Battery tender and battery charger recommendations! Please step in!

[homewrecker]

Originally Posted by JR 1

At least with older cars I've had, I usually just start them up once a month or so and I rarely have battery issues. My 2014 Camaro can't seem to stay charged even with normal driving so you probably want to use a charger or even disconnect the battery.

A word of warning though, I had a battery tender fry itself and the battery on an old car of mine. I'm thankful the garage and car didn't go up in flames. Since then I don't leave chargers hooked up long term. I'll hook up a charger if the car hasn't been driven in a while, but disconnect it after it's fully charged. I just don't trust the battery tenders, all that garbage is made in China now. Good luck.

WTF California. You guys even need special battery chargers?!? I'll assume those are about as effective as the new EPA approved gas cans that always result in a gas spill because they don't work for $hit.

This is exactly what I'm worried about, especially with my profession. My 2014 was the same way, it would need a jump if it sat for more than a week.

Usually, I drive the car every week and it would start all the time. Any longer then I'll have a problem. How about I buy a battery charger and just charge the battery when needed - instead of a tender? And I can always disconnect my battery.

Thoughts?




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[homewrecker]

Originally Posted by myold88

I'm with you. My new Camaro always starts even after sitting weeks. My antique cars sit for months-
Just charge the battery in the Spring for a few hours and I'm good to go.
Battery tenders are just something else to sell you IMO.

I'm leaning towards this. Thanks


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[Jsafe17]

That $20ish= much more extended battery and starter life.

[myold88]

Originally Posted by Jsafe17

That $20ish= much more extended battery and starter life.

I don't know if there are any studies to confirm that. If there are I would like to see them.

[forzasteve]

I have done some extensive personal research on this topic and I submitted a paper to this thread ...

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=431971

I welcome comments.

Steve

[Jsafe17]

Originally Posted by myold88

I don't know if there are any studies to confirm that. If there are I would like to see them.

http://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us...amage-starter/

[Jsafe17]

Originally Posted by myold88

I don't know if there are any studies to confirm that. If there are I would like to see them.

https://www.physicsforums.com/thread...oltage.280934/

[Jsafe17]

Originally Posted by myold88

I don't know if there are any studies to confirm that. If there are I would like to see them.

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2464551

[Jsafe17]

Originally Posted by myold88

I don't know if there are any studies to confirm that. If there are I would like to see them.

http://www.dbrstarters.com/FAQ_-_Starters___Alt.html

[Jsafe17]

Originally Posted by myold88

I don't know if there are any studies to confirm that. If there are I would like to see them.

When you lower the available voltage, the Amperage goes up...

Wattage, devided by voltage give you the amps. the wattage is constant ( decided by the device.).


But it will end up pulling more amperage through the coils of the motor, which can cause premature failure. Also, and contacts inbetween. Relays,
Switches and the like. Now buy the stinking battery tender or do you want the links for battery life too?
http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender...battery+tender

[Jsafe17]

Originally Posted by forzasteve

I have done some extensive personal research on this topic and I submitted a paper to this thread ...

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=431971

I welcome comments.

Steve

[myold88]

See full reply and interesting followups on forzastele's new thread of today re batteries.
Thanks to Jsafe17 also. Interesting read even though way over my paygrade- lol

[homewrecker]

Wow. Thanks all of you. I got some stuff to read after work!

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[JR 1]

Originally Posted by myold88

I don't know if there are any studies to confirm that. If there are I would like to see them.

In theory it should extend the battery life. I had class that covered how battery chemistry works and the bottom line is that a battery only has so many charge-discharge cycles until it will no longer hold a charge. Lithium ion batteries are especially sensitive to this, but our old fashioned lead acid car batteries not as much. Batteries don't like to be overcharged either though. Battery tenders are supposed to charge to an ideal level and then stop, but personally I don't trust them to do that. There is no way to know if they are overcharging your battery either by design or because it stopped working properly. After having a tender charge one of my batteries to oblivion (it was red hot) I'll stick to conventional chargers that I disconnect myself when the battery is charged. Most people seem to have good luck with the tenders, but I see it as a big risk for a small benefit.