Battery question

DOOM

DOOM

HEMI HUNTER
My car sits several weeks between drives (especially in the winter) and when i go to start it up my battery is dead and i have to jump start it with my vic.

What do you guys use or do to keep your batteries charged while sitting?

I think a few of you guys use some types of chargers.
 
DOOM said:
My car sits several weeks between drives (especially in the winter) and when i go to start it up my battery is dead and i have to jump start it with my vic.

What do you guys use or do to keep your batteries charged while sitting?

I think a few of you guys use some types of chargers.
Click to expand...

Harbor Freight and Northern Tools have a trickle / maintenance / float chargers.

Harbor Freight:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42292

Northern Tools (I have this one):
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200332201_200332201
 
Go to the auto parts and buy a clip on battery tender Jake. About 40.00 for one. We mount them in the cars so they plug in with the cord. A lot of the cords have a plug near the tender.
 
Jake, I don't know if you noticed when we were working on my car, that the negative terminal connector to my battery is able to be removed without a nut driver. If I know the car is going to sit for a few weeks, I just pop the hood and disconnect. I have to reset my presets on the stereo, but no big deal. Just remember, this advice is given by the same guy who permanently removed his windshield wipers...:D
 
Jake,

I just bought an Odyssey Battery, which can withstand many complete-discharge-and-recharge cycles. It is similar to an Optima, but with plate technology instead of spiral wound. 750 cranking amps. I keep it fully stocked with a Deltran Battery Tender, which is a float charger that keeps the voltage up without overcharging (which can kill a battery). Most of the Batteries Plus stores in our area carry both, although Battery Warehouse in Leesburg is about 10% cheaper.

Mark
 
I wouldn't think there is enough parasitic drain to kill your battery so quickly Jake. Are you still using the original? If yes it maybe nearing the end of its useful life. Buy a new one with high cca's and like above put a tender on it.
 
I have a Battery Brain connected, it can also be used as a security device which can disconnect the battery with a remote. It automatically shuts down the battery if the voltage drops.
 
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[QUOTE=baltimoremm;838037]i use a solar charger that plugs into my cigarette lighter on my non daily driver. I've never had an issue with the battery going dead. i bought mine on ebay, they make them for VW, but i've always used them on other cars with no issue.



Um, This would only work if you are not garaging your car(which I am sure Jake does)

I have 2 vehicles parked in my garage that I start every 2 weeks. I never have a problem with the battery going down. They are FOMOCO OEM replacements.
 
Always keep an automobile battery charged. If you don't, it will sulfate, and it's life will be reduced.

from wikipedia:
Freshness

Because of "sulfation" (see lead-acid battery), lead-acid batteries stored with electrolyte slowly deteriorate. Car batteries should be installed within one year of manufacture. In the United States, the manufacturing date is printed on a sticker. The date can be written in plain text or using an alphanumerical code. The first character is a letter that specifies the month (A for January, B for February and so on).[7] The letter "I" is skipped due to its potential to be mistaken for the number 1. The second character is a single digit that indicates the year of manufacturing (for example, 6 for 2006). When first installing a newly purchased battery a "top up" charge at a low rate with an external battery charger (available at auto parts stores) may maximize battery life and minimize the load on the vehicle charging system. The top-up charge can be considered complete when the terminal voltage is just above 15.1 V DC. 15 V DC is the voltage level where any sulphation that may be present is driven from the plates back into the electrolyte solution. A new battery can have some sulphation even though it has never been in service. If the top up charge cannot be done it is not harmful to place the battery in immediate service.


The Deltran Battery Tender is excellent, as it works well with all types of auto batteries. I have one, and I also like the Sears automatic one (for lead-acid types) that is frequently on sale for $20.
 
I have parked the marauder for months at a time never disconnected anything.

Exceptions to every rule. (I guess :) )
 
if you have a standerd battery (not an optima or an oddissy) the best charger is an "xstream charger" if you have a optima or an oddissy get a "deltran battery tender"
 
Mr. Man said:
I wouldn't think there is enough parasitic drain to kill your battery so quickly Jake. Are you still using the original? If yes it maybe nearing the end of its useful life. Buy a new one with high cca's and like above put a tender on it.
Click to expand...

Yes still on my "ORIGINAL" battery.
 
Bigdogjim said:
I have parked the marauder for months at a time never disconnected anything.

Exceptions to every rule. (I guess :) )
Click to expand...
I have never had to disconnect the battery. But prior to the battery going bad I had to charge it often until I had it replaced.
 
Bigdogjim said:
I have parked the marauder for months at a time never disconnected anything.
Click to expand...
Ditto.

The Blackbird sits from when the roads are first salted until the first rain of the spring washes the salt away. Every few weeks I hook this up and let the battery charge until the light turns green.
 
Use the Deltran Battery Tender. I have 4 of them running now, 2 on motorcycles and two on cars (my 93 TBird and the wife's convertible). They do the trick without harming the batteries.
 
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