Is a battery maintainer a good idea?

Since maintainers are used for maintenance during periods when cars aren't going to be used, time isn't of the essence when charging. This means that a maintainer can give a battery a "low and slow" charge, which is better for its health than a faster charge or a jump.

Are battery maintainers any good?

If you have a vehicle or boat that'll be sitting for months on end, the answer is yes; it's absolutely worth it to have a battery maintainer for starting batteries. You'll have the peace of mind that your battery is safely charged, and you won't have to buy new batteries as often!

Can I leave a battery maintainer on all the time?

A battery maintainer will keep the battery charged AND extend its life. The great thing about battery maintainers is that they're completely automatic, so you can leave them connected for long periods of time.

Are battery maintainers necessary?

Do You Need a Battery Tender^®? A Battery Tender^® battery charger maintains the proper storage charge of a vehicle battery when it's not in use. It's valuable for anyone living in long, cold winters, and it's a necessity for anyone who leaves their vehicle unattended for two weeks or longer.

Will a battery maintainer overcharge a battery?

It stops sending a charge once the battery is full. The result is that a battery maintainer won't overcharge the battery like a charger might, which can help extend the life of the battery overall.

Choosing the Right Battery Maintainer / Charger for your Car or Motorcycle!

How long will a battery last on a maintainer?

By using a maintainer, you'll be able to extend the life of your batteries; when properly maintained, batteries can last for more than five years. Without proper maintenance, however, batteries may fail in less than two years.

What is better a battery maintainer or a trickle charger?

Trickle chargers are meant to be disconnected when they're done charging, while battery maintainers can be left plugged in. Remember, since all battery maintainers are "smart," they won't deliver any charge to a battery that's already full.

Do battery tenders ruin batteries?

They automatically switch to a safe float voltage level that keeps the battery charged and yet does not do any harm to the battery. In fact, in most cases, this type of charge maintenance will extend the battery's useful life by at least 50%.

Do I need a battery maintainer for new battery?

Many exotic and high-end new cars even come with some kind of battery maintenance device, because those manufacturers have acknowledged the level of electrical sophistication in their vehicles has advanced so far, that regular use of a battery maintainer is now simply part of ownership of those vehicles.

Should I use a battery tender every day?

Everyday regardless of the amount of use, unless away from home. I ride my Spyder RTS at least 5+ days a week to and from work and for pleasure. I have not hooked up my Battery Tender Jr since it was cold. Do you guy's and gal's use it when you ride frequently?

How much electricity does a battery maintainer use?

In 1 hour, that's about 0.00068 kW-h. You figure $0.11 per kW-h, so about $0.054 in a month for 24/7 operation. The maintenance charge can fluctuate up to about 100 mA, so I figure a peak of $0.10 in a month.

Can a trickle charger ruin a battery?

Leaving an unattended trickle charger on for too long might lead to overheating, causing the battery to boil the electrolyte. The outcome would be a dead battery or a worse case scenario— a possible fire/explosion.

Can you leave a trickle charger on all winter?

Some trickle chargers can be left on a battery indefinitely. These would be used on a vehicle that is not used all the time or is stored away for the winter or the summer. A trickle charger built specifically for this is left on in the event that the vehicle is needed in an emergency or other unexpected situation.

What is the purpose of a battery maintainer?

The main function of a battery maintainer is to keep a battery in top shape while it is in storage, usually for months at a time. While the battery maintainer is connected it routinely checks the battery, if it has discharged a certain amount, the battery maintainer would then start charging.

Can I start my car with a battery tender connected?

Their answer is YES it's ok as long as you don't let the engine run for a long time. I also like to add that the Tender has the Reverse Polarity safety feature where it will NOT charge if reverse.

How long can a battery be on a tender?

The normal lifespan of a regular battery is around 5 years. While a maintainer (or tender, if you like) won't extend the life of the battery, it should allow you to get the full lifespan of the battery. Plus, the battery will be completely charged when you go to start the vehicle.

How many amp battery Maintainer do I need?

As a rule of thumb, your charger should be 10% minimum of your battery's Ah rating. This means a 100Ah battery would need a 10 Amp charger minimum. You can increase the battery charge amp if you need the battery to be charged at a faster timeframe.

How do I keep my car battery from dying when not in use in winter?

What is the difference between a battery tender and a trickle charger?

A trickle charger provides a constant current all the time. It does not know whether the battery is charged or discharged. A battery tender is smart. It will charge the battery only when it needs charged.

What's the difference between a battery charger and a trickle charger?

A trickle charger never was the “best way” but thankfully new generation of “battery chargers” is on the market, which do the job nicely. The difference between a trickle charger and a battery charger is that a trickle charger constantly applies a charge, whether the battery is fully charged or not.

How do I charge my parked car battery?

The best way to really charge your battery is by taking a few laps. Car experts say that you want to drive around 30mph for around 30 minutes. This seems to be the most efficient way to get your alternator churning and cranking electricity back into your battery.

Should you use a trickle charger?

A trickle chargers' primary purpose is to slowly charge a battery and prevent overcharging – however, the same result can be achieved through the use of a standard charger. If storing batteries for a period of time is a common activity, then it's safe to say a trickle charger may be a good investment.