Battery tender question

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by Hog

You are powering down the ECM everytime you switch off the power. Fueling must be relearned everytime this occurs.


Even with a disconnect, an automotive battery will still discharge. Lead /acid batteries are designed for frequent shallow discharging/charging. Exactly what an often used daily driver will supply.


Sulphation occurs anytime a lead/acid isn't 100% charged.


A disconnect along with a low current tender is the best option for long term storage. This all gets worse for you guys in the warmer latitudes. What does help the warmer latitude guys is that there typical winter storage is shorter than us Northeners. 5 months is normal up here.
Keep em cold and keep em charged.


Its not an either or option, use a battery cut off AND use a trickle charger.

If, for example, a "Battery Tender" (or any such "smart charger") is in parallel (which it would be) with a battery left connected to the car's circuits, one could argue too the need to disconnect the battery from the car's circuit is unnecessary IF the the charger's output current is substantially greater than the tiny (.25mA) parasitic draw.

FWIW, even the very small "smart" chargers, e.g. Battery Tender, provide ample current to maintain the memory and pre-sets while servicing the battery too. In my experience with (Battery Tender brand) chargers, plain old flooded lead-acid batteries have gone no less than 7 years, and as much has 11 years and counting - and still cranking like it was new.