Just purchased my first Ferrari, an 88 328 GTS!! I'm wondering if I can put it on a battery tender over the winter months and if so what kind you would recommend. Thanks Curt
Just my 2cents but I live in the north and keep our 82 in a heated space. I run it up to temp once every week or two and go throught the gears at the same time. I haven't looked at the battery in a couple of years without any tender. FWIW, Tom PS just to be clear I do break the grd. connection when not running her
Recommend the Ctek with cig lighter attachment. Inexpensive and protects battery from sulfation. Claimed anyway. http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_29046_CTEK-MULTI-US-3300-56-158-De-Sulfating-Charger.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=productads&gclid=CMfF0uf89rECFQjc4AodF1YAsA one supplier
You'll find most questions have been asked before and so there's a wealth of knowledge already here so its always worth a look
I store 3 cars over the winter and use a Deltran Battery Tender Plus with each car. For the one I use with my 88 328 GTS I use a cigarette lighter adapter to connect it to the car. Been doing that for 6 years, so far so good.
Why bother with a trickle charger? There's a quick disconnect by the driver side headlight that will kill the connection to the battery. No ECU, no problem.
Valid argument. However, for long term storage say over a winter the battery will lose charge and begin the self destruction pathway without battery tending. There are plenty of charts that show the relationship to temperature and time on the discharge rate of a lead/acid battery. Damn physics if you want but it's so.
I also use a Deltran battery tender, my battery is nearly 10 years old and still cranks like new...im sold on them. I have had it for over 20 years without a single issue.
typical 12V battery will lose about 5-10% of its charge every month not connected to anything. They also will be prone to sulfation when self-discharging. You have a couple choices. One is to recharge a disconnected (open circuit) battery every 2 weeks or so. The other is to use a trickle charger with a equilization timer or a temperature compensated automatic float charger. If you drive your car every couple weeks or so.... You are doing the first choice. If you are leaving your car to sit for most of the winter.. you should buy and use a quality float charger like the Battery Tender Plus mentioned earlier.
I have a Schumacher (no relation) battery tender mounted in the car in front of the battery. I went to Wal-Mart and bought a heavy duty black extension cord and cut it to the perfect length so it just peeks out of the left side front grill. You would never see it unless you were really looking for it. Soldered it to the cord on the tender and wrapped it up tight. I don't normally keep it plugged in. All I do is plug it up the day before I need the car and I am always good to go. I have an Optima Yellow Top. Say what you want but it can handle the charge cycles as advertised. I installed it in 2006 with zero problems since. No complaints there from me at all. Don't laugh but another thing I bought that is never really mentioned here when discussing battery tenders is a great surge protector. I have no idea if lightening can fry my ignition boxes but I am not taking any chances. I bought the best surger protector I could find and that's that.
This is what I've been using for the last 8 years. If I recall it right, $29.99 at Sears. Whatever brand you choose, make sure it has a float mode. Image Unavailable, Please Login
CTEK 3300 is the way to go. You will need to buy extra wire and wire couplings from Radio Shack, to extend the wire leads from the battery location under the spare tire to the hood area for connecting to the CTEK unit. Because at the wires(cables) they provide are NOT long enough. BTW, CTEK make the charger for Ferrari.
That's what I do everytime I park my car in the garage then, I plug my tender. Had the battery and tender for 6 years and my battery is still going strong. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I use solar chargers on my cars. Never had a problem, even through deep winters and even charging through windscreen glass / garage door glass. They have kept all my batteries in perfect condition over many years now. And only $15-$30 depending on size/output.
I 3D printed a little mounting plate for my Ctek cable for mounting in the wheelarch so I dont have to open the front each time. I know some people use the lighter or inspection light sockets but I was wary of doing this since these route through the fusebox and the last thing I want to do is burn that very delicate item (328 printed cuircit version). Image Unavailable, Please Login
I bought a cheapie trickle charger at Wal Mart and also use the cigarette lighter adapter. It works great! Just be sure you get one that has the microprocessor controls so it knows to turn on/shut off.
In use CTEK. All research I have done said it is best. Many exotics including Ferrari rebadge and sell.
