Battery Maintainer Suggestions

[Upstater88]

Wondering if anyone has a suggestion for a good battery maintainer? Also will there be issues if I keep the battery in my uninsulated garage on the maintainer? I live in upstate New York so it certainly gets quite cold.

[JFlightRisk]

My personal favorite maintainer's the BatteryTender. I do have another brand maintainer, but it seems to take quite a bit longer to get to the maintenance stage, compared to the BatteryTender brand. Since a fully charged battery, in good condition, with no weak cells freezes at -76*, you'll have no problem keeping it in an unheated area. By the way, we're about 70 miles west of you.

[RogerR]

I bought a Battery Tender Jr. model for my group 27 rv battery. Then thought I would save and bought a knockoff from Harbor Freight for my garden tractor battery. When I tested it the voltage was way above the standard. Took it back and got a different one that does have the same voltage as my Battery Tender brand. For a much more valuable RV battery I would stick to a name brand, and then check the voltage anyway.

I use a smart 10 amp charger on the battery to top it up if it has been unplugged for more than a few days and then put it on the Battery Tender.

[CAG]

Where I have 120V I have always used BatteryTender. In the case of the trailer and now motorhome I have a small solar panel that I have hooked to the battery since I do not have 120 in the storage area. The batteries have always been 100% when I pick it up.

[hoppers4]

Battery Tender Jr. is what I've been using for years.

[Bookemdanno]

I've always used the Battery Tender & that's all we use at the ofc. But I went with a different brand this last time that was specific for Lithium. So far so good...

[Upstater88]

Thanks everyone - looks like Battery Tender it is!

[DonaandDon]

I leave the batteries disconnected in the RV. Connect a battery tender, run a drop cord to the garage all winter long (Chicago). No problem.

[CAG]

I guess I am lazy but have never bothered disconnecting the batteries since the "disconnect" switch takes everything off line. Without a parasitic, I think I read someplace that a battery will lose only 3% of it's charge in a month.

[rte1985]

I use ctek. A lot of auto mfg recommend ctek. Either way I like it and I charge my batteries in detached garage in Indiana. I just keep them off the concrete floor.

[CAG]

Originally Posted by rte1985

I use ctek. A lot of auto mfg recommend ctek. Either way I like it and I charge my batteries in detached garage in Indiana. I just keep them off the concrete floor.

https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/ge...tored-concrete

It did make a difference years ago but not now with the new batteries.

[RetiredOne]

Originally Posted by CAG

I guess I am lazy but have never bothered disconnecting the batteries since the "disconnect" switch takes everything off line. Without a parasitic, I think I read someplace that a battery will lose only 3% of it's charge in a month.

That's been my experience too. If the batteries are disconnected and good, there should be no loss in voltage over an extended period. This is why I don't think a battery needs to sit on a battery tender 24/7.

I left my batteries in my rig over the Winter, in the rare chance I have to move it/use it, and only have the battery tender come on once a week for a few hours. That's more than enough to keep them topped off.

[Screwby]

Ctek gets my vote. I’ve used Battery Tender too and it works ok but Ctek is much more feature rich and used by high end car manufacturers.

[KCSA75]

Originally Posted by hoppers4

Battery Tender Jr. is what I've been using for years.

Same here. I have one for my boat and another for my '72 Chevy C-10.

[Jump]

I use this model on my Class C Chassis battery. I've used it for several years with no problems.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Jump

[jimmoore13]

For my RV, I rely on the converter/charger. It is, in itself, a battery maintainer on it third (lowest output) stage.

But, in most cases, I will pull my batteries for the winter and bring them inside. I have a battery tender that I use to top them off about once every two weeks or so. I don't leave it connected all the time.

I also have an ATV I use for snow plowing. It sits out under a cover year around. In the winter I leave it on the battery tender unless it's running. In the summer, I plug into the battery tender anytime the machine will be idle for a week or more. If I'm running it weekly, the engine keeps the battery charged when running.

But the Battery Tender brand is the one I trust.

[pward]

Originally Posted by Screwby

Ctek gets my vote. I’ve used Battery Tender too and it works ok but Ctek is much more feature rich and used by high end car manufacturers.

+1. I have two and they are very good.

[Springhook]

Check out the NOCO Genious line.

https://no.co/g7200

[RichR]

My vote is for the Battery Minder. The standard model is on sale on www.northerntool.com and www.amazon.com. Both places have them for $32. IMO they are a bit better than the Battery Tender Jr. They incorporate temperature compensation and a desulfation mode. I've used both for a long time and they both have performed well.

[cherv]

We use a 'gentran plus' for our stored cars. New coach stays plugged into shore power all winter which keeps all batteries charged