Smart maintainers are worth the money, but buy name brand. I’ve had cheap no names fry batteries over the winter. Now all of mine have been replaced with Noco Genius chargers of varying amperage and all have worked flawlessly.
Safe to trickle charge batteries all winter?
- Thread starter AngryScientist
- Start date
I have a harbor freight maintainer that I use in my lawn tractor battery. It puts out a half an amp max at a constant 13.5v. It's not the perfect voltage, but close enough to keep the battery at or very near 100% all winter. I always charge the battery all the way before putting this maintainer on, BTW.
You have to treat these $10 harbor freight maintainers, BTW. I had to return one that put out too high a voltage and would have boiled a FLA battery if left on indefinitely.
You have to treat these $10 harbor freight maintainers, BTW. I had to return one that put out too high a voltage and would have boiled a FLA battery if left on indefinitely.
I currently have 9 Battery Minder maintainers / desulficators in play. All bought over the years from Northern when they put them on sale.
Newer ones are temp. compensated. HF ones are junk, been there in the past. You get what you pay for. Desulification is the key to long life, not just charge being maintained.
Multiple over 10 year old batteries still functioning and testing fine. If its parked its plugged in via quick disconnects.
Lots of battery maintenance info in the electrical section.
Newer ones are temp. compensated. HF ones are junk, been there in the past. You get what you pay for. Desulification is the key to long life, not just charge being maintained.
Multiple over 10 year old batteries still functioning and testing fine. If its parked its plugged in via quick disconnects.
Lots of battery maintenance info in the electrical section.
Like the member above, I have 15 Battery Minder maintainers/desulfators connected to vehicles. If they aren't being driven/ridden, they are connected to the Battery Minders. The exception are the vehicles that get driven regularly.
Many have been connected continuously (other than periodic driving/riding stints) for years.
Many have been connected continuously (other than periodic driving/riding stints) for years.
If a battery is kept at 100% charge all the time, there is no sulphation occurring because there is no lead sulfate in solution to be deposited on the plates. Extreme examples of battery longevity are almost entirely due to the constant maintenance charge, and much less to any desulphation strategies used.
I'm not attributing the batteries long life to the desulfation feature of the Battery Minder maintainer/ desulfators. I'm just stating the make of battery maintainers I have used for years. That is how they are marketed. The oldest of my Battery Minders is approximately 25 years old.
I wasn't specifically replying to you, O2SE, but some earlier comments.
I was actually on the Battery Minder web site looking at their tenders as my trickle charger is not ideal it lacks temp compensation.
I’m not familiar with Battery Minder, but wanted to provide another option, Noco Genius chargers also have the temperature compensation. Not saying one is better than the other, just another option.
Smart chargers are the way to go. The cheap ones overcharge IMO. I use NOCO Genius 2 chargers daily and get 10-15 yrs out of them.
I just pulled my boat batteries out of the back of the garage that have been on a couple of cheap maintainers since last oct. Both after a slight draw are testing perfectly. These are cheap exides I bought last year from the farm store. I was going to put the boat in this weekend, but of course we might have stray snowflakes. This is why when the wife and I take off Florida this next winter we’re not coming back to Ohio until June. There’s no guarantee that it won’t spit snow in May!
These are really a decent charger for what they are. I’m a few years in and no complaints. I use Pulsetech and battery minders on my cars but these for extra seasonal stuff.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NJD36LH?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_10&th=1
After boiling a couple of motorcycle batteries dry over the winter with name brand maintainers over the last 20 years I put mine on 7 day timers. I didn't spend the time to diagnose the chargers. I go 4 hours 2 days a week. 15 years later, no issues.
Patman
Staff member
There is no electrical outlet for me to use in the underground parking of my building, where my Corvette is parked. So during the winter months, I plug in the factory battery tender into a portable power box for about two to three hours per week. That’s enough time to keep the battery topped up. It’s still on the original battery and it’s a 2018 Corvette so my method is working well
Need to understand a true "trickle charger" is not the same as a battery maintainer/float charger.
And a $20 HF battery maintainer is not the same as a $100 Battery Minder.
If I was charging an AGM I would make sure my battery maintainer was spec'ed for my type of AGM (flat plate or spiral wound or Oddessey).
Am a fan of Battery Minder products. I have 3 to 5. Meaning I think I have 5 but can only find 3.
And a $20 HF battery maintainer is not the same as a $100 Battery Minder.
If I was charging an AGM I would make sure my battery maintainer was spec'ed for my type of AGM (flat plate or spiral wound or Oddessey).
Am a fan of Battery Minder products. I have 3 to 5. Meaning I think I have 5 but can only find 3.
Hahaha!!! I have many possessions like that, lol. 3 out of 5 brain cells.
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YES! Safe to charge and wise to do so!
I own 3 motorcycles that I connect each to a tender as soon as I park in the garage and keep them connected 24/7/365.
I have been doing this almost 30 years and in return I get 4-7 years battery life with 5 years being the norm.
I prefer the NOCO brand battery maintainer but I still have some 20+ year old units from Black & Decker, Advance Auto parts old house brand that still work perfect.
I have also owned some collector cars and cars I don't drive much, ALL get a tender and are always connected!
I have never had a Safety issue or fire hazard.
I did have some bad luck with the actual brand " Battery Tender " as I had a few fail before the battery it was connected to did. I simply now avoid the Battery Tender Brand but many folks have no issues.
When the unit failed it was a non event and simply stopped charging...
I have purchased a "China" No-name charger once as I needed a 8 volt charger to bring a Golf Cart battery back to life.
Being off brand I may would not use it unsupervised but my guess the Name brand maintainers are no more risk than running a TV 24/7.
I own 3 motorcycles that I connect each to a tender as soon as I park in the garage and keep them connected 24/7/365.
I have been doing this almost 30 years and in return I get 4-7 years battery life with 5 years being the norm.
I prefer the NOCO brand battery maintainer but I still have some 20+ year old units from Black & Decker, Advance Auto parts old house brand that still work perfect.
I have also owned some collector cars and cars I don't drive much, ALL get a tender and are always connected!
I have never had a Safety issue or fire hazard.
I did have some bad luck with the actual brand " Battery Tender " as I had a few fail before the battery it was connected to did. I simply now avoid the Battery Tender Brand but many folks have no issues.
When the unit failed it was a non event and simply stopped charging...
I have purchased a "China" No-name charger once as I needed a 8 volt charger to bring a Golf Cart battery back to life.
Being off brand I may would not use it unsupervised but my guess the Name brand maintainers are no more risk than running a TV 24/7.
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