trickle charger recommendations

[Doug]

I want to store a car with battery connected for perhaps a month or
two during winter. What is a good trickle charger to keep hooked up
on it to keep the battery from dying ? Will it matter if the battery
is not at full charge when I put it on? Since I never had one, do
they use alligator clips like a regular charger? Recommendations for
a "good" one regardless of price? Thanks all.

[uncle_vito]

"Doug" <do...@noemailaddress.com> wrote in message
news:hetej811bt3bp5r5o...@4ax.com...

I have used the Battery Tender Plus for about 10 years. Two leds tell the
state of charge.
Has both alligator clamps and round terminal ends with a connector in the
charging cable. With the round terminal ends, you can wire your car and
have a hidden connector that is easy to access when the car is parked in the
garage.

http://batterytender.com/?gclid=CLHn5r_M6LUCFc9AMgod-EcAyw

[Dad]

"uncle_vito" <uncle_v...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:51377b03$0$13464$862e...@ngroups.net...

Second that, even the Junior will do the job on a good battery. Works even
after you run over it. ;-))

[Doug]

Thanks "Uncle Vito and Dad".... I didn't hesitate to take your
advice and just ordered the Battery Tender Plus. Should have it by
late Friday. Thanks again to both of you !!

[Rufus]

One more neat trick that I do with these on my Harleys is to install the
quick disconnect lead for the charger and throw the clamp-on leads in my
saddle bag...makes for a quick hookup jumper cable set that fits in a
pocket.

No reason that wouldn't work for a car, unless the wire gauge isn't
sufficient.

--
- Rufus

[Unquestionably Confused]

On 3/6/2013 2:02 PM, Rufus wrote:
>
> One more neat trick that I do with these on my Harleys is to install the
> quick disconnect lead for the charger and throw the clamp-on leads in my
> saddle bag...makes for a quick hookup jumper cable set that fits in a
> pocket.
>
> No reason that wouldn't work for a car, unless the wire gauge isn't
> sufficient.

I have both the Schauer (sp?) battery tender and a Black & Decker. Both
work quite well and the wire gauge will not be a problem. Both have the
LED's and circuitry that keep the battery topped off (no more, no
less)by cycling it on and off as needed. I don't think either one cost
more than $25 - $27.

The Black & Decker comes with both the clips and the round terminals AND
a polarized quick disconnect plug with a little rubber seal. As a
result, the Black & Decker was "assigned" to the Corvette and if the
roads are clear and dry in December and I want to take a spin it's quite
easy to hit the road and reconnect upon my return.

[Doug]

On Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:12:45 -0600, Doug <do...@noemailaddress.com>
wrote:

UPDATE:
Started to use it on Sunday and by Monday I could see the storage
light now on solidly. It appears to work great. I guess I should
hold back and give it more time but at this point, it appears to work
just as it's supposed to.

Thanks again to both of you.

[uncle_vito]

"Doug" <do...@noemailaddress.com> wrote in message

news:709uj8d0eg37175e9...@4ax.com...

One little detail that I noticed with my battery on the trickle charger and
it could be a characteristic of all trickle chargers (Battery Tender Plus)
. After being attached for about 3 years, showing full charge the entire
time (green light), I found my battery did not start my car. Found the
cells had gone dry. Took it back to the auto store where I bought it to
get credit on a new one. I refilled the cells with distilled water so that
it looked like I had taken good care of the battery (was a no maintenance
battery, anyway). They tested the battery at full load and it tested good.
Took it back home for another 3 years of use, also using the trickle
charger. Finally car would not start, cells were dry, and filling with
water would not recover the batter. New battery then after 6 years.

Just periodically check the water level. After a long period of time, it
can drop.

Vito

[Doug]

Thanks for the tip. I probably should do this now because I haven't
checked it in a long time. Now I don't have any excuse to forget.

Thanks again Vito....

[Doug]

On Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:22:36 -0500, Doug <do...@noemailaddress.com>
wrote:

Just checked this vehicle and my other. Both needed some water in the
battery. I thought it was a coincidence that both battery's end caps
needed the most water.

[uncle_vito]

"Doug" <do...@noemailaddress.com> wrote in message

news:6tc1k8hi9rfh2lr0p...@4ax.com...

Batteries are complex animals. Note the problem Boeing is having. Also
issues with batteries for electric cars. The instantaneous torque in
traction motors can be immense. However, a battery is like a small bomb
when you consider the energy stored. Very difficult to contol all the
reaction modes in a battery.