Electrical headache despite battery tender

Battery tenders never work the way they are supposed to. Your option is to skip the tender and drive the car routinely or you be the tender. That means after new battery try one or 2 week on tender one week or 2 weeks off tender rinse and repeat. I do not know why this works but it does. Only start car with full battery which is anything greater than 12.4V.

 

Try it you will see. But every person in the know will tell I am wrong. Electrical theory, blah blah blah. I have owned the best tenders they don't work.

 

I have good luck with battery tenders on my motorcycles. I have a gel cell battery in my 328, and the tender I bought specifically for this battery is not working properly, Im not sure if its the battery or what, I tried changing to a new gel cell tender and its still not working. I think maybe we both should switch to a pure Lithium battery for our Ferraris, they seem to work and hold a charge much better than a lead acid unit. All my Ducatis have lithium batteries and I never have to use a tender on them when they sit for a long while.

Big G

 

Assuming Ferrari didn’t undersize the battery for the load needed, the question is:
What is running in the background that is killing a battery that fast?

 

It seems that Ferrari gets the bottom of the line CTEK tender to supply with their cars. I would suggest you buy a CTEK 7002. It is much more powerful and versatile.

 

It works to "cycle" the battery because batteries do not 'like' being fully charged at all times, it quickly wears them out, they need to be cycled:

https://www.victronenergy.com/live/drafts:battery_life

Overcharging:
Overcharging frequently occurs when a battery is ‘stored’ whilst still connected to a battery charger. Unable to accept any more power the water in the electrolyte decomposes into Hydrogen and Oxygen. The level of the electrolyte will fall below the level of the plates causing irreparable damage to that part of the plate – and eventually the battery will dry out completely.

Rather than leaving a battery on a continuous float charge during storage, it is better to leave it open-circuited, and recharge it every week or two in order to replace energy lost through self-discharge.

@Marcus Lam

 

I agree with this suggestion, I made it eight years on my 458's original battery with a CTEK 7002, 1.5 years so far with my wife's PFM. Keep our other cars on 7002s as well, ten years on one of my BMWs that I drive once or twice a year.

Battery tender: CTEK 7002 https://www.amazon.com/CTEK-56-353-12-Volt-Battery-Charger/dp/B000FRLO9Y/ref=sr_1_5?crid=12L1Q97YCLE22&keywords=ctek+7002&qid=1671214566&sprefix=ctek+7002%2Caps%2C194&sr=8-5&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0

optional extension cable: https://www.amazon.com/CTEK-56-304-Comfort-Connect-Extension/dp/B00ADIHUVG/ref=pd_bxgy_img_sccl_1/135-0256143-7726263?pd_rd_w=TuMbP&content-id=amzn1.sym.7f0cf323-50c6-49e3-b3f9-63546bb79c92&pf_rd_p=7f0cf323-50c6-49e3-b3f9-63546bb79c92&pf_rd_r=5MHR20CHVPTK489XNW6H&pd_rd_wg=RKKXi&pd_rd_r=8cfbf7e0-0ea9-4d9e-8140-8d44e3e88a75&pd_rd_i=B00ADIHUVG&psc=1

magnetic connector: https://www.cccharger.co.uk/product-page/ctek-ferrari-magnetic-connector

STEP 1 DESULPHATION
Detects sulphated batteries. Pulsing current and voltage, removes sulphate from the lead plates of the battery restoring the battery capacity.
STEP 2 SOFT START
Tests if the battery can accept charge. This step prevents that charging proceeds with a defect battery.
STEP 3 BULK
Charging with maximum current until approximately 80% battery capacity.
STEP 4 ABSORPTION
Charging with declining current to maximize up to 100% battery capacity.
STEP 5 ANALYSE
Tests if the battery can hold charge. Batteries that can not hold charge may need to be replaced.
STEP 6 RECOND
Choose the Recond program to add the Recond step to the charging process. During the Recond step voltage increases to create controlled gassing in the battery. Gasing mixes the battery acid and gives back energy to the battery.
STEP 7 FLOAT
Maintaining the battery voltage at maximum level by providing a constant voltage charge.
STEP 8 PULSE
Maintaining the battery at 95–100% capacity. The charger monitors the battery voltage and gives a pulse when necessary to keep the battery fully charged

 

Never had a problem with the OEM tender or other CTEK chargers. Start with a highly spec'd aftermarket battery.

 

X3 for the 7002, it’s been flawless on my 2017 488. I would recommend not using the recondition function on the battery without isolating the battery to protect the cars electrical system.

 

It’s not the battery.. it’s the alternator and the maintainer. My CTEK has worked flawlessly over the last 5 years.