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Post by krylon80 on Nov 25, 2013 21:47:55 GMT -5
Hey all,
So I need to get a battery tender/trickle charger for my scoot battery. Are those two terms for the same thing, used interchangably, or are they different things?
How do I figure out which one I should get for my scoot?
Thanks,
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Post by JerryScript on Nov 25, 2013 21:58:31 GMT -5
A Battery Tender is a brand name for a trickle charger. They have a good reputation. I personally use a cheapo Black&Decker trickle charger, but I'm cheap!  |
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Post by millsc on Nov 25, 2013 21:58:58 GMT -5
Got mine at O'Reilly its a 1.5 amp charger/maintainer charges battery fully and maintains full charge without overcharging cost 27 bucks
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Post by millsc on Nov 25, 2013 22:00:36 GMT -5
Oh and I keep the quick connect on my battery for easy hook up
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Post by JerryScript on Nov 25, 2013 23:13:41 GMT -5
The Black & Decker charger I got at Pep Boys for $23, came with clamps, hoop connectors, and a cigarette lighter plug, each having a quick connnect to attach to the charger itself. Pep Boys Black & Decker Charger/Maintainer 6 & 12 VoltI had already purchased a 12' battery to cigarette lighter extension from Harbor Freight, cut off the clamps and put hoops on, then hooked it to the battery and ran it up to just below my helmet hook on the front panel. I also installed an inline blade fuse. I just plug the charger's cigarette lighter plug into this cigarette lighter adaptor on my scooter once a month to be sure my battery is always topped off. Harbor Freight 12' Battery to Lighter Socket ExtensionA better solution would be to wire in one of these, since they are better suited for possibly inclement weather: Amazon: Marine Cigarette LighterHaving the cigarette lighter adaptor makes it easy to charge your battery as needed. Plus you can run 12v tools like the HF impact wrench for emergency road side repairs, plug in an USB charging adaptor and charge your cell phone, run a GPS, an MP3 player, etc. A cheap and very useful mod! |
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Post by larry001964 on Nov 26, 2013 18:18:24 GMT -5
Well my experience with Battery Tender was not a good one, I had a scoot battery that was dead, I bought specifically a battery tender Jr. as that was what Autozone had. After a day of charging I noticed the Battery Tender said the battery was charged, but in reality it was flat as a pancake.. After doing some reading on the internet I discovered the Battery Tender only maintains a charge, it will not charge a dead battery.... This made no sence to me but that's what the articles said and exactly what the Battery Tender was doing..
So I packed it up, took it back and exchanged it for a 1.5 battery charger/maintainer.. The new one charged the battery, and I used that battery for over a year before it gave up the ghost... Personally a battery maintainer may be all one needs, but a charger/maintainer will give you more options to get going again.. If the battery will hold a charger/maintainer will charge it, then will work just as the Battery Tender does to maintain it.. Good Luck
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Post by onewheeldrive on Nov 26, 2013 18:58:50 GMT -5
That's what I have--- a maintainer/charger. I love it and it was probably only $15 more than the popular tender on here.
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Post by larry001964 on Nov 26, 2013 19:16:45 GMT -5
Yea I love mine too, use it on car batteries, motorcycle batteries just about anything.. If your having a problem with your battery and it don't come back with a charger/maintainer, it's time to get a new battery....
I was really disappointed when I learned the Battery Tender only maintains and did not charge, and my charger/maintainer was actually cheaper than the Battery Tender, not much but still cheaper..
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Post by SylvreKat on Nov 26, 2013 23:46:14 GMT -5
I've got the Battery Tender Jr. I think it was $50 installed by the dealer. Not completely sure 'cause it was a gift from my Dad.
I've plugged it in every time I park in front of my wagon. I got the scooter (and the battery) in 2007; I got the Tender a few months later at my first oil change. I'm still on that same battery.
So while larry's experience wasn't a good one, I must say that my experience is quite pleasing indeed.
>'Kat
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Post by larry001964 on Nov 27, 2013 0:27:43 GMT -5
I've got the Battery Tender Jr. I think it was $50 installed by the dealer. Not completely sure 'cause it was a gift from my Dad. I've plugged it in every time I park in front of my wagon. I got the scooter (and the battery) in 2007; I got the Tender a few months later at my first oil change. I'm still on that same battery. So while larry's experience wasn't a good one, I must say that my experience is quite pleasing indeed. >'Kat I Kat well perhaps bad experience was the wrong way for me to say it, before i was unaware there was a difference between a Battery Maintainer and a battery charger/maintainer... The Battery Tender is a maintainer, and while it will put a minor charge back into a battery, it is not designed to charge a nearly drained battery... I bring this up only to tell others there is a difference between a Battery maintainer and a charger/maintainer.. Not to detract from the battery tender... But only to illistrate the differences, a charger/maintainer will charge a nearly flat battery, then maintain it just as the Battery Tender does, the Battery Tender will Maintain the charge in a battery but will not charge it back up if it's been drained nearly flat for some reason.. Depending on your needs I post this to help others in choosing the right one, In my case i had drained my battery trying to start Fawkes when he was a stroker, so the battery was good, just needed recharged so I needed more than a maintainer.. |
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Post by rockynv on Dec 3, 2013 4:57:39 GMT -5
A straight trickle charger is death to batteries if used regularly or for extended periods of time and can cause them to fail within a years time. You want a charger that goes into float mode after the battery is fully charged so you will get the multiple years of service from the battery that you paid for.
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Post by onewheeldrive on Dec 3, 2013 22:01:28 GMT -5
Here's the one I have: www.walmart.com/ip/Schumacher-SpeedCharge-6-Amp-Battery-Charger/13005743MAINTAIN MODE: When the CHARGED (green) LED is lit, the charger has started Maintain Mode. In this mode, the charger keeps the battery fully charged by delivering a small current, when necessary. The voltage is maintained at a level determined by the BATTERY TYPE selected. I use the 2amp charge rate. I don't even keep it on all winter, or for even more than a few hours--- and only a handful of times throughout the winter, because I tend to ride (as long as the scoot is runnin, that is...) every so often when I can. No need to keep it on anyway, IMO. |
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Post by skuttadawg on Dec 5, 2013 0:10:25 GMT -5
I have one from Harbor Freight that was 5.99 and 1/2 amp
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Post by bvance554 on Dec 5, 2013 0:30:38 GMT -5
I like the battery tender/float charger sold by Harbor Freight for less than $10. It works very well and is hard to beat for the money.
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Post by petrol42 on Dec 5, 2013 22:53:17 GMT -5
Yea I love mine too, use it on car batteries, motorcycle batteries just about anything.. If your having a problem with your battery and it don't come back with a charger/maintainer, it's time to get a new battery.... I was really disappointed when I learned the Battery Tender only maintains and did not charge, and my charger/maintainer was actually cheaper than the Battery Tender, not much but still cheaper.. I'm pretty sure the Battery Tender Jr. is a full on charger. The manufacturer states that the Jr. charges at 0.75 amps and this is a quote from their website: "Complete 4-step charging program (Initialization, Bulk Charge, Absorption Mode, Float Mode)" I own one and use it on my car more than I do on my scooter and it seems to work great as a charger. |
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