Battery tender & Storage question

Azerlazer26 · 11-20-2018, 12:19 PM

Hi everyone! just a couple questions for you.

I bought a battery tender for my car for the winter, is it best to hook it up directly to my battery or through the positive & negative terminals under the hood?

I read on a previous thread that someone put their car in transit mode for winter storage. Is it best to put the car in transit mode? Or is it best just to keep the car the way it is and follow standard storage protocol?

Glen e · 11-20-2018, 12:33 PM

No transit mode needed it if you're hooking up a tender. Plenty of instructions here on how to hook it up through the front, or through the back. Makes no difference.

Martinjlm · 11-20-2018, 12:37 PM

Where in Michigan? I’m in Detroit. I hook mine up under the hood. No issues. I like the flexibility of being able to quickly unhook it and get it out for a quick run on dry (but still cold) days.

Cmax · 11-20-2018, 02:57 PM

I have had several cars that I have stored for the winter, and never bothered with a tender..... i always figured I could pop the hood and jump it if needed. Never needed to.
I just covered my FIFTY, and realized this is the first car I have stored that is not so simple to unlock if the battery is dead. I just now ordered a tender on Amazon....
On a side note, I bought a black snug fitting indoor cover that makes the profile look completely sinister.

drperry · 11-20-2018, 03:17 PM

If the battery is dead, just use the key, lol. No different than any other vehicle...

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

DangerZL1 · 11-20-2018, 05:55 PM

If you read through the posts about dead batteries I’d think a tender would be a great idea if the car is going to sit for more than a few weeks undriven. It’s cheaper than more convenient than having to deal with a dead battery.

Cmax · 11-20-2018, 06:25 PM

[QUOTE=drperry;10365056]If the battery is dead, just use the key, lol. No different than any other car

When I stored at my Dads garage, I squeezed my car 6 inches from the wall on the drivers side, and wiggled out the passenger door. I am guessing, but I bet the manual key only works on the drivers door?
I tried to look it up on the inner web, and didn’t see anything on the subject.

Iroc_Z28 · 11-20-2018, 06:56 PM

I hook the battery tender up to the terminals under the hood, and start it once a month while in winter storage. Did this last winter with no issues.

wjones14 · 11-20-2018, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iroc_Z28

I hook the battery tender up to the terminals under the hood, and start it once a month while in winter storage. Did this last winter with no issues.

It's pretty much universal agreement that starting the car periodically while in storage for a season does no good, and may even be harmful. Unless you're going to drive it until the oil warms up, about half an hour, it's best just to leave it until Spring.

Whitespeed · 11-20-2018, 09:00 PM

It's not just about the inconvenience of jump starting a dead battery. Leaving batteries for long periods without recharging will shorten their overall lifespan.

DorkMissile · 11-20-2018, 09:56 PM

If it matters any - I purchased a pair of Noco chargers ( Genius 1100 ) and have them plugged into a splitter into one Belkin Smart Outlet in my garage.

The Noco chargers if they are powered off will remember the last "modes" they were set to, and I have both set to AGM modes (as the Camaro has a AGM batter from the factory, the other is plugged into my 88 Monte Carlo SS that has a Optima RedTop AGM ).

The smart outlet I have programmed to turn on for about 10 hours every couple of days, and the batteries just sit static in-between the cycles.

Just figured this would be enough activity to keep the batteries fresh.

1hprush · 11-21-2018, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azerlazer26

Hi everyone! just a couple questions for you.

I bought a battery tender for my car for the winter, is it best to hook it up directly to my battery or through the positive & negative terminals under the hood?

I read on a previous thread that someone put their car in transit mode for winter storage. Is it best to put the car in transit mode? Or is it best just to keep the car the way it is and follow standard storage protocol?

Maybe this will help!

https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540177

Memphis SS · 11-21-2018, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azerlazer26

Hi everyone! just a couple questions for you.

I bought a battery tender for my car for the winter, is it best to hook it up directly to my battery or through the positive & negative terminals under the hood?

I read on a previous thread that someone put their car in transit mode for winter storage. Is it best to put the car in transit mode? Or is it best just to keep the car the way it is and follow standard storage protocol?

As others have posted.. Not need to put the car in transit mode.

Mine sits for weeks during the winter and I just use a low current Battery Butler and hook it up under the hood. I've used them for years with my Corvette in the past. works fine, no damage to the car or battery.

