Need suggestions on a battery charger/maintainer

[Jeff V.]

Right now I'm looking at this model of Battery Tender > http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detai ... &ppt=C0005

I can get it a bit cheaper on Amazon. I like these because they're small, simple, and GM used them in their vehicle development labs. They're pretty strict in their standards with that kind of equipment.

But I wouldn't mind getting something with just a couple more features. Maybe something that's got jump start capabilities, and possibly a display to show the current level of charge.

Anyone got any suggestions?

[pezcore]

I had this. In the long run (over an entire winter) it failed to keep the Red Top charged in my VR-4. My assumption was that when the charge got low, this would kick in so I left it plugged in for months. One day I checked on it and the battery sounded like it was sizzling.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SE-1-1 ... B0000AXTUY"]Schumacher SE-1-12S Fully Automatic Onboard Battery Charger - 1.5 Amps : Amazon.com : Automotive[/ame]

I am more mad at the Optima than the maintainer though. I have gone through 3 and just leave it unplugged when the car is sitting.

[Jeff V.]

I am more mad at the Optima than the maintainer though. I have gone through 3 and just leave it unplugged when the car is sitting.

I went through 2, and swore I'd never buy another one. I've got some Costco battery in the car right now and it's still holding a solid 11v, despite sitting without being started for months. I've also spent a lot of time with the ignition on, the door open, and various scan tools hooked up to it while I tinker with stuff.

So strangely enough, it's not really so much for the battery's sake that I want the charger, but just so I can sit and work on the electronics without worrying about the battery dying

[tabasco122]

optima is shit now, ive gone through a few of them as well. oreilly batterys are rated well from what ive read, i just picked one up. thought about getting a battery maintainer, but i dont plan on leaving my car for that long without starting it.

[DCIV]

Bump. I would like a battery tender for my new 4 wheeler and honestly for the lawn mower as well.

It can just be one tender and I can buy a second hook up. Doesn’t need to do multiple batteries or anything. Just want a simple one that works.

Anyone have one they like? I obviously can just get the amazon special but even those seem to have the ones that work a couple months and quit. I would rather have a nice unit that cost a little more than a cheap one that could fail.


Coop

[ChargerX3]

I have several that I use and trust. I really like the quality ones that rescue and help to desulfate your battery bringing it back to normal capacity.

[vr4]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GODGN ... B000FQBWCY

I have that. It's also rebranded by bmw, Porsche, and I'm sure others.

Works great as a battery maintainer. It's definitely not a battery charger though. It'll do it if you have a couple days but it is very slow.

[DCIV]

[quote=""ChargerX3""]I have several that I use and trust. I really like the quality ones that rescue and help to desulfate your battery bringing it back to normal capacity.[/quote]

Which one desulfate? Link?


Coop

[DCIV]

[quote=""vr4""]https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GODGN ... B000FQBWCY

I have that. It's also rebranded by bmw, Porsche, and I'm sure others.

Works great as a battery maintainer. It's definitely not a battery charger though. It'll do it if you have a couple days but it is very slow.[/quote]

Nice! It might be the front runner.


Coop

[mjannusch]

https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GENIUS1-Ful ... B07W46BX31

Or search on Amazon for "Noco Genius" and you'll find a charger for any need and charging rate. I've been using these for a while, and have been very happy with them. Decent prices as well. I have the G4 which maintains the batteries in my two SeaDoos and the Corvette and Camaro at the same time over the winter. Works great. They also have various types of cables for different purposes like charging through a lighter jack, or terminal rings, etc.

I also have the G7200 for general charging/starting. I usually keep that one on the Spyder in AGM mode when I'm not using it for anything else.

[DCIV]

[quote=""mjannusch""]https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GENIUS1-Ful ... B07W46BX31

Or search on Amazon for "Noco Genius" and you'll find a charger for any need and charging rate. I've been using these for a while, and have been very happy with them. Decent prices as well. I have the G4 which maintains the batteries in my two SeaDoos and the Corvette and Camaro at the same time over the winter. Works great. They also have various types of cables for different purposes like charging through a lighter jack, or terminal rings, etc.

I also have the G7200 for general charging/starting. I usually keep that one on the Spyder in AGM mode when I'm not using it for anything else.[/quote]

Looks like I would have to also get a quick disconnect, I would like to not have to remove the batteries. At least the one you linked. I will see if there are other options. I do like the extra charging options.


Coop

[vr4]

Noco is also a good option

[Jeff V.]

