Battery Tenders

[SydneyTii]

Ok so I’ve read some posts where the recommendation is to not have a battery connected to the car when a tender is on the battery.

so my question is are there any that can be?

and what is the reason that it’s best not to have the battery connected?

i believe the genius type can be connected with the battery still connected to the car.

TIA

Edited March 11, 2019 by SydneyTii

[jgerock]

Put a battery disconnect switch so there isn't any parasitic draw from any accessories (like a clock or stereo memory).   Install the leads that come with the Battery Tender for easy connection to the vehicle.

 

I have a dual Tender unit for connection to both cars.

[SydneyTii]

I was trying to avoid a switch, but may end up just fitting my TEP rear “brace”

[g_force]

I'd not heard you shouldn't have the battery connected to the car when the tender is on. I have a few, and the instructions say nothing about disconnecting the battery from the car.

 

Maybe it's an explosion thing.  Like any charger, you'd rather not be near the battery when you connect the tender to the battery, because a spark might ignite the battery off-gasses. I suppose if the battery is in the car, under the hood, there's a greater chance the gasses will have built up.  But, this risk is easily mitigated with the battery tender's pigtail kit (bolts to the battery terminal connectors and allows you to be ~4ft away when you plug in the tender).

Edited March 11, 2019 by g_force

[Dudeland]

Get the genus type. I have had others and they are kinda shite.

Just don’t turn over your car with it connected, or it will fry it.... ask me how I know.


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[John_in_VA]

It's usually easy enough to pull the negative cable from the terminal.  I like the CTEK MUS 4.3.  Search to find the best deal.

https://smartercharger.com/collections/vehicle

[Conserv]

I don’t do any of this stuff — cut-off switches, removing wires from terminals — and nothing seems to blow up. I use Nooco Genius smart trickle chargers and they fit my lazy-man approach.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

[SydneyTii]

2 minutes ago, Conserv said:

I don’t do any of this stuff — cut-off switches, removing wires from terminals — and nothing seems to blow up. I use Nooco Genius smart trickle chargers and they fit my lazy-man approach.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Well that sounds familiar, looks like that’s the go for me then!?

Thanks for the feedback guys, appreciated as usual.?

[SydneyTii]

9 minutes ago, John_in_VA said:

It's usually easy enough to pull the negative cable from the terminal.  I like the CTEK MUS 4.3.  Search to find the best deal.

https://smartercharger.com/collections/vehicle

Tii John, negative is kinda under the snorkel, I have one of those disconnect switches on the battery that you screw in, but it drives me nuts trying to line up the screw thread and the bolt bit.

 

[Simeon]

There is a factory sticker on my car advising that the battery should be disconnected before charging. This is related to the diodes in the alternator but may only be relevant for high current, old school battery chargers.

 

I have a CTek MXS5 multi-stage, processor controlled charger / tender which says it can be connected to any battery while still connected. Not actually done that (old dog, new trick) but probably would at a push. 

[SydneyTii]

Hi Simeon, where did you get it?

i get it electrically as I used to be a sparky, but as you have said these later tenders would probably not induce to much into the circuit st one time, thus avoiding alternator of battery issues, especially if it’s a quality unit and they make a point of saying it can be used whilst the battery is connected. 

[Wahnsinn]

I'm in Buffalo NY, so I take the car off the road for several months.  So far I have had good luck just removing the battery and putting it in the basement until spring.  Usually don't even have to charge it.  I guess it depends how long you want to store the car between uses. Good Luck

[Simeon]

37 minutes ago, SydneyTii said:

Hi Simeon, where did you get it?

i get it electrically as I used to be a sparky, but as you have said these later tenders would probably not induce to much into the circuit st one time, thus avoiding alternator of battery issues, especially if it’s a quality unit and they make a point of saying it can be used whilst the battery is connected. 

 

I think I bought it off eBay but this is a pretty good price. 

 

https://frankiesautoelectrics.com.au/ctek-mxs5-0-12-volt-5a-battery-charger/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjpjkBRDRARIsAKv-0O0_IPDIL-_5IbvFVQb3UT8gM1YXFdwFSJswf0qfXexIDxGgMyMP3uQaAg4IEALw_wcB

 

https://www.ctek.com/products/vehicle/mxs-5-0

 

 

[02Les]

I have these connected to three cars, generator battery and two mowers. Haven't disconnected the batteries and the oldest tender is now over 4 years old. No problems.

I disconnect, use the car, mower; when finished, reconnect. Battery is always fully charged ready for use.

[Mike A]

^^^^ Yeah, ditto  for the wife's e46 BMW in Florida since 2003.. not used for 7 months ..mounted a Shumacher.in the engine bay and she plugs it in when leaving after the season. The original battery was replaced in 2016 after failing to take a full charge. 

Edited March 12, 2019 by Mike A