disconnect to the Battery Minder. (They also supply a pair of spring clamps that you can attach and remove each time -- that's what my Dad does).

I leave it connected to the battery all the time the car is not being driven. It tops up the battery charge, if needed (at 1 amp if 6 volt, 1.3 amp if 12 volt), and then operates in a desulfatation mode after that to extend battery life. This is most helpful for batteries that sit for a long time between uses. It is really nice to be able to go out there any time and the car cranks strong and fires right up.

They are not cheap. Good stuff seldom is. Look around on the Internet for a good price. Beware if imitators.
 
Eagle just offered some good advice about overcharging by using a higher than needed output.

You can also lower the output by putting a small light bulb or resistor is line with the battery charger. I keep a modern car side marker light with it's socket and 12" of wire handy for just such a use when I want to lower the amps from my 6 amp battery charger.
 
Yes, that's the brand I have too. I have a 6V and a 12V for the garden tractor. I bought them from Eastwood and they too have performed flawlessly. You get what you pay for so don't take chances to save a few $.
 
well, i won't use one, saw a post a couple years ago, where a guy burned up his model a and garage using one
 
I wonder if overcharging the battery during summer driving, due to not setting the third brush on the generator properly, is more of an issue for Model A battery life than having the battery sit unused for 4 to 6 months?
 
30Tudor said:
I wonder if overcharging the battery during summer driving, due to not setting the third brush on the generator properly, is more of an issue for Model A battery life than having the battery sit unused for 4 to 6 months?
Click to expand...

I would think so, but it also depends on how much overcharge the battery is getting.
 
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