Saving more with the battery Tender

[Smokin19]

Let me get this straight, you use a timer that is plugged into the outlet using electricity, in order to save electricity. If you have to pinch pennies like this, maybe you can't afford this car? Battery tenders and trickle chargers are totally different. JMO

[Evergreen6]

One of our vehicles doesn't get driven for a few weeks at a time, sometimes a month, depending on what's going on. So I sometimes throw a tender on it.

I like to think it keeps the car from trying to deep charge the battery using the alternator ever time I take it out. Instead, it starts right up with a battery that's just about fully charged, depending on when the tender completed its last charging cycle.

It is NOT on a timer and I don't think that's recommended...

[sscamaro]

Originally Posted by knitetrain05

Every little saving adds up. With the Camaro put away for the winter. I put a battery Tender plus on it, And on the Battery tender, I put a timer. My car is charged for 8 hours every night then, the tender is shut off for 16 hours. Battery's don't need to be on a constant charge even if its on a trickle charge. Your battery will thank you, The less use on the charger will thank you, Your electric bill ( Very small amount) Will thank you. This is just a little tip and what I do. I'm sure everybody has their own opinion. That's just me. For what its worth........

Did you calculate the electric the timer uses?

[Evergreen6]

Originally Posted by sscamaro

Did you calculate the electric the timer uses?

...and the cost of the timer itself...

[itsadryheat79]

Wouldn't it be ironic if the timer used more electricity than the Battery Tender would have if left plugged in?

[myold88]

Originally Posted by strych9

If you're going to be stored 4 mos or less, you don't need it. My garage is not heated, never had an issue.

Correct. Totally unnecessary IMO. My antique cars never had a problem.
Disconnect the neg. cable and when your ready to use your car again reinstall
the cable and you will be good to go.

[qcman]

My car is mainly parked in the winter but comes out for a rip if it is nice and dry every few weeks... Can I put a tender on the battery while it is still connected to the car with the battery cables?? Maybe a noob question but I really have no idea.....

Cam

[BLU DUCE]

Well the first year I stored my car for 6 months. Never had used a battery tender Got a Schuemaker one. Plugged it into the power outlet took the other end that had a cigarette lighter end & plugged it into the car. A whole 6 months of wasted electricity when I found out when car is shut there is no power to the lighter so the battery tender could not power up the battery. I felt like a real big A=hole.

So I live in central N.Y. garage no heat going on 5 yrs. storing the car every winter for 6 months never been on a battery tender since the first winter screw up but still starts every year. And I do not start it up in the winter.

[Baer383]

My car is plugged into my Battery Tender whenever I'm not driving it.

[45thCamaro]

I don't have electric in my garage but I have a battery tender for my bike. I have one of those portable jump packs with a house plug on it. Everyone once in a while I'll run it off that to give it a little charge.

[two_wheel_mayhem]

Most times the battery tender sits there and does nothing... (green light) I had a 2 month old battery fail while hooked to one and I use them religiously, on motorcycles. I usually get about 8 years out of a factory battery and 4-5 out of replacements. On my cars I don't use battery tenders, I have a 2 amp auto charger I turn it on for a few hours once a month.