battery tender

[motor602]

hey what kind of battery tender are you guys using and where can i pick one up.

 

[Randy]

Coincidently, the brand name of one I use is "Battery Tender". I've never needed to use it on my Viper, as it gets driven every couple of days, year 'round. I've used it on friend's Vipers that were left at my place (because they live in places that get snow and visit regularly to drive), and it works well on a Viper. They're about $55, and you can find them at motorcycle and car parts shops, or just do a google search for it, and order it online.

 

[motor602]

ive seen a "battery maintenence" deal at sears, made by die hard, it has a setting for a 1.5 or 2 amp slow charge, automatically turns off when the battery is charged, turns back on when the power starts to go. Is this the same kind of product, i dont want to fry my electrical system by leaving it on for 3 months and have it be the wrong product

 

[NOTV8]

ive seen a "battery maintenence" deal at sears, made by die hard, it has a setting for a 1.5 or 2 amp slow charge, automatically turns off when the battery is charged, turns back on when the power starts to go. Is this the same kind of product, i dont want to fry my electrical system by leaving it on for 3 months and have it be the wrong product

I have a similar one. I picked it up in a local pep boys for around $26.

 

[tzoid]

the original battery tender, named "the Battery Tender" (coincidentally!) complete with onboard chip that measures battery voltage and automatically shuts itself down to idle when the battery is fully charged, is sold regularly at Pep Boys for around $40 to $45. I wouldn't advise anything else simply because this is a known quantity that started the whole thing. From many previous posts, I would guess that this is the unit used by most Viper owners.

 

[Randy]

the original battery tender, named "the Battery Tender" (coincidentally!) complete with onboard chip that measures battery voltage and automatically shuts itself down to idle when the battery is fully charged, is sold regularly at Pep Boys for around $40 to $45. I wouldn't advise anything else simply because this is a known quantity that started the whole thing. From many previous posts, I would guess that this is the unit used by most Viper owners.

Exactly. After making that second posting, I was perusing a catalog and found it for $35. Here's a link:

http://www.competitionaccessories.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=503&CFID=904901&CFTOKEN=86180846

 

[motor602]

Ric, how is it working out for you

thanks for the info guys, im getting really tired of coming home to a dead battery every three months.

 

[IEATVETS]

I can't believe that peoples battery's go dead after 3 months?! I have never used a tender or charger of any kind during the winter months. I put my cars away for the winter, (of course it is heated storage) in early November and I started the Viper 2 weeks ago for the first time in 5 months and she fired right off. Did the same with my other 2 cars and the same results. I just wonder if some of you have a slow drain on the battery because I have never had a problem.

 

[ruckdr]

I have the "battery Tender", but was told about this one by one of our members (Viper Club), who is using several, of these including on his Viper and motorcycles, snowmobiles, etc.
Can't beat the price!!

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42292

Later,

 

[Gerald Levin]

I also have the battery tender and would be afraid to use a $7.50 product that can't possibly be the same as the $40 battery tender. But then again, it may be better, but I'll sleep better spending the $40 and going with the product that has been used by hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts.

 

[jgfurr]

Got the "Battery Tender" too and it works great.

 

[luc]

I have about 15 of those HF chargers in 24/7 use since the last 4/5 years and not a single problem.

Luc. 00GTS

 

[01sapphireGTS]

IEATVETS: I think the word "heated" in your storage description, is the key to your successful battery life. I have my car in heated storage ( 60F ) also without the alarm set, and expect the same results as you have. ie, turn the key and start.

Now the wait for Spring weather to arrive...

 

[Johann]

Another vote for the cheapo HF unit, I have five connected right now and never overcharged or any other problems.

 

[Hisserman]

I use a Schumacher unit that comes with a mounting bracket that allows me to mount it on the car with existing bolts. When I need it I just extend an extension cord through the gill and hook it up. Otherwise, I tuck the cord behind the unit and move on down the road. It cost about $29.00 at Auto Zone.

 

[NOTV8]

Ric, how is it working out for you

thanks for the info guys, im getting really tired of coming home to a dead battery every three months.

It is working fine. You also have a choice of permanently attaching the quick connect cord or use the other set of cord if you don't want to do it permanent. The model # 021--123. It is made by DELTRAN. Check it out on your local PEP BOYS.

 

[joe117]

The battery in my 94 was there when I bought the car three years ago.
I don't know how old it is. Probably should change it.

But, I store my car in a non heated garage and I have never had a problem starting the car. I do not believe that any Viper "needs" a battery tender.

Will it hurt to have one? No, put one on your car if you like, no problem.

