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Battery tenders???

  • Thread starter Thread starter madmikeracing
  • Start date Start date
M

madmikeracing

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Leaving battery tender on battery all the time?/ Would this damage the battery after time ? Also which batteries have you guys had good luck with? Ive had zero luck with the Batteries Ive bought. Seems everything is getting cheaper and more poorly made .!!
 
From my experience, yes the battery can be damaged from it. I have the Motobatt AGM style battery in both of my bikes and haven't had any problems with them.
 
Yes Motobatt, I have 2 bikes with them also. One is 4 years old and still keeps it's charge for months without recharging.
 
If you are using an intelligent charger (which often come with a tender function integrated), then no. You'll need to do some research though how exactly it is implemented on the device, for example, blindly applying a fixed float voltage & current won't be ideal.
 
I use the Motobatt AGM and pretty much leave it connected If I'm not riding. Back when I was moving some years ago I had to leave my bike in an unheated garage with no power for pickup later and the battery must have been low. The freezing weather got it. It's replacement stays connected. The cheap tenders might cause damage but the better ones automatically switch off unless the battery needs to charge. Get a quality tender and you will have no problems.
 
madmikeracing said:
Leaving battery tender on battery all the time?/ Would this damage the battery after time ?
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Some of that would depend on your battery, but a LOT of it depends on your "tender". :-k

The problem is because there are several devices that are called "tenders". Some are merely low-amperage MANUAL chargers. Although they are low-amperage, they just keep pumping a charge into the battery, long after it is charged. An improvement is the AUTOMATIC charger. They start at a low rate that is safe for our smaller motorcycle batteries. When they detect a full charge, they switch to an even lower rate, but they still keep pumping a charge into the battery. The best type of charger might be called a "tender" or might be called a "maintainer". It will charge the battery at a proper low rate, switch to an even lower rate to make sure the battery is properly topped off, then will shut off. While it is off, it monitors battery voltage. If it detects low voltage, it switches on to top off the charge. With a good battery, that might only happen every 6-8 weeks, so you have to ask if it's really worth keeping the battery connected all the time, risking damage due to failure of the charger.

Actually, the BEST way to charge the battery is to keep it in the bike and go for a ride, but given your location, that might not be possible for year-round charging.

.
 
Just an add on to the post, I have just installed an AGM battery and I have a very old optimate charger ( intelligent charger)I thought it would be best to check with them its compatibility regarding a AGM and they replied all the optimate lead acid chargers are suitable for AGM even the very old ones.
just though it help someone.
 
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There's good advice in this thread. Note the mention of intelligent chargers. These are a big step up over the old school transformer type chargers which 'roughly " throttled back current based on voltage. Requires precise regulation. What's ideal 'float ' voltage? Well, is it AGM, or regular liquid electrolyte ?, AGM usually has slightly lower float voltage- maybe 0.3 volt lower,, even temperature makes a difference. I know I can float battery almost a full volt higher here in Alberta winter than you would down south. I'm a fan of small solar trickle charger. I set panel on garage window ledge and battery gets a a ripple free, pure DC, abbreviated 3 point charge every day
 
knewel said:
I'm a fan of small solar trickle charger. I set panel on garage window ledge and battery gets a a ripple free, pure DC, abbreviated 3 point charge every day
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You can acheive almost the same effect with an old MANUAL charger, too. :-k

I knew a guy several years ago that screwed an adapter into his garage door opener's light socket and plugged the battery charger into it. Every time he used the garage door, the battery got a 5-minute charge.

.
 
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Battery-Tender-Junior-12V-0-75A/15779492 I've used two of these on my bikes for years. I only use them during the winter when I stop riding and the weather turn freezing. Got down to minus 12 this year and nothing froze and the bike started right when needed. I get about 5 years from my batteries. I think I paid about $15.00. The quick disconnect feature is a real advantage. I recently bought one of their voltmeters. https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-081-0157-Disconnect-Voltage/dp/B00DJ5KE9A So far it's been working fine as well. Good luck.
 
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Ive had an old, real ( not a copy) "battery tender" for 12+ Years. with all my bikes, I just move it from bike to bike when I remember. I use Yuasa brand batteries. I get the ones made for ATV's and built better. I regularly get 7-8 years on a battery. The new chargers are even better. Get a real one, it will pay for itself in battery life.
 
I just got a good deal on an AGM battery from Auto Zone in Tillamook. They didn't have it in stock, but they ship from a warehouse in the city over night. They undercut the price of an AGM battery from Batteries +, and I didn't have to drive into the city.
 
Charlie G said:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Battery-Tender-Junior-12V-0-75A/15779492 I've used two of these on my bikes for years. I only use them during the winter when I stop riding and the weather turn freezing. Got down to minus 12 this year and nothing froze and the bike started right when needed. I get about 5 years from my batteries. I think I paid about $15.00. The quick disconnect feature is a real advantage. I recently bought one of their voltmeters. https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-081-0157-Disconnect-Voltage/dp/B00DJ5KE9A So far it's been working fine as well. Good luck.
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Me too. Is there a consensus that Deltran is a good reliable brand?
 
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