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.

[ssrszz4]

Except for long storage a disconnect always has been easier for me and have had batteries last 6 years never on a charger.

Sent from my XT1585 using ZR-1 Net Registry mobile app

[lfalzarano]

Downside is the security alarm is not functional.


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[Dynomite]

Originally Posted by ssrszz4

Except for long storage a disconnect always has been easier for me and have had batteries last 6 years never on a charger.

Sent from my XT1585 using ZR-1 Net Registry mobile app

I disconnect for 4 months at a time or even for two days at a time.....batteries last and last and seem always fully charged.

Security???? Battery is disconnected
Never on a charger

[gbrtng]

Originally Posted by doctorjay61

Newbie question here. I just got my 94 zr1 back in February. I just replaced the battery with an odyssey battery and bought and odyssey charger as well to maintain the battery. The directions for the charger say to ground the negative terminal cable. I wasn't sure where to place the terminal and I connected directly to the battery. Is that Ok? I just didn't want to cause any electrical issues.

The reason for connecting the negative lead on the frame or some place other than the negative battery terminal is to prevent a possible spark from igniting any hydrogen gas at the battery ... Connect the positive lead to the battery first and then connect the negative lead. Safety first.

[Hog]

Originally Posted by Paul Workman

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.

I agree and think that so long as you are overcoming the parasitic charge, you "should" be golden.

[Hib Halverson]

Hog's comments elsewhere in this thread on smart chargers vs. battery disconnect switches is spot on.

AGM, gel cells and flooded cell batteries will last just as long or longer if they are connected with a smart charger rather than being disconnected. Plus, they will hold a charge indefinitely, whereas, if they are just disconnected, they will eventually go dead.

I've used the AutoMeter Battery Extenders for more than two decades. I have them for all of our Corvettes. To charge batteries at higher rates, I use the new Odyssey chargers which are smaller, lighter and less expensive than the previous Odyssey Ultimizer chargers.