But there is a downside to keep in mind.

If you have a current drain that runs your battery down, something is wrong with your battery or your electrical system. The manual has specs for current drain. If your car is at the high end of spec it will sit for almost three months with no problem. In reality your Viper should sit all winter in the cold and still start.

If you use a battery tender it may mask a problem that may surface when you go on a weekend trip where you can't plug in the battery tender.

In other words your battery may develop a problem some day and you will not know about it until you get stranded.

A battery tender over the winter on a car that doesn't get started is ok.

A battery tender on a car every time you put it in the garage is really not needed and not a good idea.

 

[GR8_ASP]

I use a battery tender for extended winter periods. I would recommend it to anyone that stores their Viper (or other car) for over a month at a time. But make sure it is a battery tender and not a trickle charger (a trickle charger will over charge your battery).

At the least it could prevent a no start condition. But it will also extend the life of your battery. Keeping your battery at a top level of charge prevents a deep draw that would normally occur. My RT/10 battery lasted 8 years using a tender for wintering. Doubtful it would have lasted that long with the long winter deep draws over that same period.

 

[luc]

Good point Ron,a battery tender or what's called a float charger,will stay,once the battery is fully charged, at about 13.5V,anything about 13.75V will boil the electrolyte if let on for long period of times.

Luc.00GTS

 

[motor602]

I went back to sears and picked up the Die Hard "battery chager / engine starter." It operates under fully automatic control which according the description on the box, shuts off automatically when the battery is fully charged, monitors charge level, then turns of if the battery loses power. This sounds the same as a "battery tender," also it will be running at 2 amps, i figure i would only need to use the absolute lowest setting on the device (2, 10, or 50 amps for engine cranking). If this sounds shady to you guys let me know, I have a hard time trusting new products when it comes to my snake.

 

[luc]

Mashesh:

You should be fine but those units,even if fully automatic,are not really designed to be left on all the time.

Luc.00GTS

 

[GR8_ASP]

Not sure. I know normal trickle chargers do not stop, but just reduce current flow. They will overcharge a battery. Listen to it after it has been on for a while. If it still hums (assuming it uses an ac to dc converter) it is not off and may over charge the battery.

Battery tenders that I use have solid state electronics and are off completely, only monitoring the voltage, when they are at full charge. A light indicates that. Over long periods you can see it cycle on for a few minutes and then off for several hours. So I do not believe it holds it at a specified voltage, but has a predefined hysterisis.

 

[Achilles99]

I had the Battery tender on my other cars. For the latest Viper, I was too lazy to wait for one, and just picked one up at Walmart that works the same way. Only $14

 

[Gerald Levin]

I relayed the above info on the $7.50 harbor freight charger to an auto electrical specialist and he said the following:

"Before you cook your battery over the winter, test the float amperage on this device. I killed 2 batteries with these "cheap" devices several years ago. They are fine for very short periods, but if you want to hook it up for long periods, you'll be replacing the battery."

Has anybody ever checked the "float amperage" on any of these inexpensive chargers?

 

[luc]

Gerald:

I did:

Volts 13.45
Amp 200ma (2/10 of 1 Amp

Luc 00GTS

 

[Rocket65C]

Being the Harbor Freight ***** that I am, I could not pass up one of those Battery Float Chargers at $7.49. I went out and tested mine. It reads 13 VDC on the multimeter-I don't know how to test for float amperage. If someone wants to post how to do it, I'll try. The box that the device came in does say "It maintains a battery charge for batteries rated from 5 to 125 amp-hours, by proving[sic] a constant(minimum current) 12.5 VDC regulated output." I also have a battery tester that I'll hook up to it to see if that yields any useful info.

 

[luc]

Rocket65c:

Very easy, on the voltmeter,you have 2 probles (black and red) and 3 "holes".

The black lead always stay in the one that say "COM"
For AMPS, move the red lead to the "other hole" labeled usually "ADC"
That done,connect the black alligator clip from the charger to the - side of the battery.
Next connect the red lead from the voltmeter to the + side of the battery and last, the black lead from the voltmeter to the red + alligator clip from the charger.
You have to change the selector swith from DCV to DCA
Basically, you put the voltmeter in line and the voltage/AMPS from the charger go through the voltmeter before going to the battery.

Luc. 00GTS

 

[JPL]

JonB's got this:
http://partsrack.blastmart.com/customer/product.php?productid=1346&cat=151&page=1

 

[Tiepilot]

I have two Battery Tender Brand chargers ( Viper and Motorcycle) and I love them both.