Trickle Charger for Mustang

[Tdbo]

I am looking for a trickle charger for the Mustang in my signature. It is rarely used (11K on it since I bought it new) and it is parked all winter. Last year, had to put a new battery in it and this year I had to start it with a boost. Since it will be on all winter, I want something better than the $5. HF special,compact, easy to use, but I also want a good value as well. I ran across this charger:

http://www.amazon.com/Multi-12-Volt-Smar...p;keywords=ctek

Opinions?

 

[Colt]

I don't know about that one but I've used the popular Battery Tender brand since '97 and it works great.
I use it on my GS as it's a weekend pleasure vehicle so it sits a lot.Especially in winter.
Used it daily on a '69 Corvette show car I sold a few years ago.

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021...ery+tender+plus

 

[OldSparks]

People give the CTEK rave reviews. I've never used one - I also have a Battery Tender Jr, and it works well.

 

[Tdbo]

Originally Posted By: OldSparks
People give the CTEK rave reviews. I've never used one - I also have a Battery Tender Jr, and it works well.


The reviews are what have me interested. I like the compactness of the unit, just want to get another perspective on it.

 

[Quattro Pete]

If you're going to spend this much on a charger, you might as well get something that is temperature compensated, like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021...ure+compensated

Otherwise, you can get a Battery Tender Jr. for a lot less.

 

[Audios]

CTek is the factory trickle charger for many european brands, I installed them at both Mercedes and BMW dealers as factory accessories, and Porsche comes with their own re branded Ctek also.

 

[Bryankkkk]

I use that CTEK,I have 2 of them and they are great. One on the ATV and the other on the truck.

 

[Rob_Roy]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
If you're going to spend this much on a charger, you might as well get something that is temperature compensated, like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021...ure+compensated

Otherwise, you can get a Battery Tender Jr. for a lot less.


I have one of those units...it works excellent for batteries that sit through the winter.

 

[oldhp]

I use the Battery Tender Junior on my Charger all the time. Works great, simple plug and play.

 

[cat843]

CTEK is on the expensive side.

 

[SIXSPEED]

I use a cheap Sears charger that I bought for less than $20 to keep the battery in my 2007 GT500 charged up. I just plug it into the lighter receptacle every few weeks ... works great.

 

[Tdbo]

Originally Posted By: Bryankkkk
I use that CTEK,I have 2 of them and they are great. One on the ATV and the other on the truck.


Couple of questions for you if you don't mind:

1. Do you have the 3300's?

2. The only thing that concerns me is that the description says that they are fully automatic. However, one of the reviews said that the unit did not switch modes automatically. What has been your experience?

 

[HTSS_TR]

The Schumacher XM1-5 Maintainer has good reviews on Walmart and Amazon, it's $20 at both Walmart and Aamzon. Buy it from Walmart to try for a month, if you're not satisfy you can always return it and buy something else.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher-XM1-5-Maintainer-1.5-Amp/15140193

 

[JHZR2]

Battery Minder 2012, or the real metal case battery tender. It is the only type Id use, as they are thermally compensated. \

http://batteryminders.com/details.php?prod=2012

http://batterytender.com/products/automotive/battery-tender-plus-12v-at-1-25a.html

 

[Bryankkkk]

Originally Posted By: Tdbo
Originally Posted By: Bryankkkk
I use that CTEK,I have 2 of them and they are great. One on the ATV and the other on the truck.


Couple of questions for you if you don't mind:

1. Do you have the 3300's?

2. The only thing that concerns me is that the description says that they are fully automatic. However, one of the reviews said that the unit did not switch modes automatically. What has been your experience?


Yes I have 2 of the 3300 Ones.

You have to set the mode to What your application is. I have had 0 issues. The one on my Odyssey Battery was hooked up for 5 months straight and just started my truck today and worked great. It is a really awesome charger and worth the money. It comes with accessories for quick connecting. You will not be dissapointed.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
The Schumacher XM1-5 Maintainer has good reviews on Walmart and Amazon, it's $20 at both Walmart and Aamzon. Buy it from Walmart to try for a month, if you're not satisfy you can always return it and buy something else.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher-XM1-5-Maintainer-1.5-Amp/15140193

I wonder why Walmart seems to think this unit is temperature compensated. I could not find any mention of it on Schumacher's website nor in its owner's manual.

Anyway, in the $20 range, it seems like a good unit.

 

[HTSS_TR]

I think it is not temperature compensated. This is more or less a maintainer not a charger for car battery. The price of a good charger/maintainer with temperature compensated is more than double.

Since it can be returned to any Walmart within 3 months with receipt for full credit, and the cost is low I think it worth a try.

 

[cat843]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
I think it is not temperature compensated. This is more or less a maintainer not a charger for car battery. The price of a good charger/maintainer with temperature compensated is more than double.

Since it can be returned to any Walmart within 3 months with receipt for full credit, and the cost is low I think it worth a try.



I felt the same way, too cheap to be temp compensated.

However I emailed them and Willis Dawson (Schumacher Corp)said it will work properly at -10 F and will raise the voltage slightly when its cold and drop it when it hot. Not sure why they do not list it on the box and in manual. I would hawk it.

 

[Tdbo]

Originally Posted By: Bryankkkk
Originally Posted By: Tdbo
Originally Posted By: Bryankkkk
I use that CTEK,I have 2 of them and they are great. One on the ATV and the other on the truck.


Couple of questions for you if you don't mind:

1. Do you have the 3300's?

2. The only thing that concerns me is that the description says that they are fully automatic. However, one of the reviews said that the unit did not switch modes automatically. What has been your experience?


Yes I have 2 of the 3300 Ones.

You have to set the mode to What your application is. I have had 0 issues. The one on my Odyssey Battery was hooked up for 5 months straight and just started my truck today and worked great. It is a really awesome charger and worth the money. It comes with accessories for quick connecting. You will not be dissapointed.



Thanks for the response. Really not in a great hurry, I'm either going to have to get an electrician to (or do myself) run an outlet out to the carport, first. I just really like the size of the unit, it is much more handy then either an aluminum or plastic box to deal with when it is hooked up to the car.

I looked both at the Schumacher and a very similar Sears (Diehard) unit at Meijer today. Both were the same price ($20.) No doubt that either would do what I need them to do, or for that matter, any form of the Battery Tender, would as well.

I'm not looking for the cheapest unit, I'm looking for the easiest to use and store. I'm also looking at the TecMate and NOCO units as well. If anyone has experience with either of those two units, please chime in as well