355 Battery Tender? What do you use?

honestly, ive never experienced any side effects from doing this. my car idles perfectly...maybe cuz my car is a 95? has anyone used the off switch and experienced side effects?

 

Ok , I see it's better to have a battery tender than have to do the reset every time I switch the battery off. But, for how long can the car stay in the garage switched to the battery tender. Sometimes, I dont drive my 355 for long periods of time, 3-4 weeks?

Nuno.

 

Forever. Really. It automatically shuts on and off to prevent overcharge. This is NOT a trickle charger....that can over charge.

 

Sorry for the newbie question...but where do you hook the battery tender up to?

 

Replaced the battery about 3 months ago with a brand new Optima red top----Car has been sitting about 3 weeks with the battery charger hooked up. The battery charger has shown "charged" the entire time. Went to start it today and NOTHING---Dead as a door nail---Any thoughts? Battery Charger too small? I did notice on the battery charger owners manual it said perfect for ATV, snowmobiles, motorcycles, etc--It also said great for "warming up" automobile batteries---Maybe the charger I got is too small to do the job? It is a Schumacher battery charger....Don't really want to go the turn off the battery route..

PS - No comments about "sitting for 3 weeks"? I know, been busy with stickynomore...

 

Since the Optima is a VRLA sealed battery, you really should use a charger specifically designed for that type of battery. That's probably your problem, as the charge / float cycle of the Schumacher probably does not match the battery's requirements, and might explain why it says "charged" when it's actually not. I recommend a CTEK charger. They have a setting specifically for VRLA batteries.

Other than that, a small charger should have plenty of amps to keep a battery charged assuming there's no major drain. I use a 1.25 amp Deltran and it works great for keeping the battery "fresh". (Though I use a conventional "flooded" battery, not an Optima.)

The first thing to do is to put a voltmeter across the terminals on the battery. It should read about 12.6 volts. Anything less means that the battery is significantly discharged. If it has been discharged for a long period of time, it might be "toast".

Good luck.

 

Something like this?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ctek-Battery-Charger-Tender-MULTI-US-7000-Optima_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2em20Q2el1116QQitemZ300281441280QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

 

You guys recommend unplugging the other and not using it? Or can't hurt? Hope the battery is ok--Just bought it about 3 months ago..

 

I just went through this just last week with a standard battery charger "trying" to charge the gel type. It said it was totally charged but it did nothing. You need a CTEK or like charger for your battery. I am told the CTEK is branding the Ferrari charger. Here is one on EBAY that was just listed and is the proper one for a car, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360117816057&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNARL:MOTORS:1123.

Now I did have to replace my battery I could not charge it using even the proper charger, I don't think it was because I tried to use the standard or wet type charger before I ordered the proper charger. The factory battery for my car a 95 348 is a AGM battery, not the gel type but that one also needs a charger designed for that application and most have the ability to charge both a AGM or gel and of course the wet cell type. Here is another model that most parts stores carry that will work, retail is about $80, Schumacher SC-1200A. This is a full featured charger for AGM and gel and of course the wet type.

 

I would unplug the other one. It's obviously not doing any good, and it could be causing some harm. Get a CTEK on it ASAP. Here's another source (I happen to like Crutchfield):

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_088US3300/CTEK-MULTI-US-3300-Battery-Charger.html?tp=6726&tab=detailed_info

Look at the close-up photo. The fourth setting indicator along the bottom (also for cold weather) has a little picture of an Optima battery.

 

The CTek battery manager is also rebranded/supplied by other manufacturers such as Aston Martin. One that I had failed and I have heard several other reports of failures with them. I have had more consistent good luck with the managers supplied by Griots Garage.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Schumacher-SC-1200A-SpeedCharge-12-8-2-Amp-Charger-Main_W0QQitemZ220304343748QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

 

Thanks a bunch for the great info guys---I think I am leaning towards the CTEK 3300

 

Am I stupid... I thought the car came with one? I thought that was the plug that is in the engine compartment

 

LOL , The Charger ?? the plug comes in the engine compartment if the mechanic or who ever owned it before, wired it .
Its just to make life easier ...

 

This is what I have been using for a few years and works great! I had a similar problem with battery draining after 4-5 weeks and so I use this trickle charger, it wont overcharge and even brings the battery back to fresh if I leave it for 3-4 weeks without any charging. It was easy to install with a quick release in the rear.
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Optima is an absorbed glass mat or AGM. The only thing difference of an Optima over other AGM batteries is the spiral configuration. It does not require a special type charger, as can be confirmed at the Optima website or any othe AGM manufactuers site. Test the battery, and check the battery tender. Make sure all connections are clean and tight.

PS: Unknown why, but Optimas made in the past couple years seem to have a higher reported failure rate than in the past. I am currently using a Sears Platinum AGM battery in size Group 34. It was the highest rated battery in the past two years of testing by Consumer Reports. 880 CCA. I use an onboard 1.5 amp battery tender made by NAPA, with no problems.

 

I use a porsche -- gasp! -- battery tender plugged into the cigarette lighter, seems to work.

Interestingly I spoke to Fernando at competizione who said sometimes battery tenders mask problems with the battery and hurt the alternator. If I remember, the logic was, battery might be close to shot, tender gives it enough juice to start the car, but once started it is pretty weak and the alternator has to work overtime to compensate. He suggested changing batteries every 3 years to be safe

 

It would be less costly to have a load test done on the battery every year or two. Most chain auto parts stores will do it for free. They have a device they will connect up that load tests the battery and alternator and gives you a print out. All they need is access to connect it up. On a 355, I would remove the right side engine side panel cover to gain access to the jump start points. They can easily connect up from there. A friend was having suspected battery trouble with his F40 and went to a local Schuck's Auto Supply and they performed the test, and confirmed his alternator was fine, and the the battery was toast. No charge.

 

Trickle chargers also work well for re-charing cordless shavers if you have misplaced your shaver cord.

 

hehehe....here we go again!

Colin, you're crazy....!

Mike in Kuwait

 

Is this method of hooking up the connector for a tender ok versus hooking directly to the battery??

 

I need one of those 'stretchy' car covers in nero ........