| Author | Message | ||
| rich (Dino2400)
Member Username: Dino2400 Post Number: 280 Registered: 10-2001 |
I'm not an electronics specialist but I have a car I've only started once a month or so and the battery don't seem to go flat while sitting. I also have a battery that came out of a car that got crashed in October and it still is showing over 12v charge sitting in my garage. I would think this means that if your battery is reasonably new, you could just disconnect the negative terminal or use a cut off and be fine for quite a while. For those who store their cars all winter though a tender is great. I used the Battery Tender brand with the easy connect cable on my Ducati and it worked great. | ||
| Paul Bianco (Paulie_b)
Member Username: Paulie_b Post Number: 386 Registered: 1-2003 |
here's another vote for battery tender | ||
| Verell Boaen (Verell)
Member Username: Verell Post Number: 858 Registered: 5-2001 |
Dave, My point was that while the battery was down, it was nowhere near 'deep' discharged. I normally plug in the maintainer about once a month for a few days. However, once I got the car taped up for spraying, I decided to risk the battery rathar than rip masking off & re-tape. I'm not recommending doing this tho. However, I have no qualms about letting the car set for up to a month w/o worrying about the battery. My point was that I was really surprised that the battery wasn't totally discharged, even more surprised that it spun the engine over at nearly full cranking speed after 5 months! My motorcycle batteries have done amazingly well with only 1-2 recharges during the winter too. I've had batteries last 4 & 5 seasons. I do make sure the battery is fully charged before I start storage. | ||
| Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Member Username: Mcharness Post Number: 665 Registered: 8-2002 |
Yep, I use a tender connected via the cigarette lighter, but I also use a doubler so I can have a voltmeter in there with it. This is an old picture of it I've posted before in another thread.  | ||
| Dave Burch (Merlyn)
Junior Member Username: Merlyn Post Number: 83 Registered: 8-2002 |
Another vote for Battery Tender, all the race cars and the 355. Just got another last month, and the newest edition is the best yet. | ||
| Mark Pautz (Malfark)
Member Username: Malfark Post Number: 303 Registered: 10-2002 |
Hi All, We've also discussed this on the Europe section: http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/174013/223559.html?1054077229 Regards, MARK | ||
| david handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 1049 Registered: 5-2001 |
But Verell, That deep discharge is STILL very hard on battery longevity. I know, I have a motorcycle that is only infrequently ridden, and battery life was terrible. Now, with a Battery Tender Jr. (.75 amp, that I have been using for three years now) I am still on the same battery after four years... | ||
| Verell Boaen (Verell)
Member Username: Verell Post Number: 854 Registered: 5-2001 |
I've got the Sears plastic case 2A charger w/angled corners. It is a private branded Schumaker. Use it w/the cigarette lighter socket as I switch it between cars. However, I recently found out my 308 doesn't really seem to need it. Started my '82 Euro 308 GTS QV a couple of weeks ago for the 1st time since I put it up on the lift in late November. Was a tad slow cranking over, but still caught within seconds. Really surprised me. I was expecting the battery to be dead. The battery us nothing fancy, just an AutoZone one that the dealer had put in just before I bought my car. Apparently the JVC CD radio & clock just don't draw much power. I can't think of anything else that isn't turned off by the ignition switch. | ||
| Dennis (Bighead)
Junior Member Username: Bighead Post Number: 154 Registered: 2-2003 |
Oh, and I forgot, if you don't need to hook up multiple vehicles at once, you can always use ONE Battery Tender for more than one vehicle.... vty, --Dennis | ||
| Dennis (Bighead)
Junior Member Username: Bighead Post Number: 153 Registered: 2-2003 |
I use the Battery Tender, and really like it. I hard-wired the connector to my 355, so all I need to do is to pop the lid and plug it to the Battery Tender. Dave Handa's easy wiring tip also works very well. But one disadvantage to using the battery disconnect in later cars is that killing the battery kills the memory in the computer ECU; to set the baseline properly on the 355, for example, requires 10 minutes or so of idling (do a search in the archives on why this is important). Dunno how important this is on older cars. Lastly, I prefer the Battery Tender over in-car mounted (strapped to battery) chargers, like the "Ferrari-factory" charger or the Schumacher piggyback versions for two reasons: first, why would I want more weight in my car? Second, as Dave Handa pointed out to me a couple of years ago, IF for some reason the charger caught fire, would you prefer to have it strapped INSIDE your car, perhaps on the battery, or would you rather have it sitting outside on the garage floor? vty, --Dennis | ||
| John A (Jarends)
Member Username: Jarends Post Number: 263 Registered: 7-2001 |
Hey Lens, hope you,re both fine, hope to see you at Bruce's Aug. 9. I'm with you on the Shumacher, I have four I bought from JC Whitney and they work great. J | ||
| Lawrence Coppari (Lawrence)
Member Username: Lawrence Post Number: 677 Registered: 4-2002 |
I drive my car at least once every other week so I don't have a need for a battery keeper. | ||
| Leonardo Soccolich (Lens)
Member Username: Lens Post Number: 306 Registered: 3-2001 |
I've been using Schumacher battery chargers for over ten years without a problem. | ||
| 89TCab (Jmg)
Member Username: Jmg Post Number: 486 Registered: 9-2001 |
I have the Griots which I would guess is simply a rebranded Battery Tender. http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?&SKU=36804 I prefer the smaller version as only the cable is outside my shelving but others prefer to have the unit under the car. - JMG | ||
| Al Johnson (Bigal)
Junior Member Username: Bigal Post Number: 95 Registered: 3-2002 |
I just use a batt disconnect switch. Saves drain with one twist. I also use gel batts in all my cars. Absolutely love the gels; can't beat 'em! | ||
| john roberts (Jr328gtb)
New member Username: Jr328gtb Post Number: 39 Registered: 5-2003 |
omar - shouldn't be anything wrong with doing that....that is what it is for...except for inconveniencies that dave mentions | ||
| david handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 1038 Registered: 5-2001 |
Omar, Battery Tender brand is the way to go. Ebay rocks, and that is the place to shop for just about anything these days...just check the seller out carefully. I would recommend going to Radio Scrap and get a cigarette adapter with cord (about $7) and splice it in. The you just plug it into the cig socket, instead of popping the hood everytime. Quick and easy, and you can use it in the 328 too. Don't like disconnecting the battery in the car, as then I lose the memories on the radio, and the clock is off...don't thing there are any other negatives to the practice though. Dave | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 1297 Registered: 3-2001 |
Here's a more descriptive link... http://batterytender.com/product_info.php?products_id=2&osCsid=a463da54da173a8f251c2fbd6119c31d | ||
| BobD (Bobd)
Intermediate Member Username: Bobd Post Number: 1296 Registered: 3-2001 |
Omar, I use the Battery Tender Plus... works great. Bought it new on eBay for $39. Hooked up the connecting port thru my front grill... you can't even see it. Fully automatic. Lot's of F-Chatters use this. http://batterytender.com/default.php?cPath=11_2&osCsid=a463da54da173a8f251c2fbd6119c31d | ||
| Omar (Auraraptor)
Member Username: Auraraptor Post Number: 740 Registered: 9-2002 |
I just picked up my old bmw 6er from a repaint and now need to buy a battery maintainer for her. Thoughts on the best? Another thing, I just use the battery disconnect 'switch' in my 328 when I dont driver her during the week. Is this bad? |