Fair price for a battery tender?

I know many will disagree but I've used floating maintainers from Harbor Freight for years and have never had a failure. Price about 10 bucks!

Buy a cigarette lighter/accessory adapter and remove the battery alligator clips from the maintainer. Attach the adapter to the maintainer and plug into the cig socket or accessory socket when in use.

Works great!

 

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0128-Plus-Charger/dp/B00068XCQU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320744567&sr=8-2

free shipping and a 30 day return


bill

 

That's the one I have- sometimes even cheaper (new) on ebay. I also got the extension wire for about $10 more. I have the 1.25 amp one...

 

Algar Ferrari installed that one in my 308 in 2000. It just recently died...I didn't feel like waiting for delivery, so I paid $60 at a local auto parts store.

 

Ctek 3300. Check around on the internet around $50. Need to buy an "intelligent" charger.

 

Battery Tender seems to be smart enough.

 

We'll be trying this model soon. It can be installed with a quick disconnect pigtail on the battery, same as a battery tender.

I like the desulfation mode, which is said to prolong battery life.


http://www.amazon.com/BatteryMINDer-Charger-Maintainer-Desulfater-Model/dp/B005EKY1EM

 

All I can say is that I think battery tenders are overpriced because of their name. There are superior products are the market that are priced less.

I also know the dealer quoted a couple hudred dollars to do the install, even a poor backyard mechanic can do this himself.

I don't want to mention any brand names for fear this will be labelled a commercial post but my new race car came with a real nice unit that has a cord attached to the bettery but the tender itself is not installed on-board.

 

The simplest way is just to use the little pigtail that comes with tenders (its a standardized plug that fits almost all chargers), install eyelets and connect to the battery terminals. Leave the plug in a conspicuous place and disconnect the tender when not charging. The 110V portion of the tender stays in the garage. Its a quick DIY job.

Is this what you mean Chris?

 

this....^......i have three of the pigtails on my bikes and just rotate the tender [battery tender junior] every other month during the winter......

the pigtails are available on amazon for about 9 bucks...


doug

 

I paid $30 on sale at Pep Boys for a Battery Tender junior. Have not seen it on sale lately. I think the HF one does not float, it just turns off.






Ago

 

You can also get the "Enercell" DC connectors at Radio Shack. (270-020)

The *simplest* way is to just attach a cigarette lighter plug to the DC connectors, and just plug the charger into the lighter socket.

That way, you don't forget to unplug before you drive off.

And you can plug the same maintainer into any car.
(Unless the really new ones now come without a lighter ---- but I wouldn't think the Italians are quite that PC yet. )

 

That's the way my Battery Tender is hooked up.

Bill

 

Here's a nice one, made in Sweden. Price dependent upon the labeling...

Product Review: CTEK Multi US 3300 & Multi US 7002 12-Volt Battery Chargers

http://stevejenkins.com/blog/2011/08/product-review-ctek-multi-us-3300-multi-us-7002-12-volt-battery-chargers/

 

According to the manual, the Schumacher SC-xxx speed chargers all have an automatic desulfation mode. (Charging light blinks.)

http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SC-600A-SpeedCharge-Frequency-Battery/dp/B000H94F6E


I also stumbled onto another online source for the pigtail:
http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-Connector-Battery-Charger-Maintainer/dp/B003WDDLTO/ref=pd_sim_auto_2

Be careful to check the pigtail wire size with the larger chargers. The Radio Shack connectors (using #22 wire) are only rated for 5A.