I've got the previously mentioned Battery Tender. I use that on the Corvette now. Seems to work fine.

I also picked up one of these recently.

https://www.harborfreight.com/4a-fully- ... 63350.html

There was a coupon and I got it for something like $28. It was able to recover the battery out of the VR4 after it went flat dead for a few months. Since then I've been alternating between using it as a trickle charger for the VR4 and the truck battery.

It's got different modes for 6 volt, AGM, deep cycle and gel cell. It seems decent so far.


My original post is 9 years old now. Wow. I noticed I mentioned wanting to work on car electronics without the engine running. I eventually bought a used GM Midtronics battery charger / power supply back when I had the Audi.

https://gmdesolutions.com/item-detail.a ... =equipment

[DCIV]

I like how I can just go buy the HF one. That maybe worth it. Do they sell extra battery leads to put on extra vehicles?


Coop

[tabasco122]

the noco stuff looks good, ive seen their stuff a lot. I have one of these and it works well.

https://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SC135 ... ive&sr=1-8

1 amp and 2 amp is useful for bringing back dead agm batteries. I did a few at oreillys and resold them when i worked there.

[Jeff V.]

The HF charger comes two leads. One with clamps, and one with ring terminals. It doesn't look like they sell additional leads in the store. But it uses the exact same connector as my Battery Tender. So you should be able to get extra leads anywhere. I got the cigarette plug for the Corvette on Amazon. It was cheap.

This isn't technically for a trickle charger, but it would work.

https://www.harborfreight.com/solar-pow ... 63981.html

[aaronatstate]

Still have my Battery Tender that I've had for years. Still works great!

[DCIV]

[quote=""aaronatstate""]Still have my Battery Tender that I've had for years. Still works great![/quote]

Did I miss which one you have?


Coop

[aaronatstate]

[quote=""DCIV""]Did I miss which one you have?


Coop[/quote]

It's the battery tender brand you get from Oreilly. Had no issues with it maintaining my motorcycle when I had it, and also charging and maintaining my Stealth.

[ChargerX3]

[quote=""DCIV""]Which one desulfate? Link?


Coop[/quote]

Sorry been driving all weekend. I spent some good time researching this several years ago as I have quite a few cars and just as many batteries that I need to keep alive.

Lessons learned. Steer clear of:

-Harbor freight chargers except the float charger. Have several that have lasted over a decade. They wont charge a dead battery though, just maintain it.
https://www.harborfreight.com/automatic ... 42292.html

-Schumacher is not what it used to be. Around 2005 they started to make a lot of bad chargers and its about the same. Steer clear.

There is also a good youtube video out there where they go into great detail about latest car chargers. Ill see if I can find it again or not.


Ok, so if you want to go cheap and just trickle charge, the HF one above is impossible to beat. Use it with a 20% off and its like $8. Most last forever and do the job.

Now if you want a charger that is versitile in charging many types of good and bad batteries, flooded or AGM, then I would look into the following.

-Optima 400 - Probably the coolest looking and most versatile. Charges AGM and Flooded, does engine start and Deep cycle, Auto and Marine, and it will trickle charge. Has a well lit meter that shows battery voltage, life and amps. Comes with a wall mount bracket, extra leads, and long cord that winds up on itself. Probably my favorite go to unit even though it doesn't "officially desulfate" but somehow it brings all my batteries back from near dead with its patented recovery software.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ult-150-40000

-Battery Tender 5 Amp - Wont crank over your dead car, as its not designed to. However this charger has a cult following and it performs great as a deep cycle and float charger. They claim to have adaptive ISM technology that saves batteries and brings them back to new. I've tried it on several near dead batteries and it appears to do the job well. Not a fancy charger as all you do is plug and...walk away, but it basically steps in and says "ill take things from here.
https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-0 ... ve&sr=1-11

-Ctek Multi Us 7002 - Finally, the charger I use to make all my batteries new again. Again another fairly expensive unit, but man does this thing perform miracles. I've had several batteries die and throw up some heavy resistance. Just clip the leads on and walk away for several days to let it do its job. Now will it bring back fully sulfated batteries, dont get your hopes up, but if you let your battery die overnight and want to bring it back to like new, there is a solid chance this unit will do that job. Hands down the best battery charger that I own when it comes to saving and then reconditioning dead batteries.
https://www.amazon.com/CTEK-56-353-12-V ... ive&sr=1-2

Any of the above 3 I would recommend. They all do an excellent job and I have owned them all for about 3-5 years now.