Azerlazer26 · 11-21-2018, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1hprush

Maybe this will help!

https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=540177

This is exactly what I’ve been looking for! Thank you so much

11-20-2018, 12:19 PM	#1
Azerlazer26 Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Michigan Posts: 611 View My Garage	Battery tender & Storage question Hi everyone! just a couple questions for you. I bought a battery tender for my car for the winter, is it best to hook it up directly to my battery or through the positive & negative terminals under the hood? I read on a previous thread that someone put their car in transit mode for winter storage. Is it best to put the car in transit mode? Or is it best just to keep the car the way it is and follow standard storage protocol?

11-20-2018, 12:33 PM	#2
Glen e Retired from Car mfrs.... Drives: 2LT RS/HR-V Join Date: May 2013 Location: /Fort Lauderdale Posts: 10,048	No transit mode needed it if you're hooking up a tender. Plenty of instructions here on how to hook it up through the front, or through the back. Makes no difference. __________________ Glen CLICK HERE for detailing a new car: detailing for non detailers CLICK HERE for how to rinseless CLICK HERE for EASY wheel sealant

11-20-2018, 12:37 PM	#3
Martinjlm Retired from GM Drives: 2017 Camaro Fifty SS Convertible Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Detroit Posts: 5,228	Where in Michigan? I’m in Detroit. I hook mine up under the hood. No issues. I like the flexibility of being able to quickly unhook it and get it out for a quick run on dry (but still cold) days. __________________ 2017 CAMARO FIFTY SS CONVERTIBLE A8 \| MRC \| NPP \| Nav \| HUD \| GM Performance CAI \| Tony Mamo LT1 V2 Ported TB \| Kooks 1-7/8” LT Headers \| FlexFuel Tune \| Thinkware Q800 Pro front and rear dash cam \| Charcoal Tint for Taillights and 3rd Brakelight \| Orange and Carbon Fiber Bowties \| 1LE Wheels in Gunmetal Gray \| Carbon Fiber Interior Overlays \| Novistretch bra and mirror covers \| Tow hitch for bicycle rack \|

11-20-2018, 06:56 PM	#8
Iroc_Z28 Drives: 2017 1SS 1LE Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Canada Posts: 408	I hook the battery tender up to the terminals under the hood, and start it once a month while in winter storage. Did this last winter with no issues. __________________

11-20-2018, 09:56 PM	#11
DorkMissile Drives: 18 1SS 1LE HyperBlue Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 612	If it matters any - I purchased a pair of Noco chargers ( Genius 1100 ) and have them plugged into a splitter into one Belkin Smart Outlet in my garage. The Noco chargers if they are powered off will remember the last "modes" they were set to, and I have both set to AGM modes (as the Camaro has a AGM batter from the factory, the other is plugged into my 88 Monte Carlo SS that has a Optima RedTop AGM ). The smart outlet I have programmed to turn on for about 10 hours every couple of days, and the batteries just sit static in-between the cycles. Just figured this would be enough activity to keep the batteries fresh. __________________ 2018 1SS 1LE / HBM - ECS Novi 1500 S/C Tuned by Carl @ CJ Tunes

11-20-2018, 02:57 PM	#4
Cmax Drives: 2017 Camaro 2SS FIFTY convertible Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 366	I have had several cars that I have stored for the winter, and never bothered with a tender..... i always figured I could pop the hood and jump it if needed. Never needed to. I just covered my FIFTY, and realized this is the first car I have stored that is not so simple to unlock if the battery is dead. I just now ordered a tender on Amazon.... On a side note, I bought a black snug fitting indoor cover that makes the profile look completely sinister.

11-20-2018, 03:17 PM	#5
drperry Drives: Chevy Blazer Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Grande Prairie, AB Posts: 300	If the battery is dead, just use the key, lol. No different than any other vehicle... Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

11-20-2018, 05:55 PM	#6
DangerZL1 Drives: 2023 Black ZL1 Auto Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: FEMA Region 4 Posts: 2,935	If you read through the posts about dead batteries I’d think a tender would be a great idea if the car is going to sit for more than a few weeks undriven. It’s cheaper than more convenient than having to deal with a dead battery.

11-20-2018, 06:25 PM	#7
Cmax Drives: 2017 Camaro 2SS FIFTY convertible Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 366	[QUOTE=drperry;10365056]If the battery is dead, just use the key, lol. No different than any other car When I stored at my Dads garage, I squeezed my car 6 inches from the wall on the drivers side, and wiggled out the passenger door. I am guessing, but I bet the manual key only works on the drivers door? I tried to look it up on the inner web, and didn’t see anything on the subject.

11-20-2018, 09:00 PM	#10
Whitespeed Drives: 2018 1SS 1LE & 1973 Datsun 240Z Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Ontario Posts: 574	It's not just about the inconvenience of jump starting a dead battery. Leaving batteries for long periods without recharging will shorten their overall lifespan.

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