Does anybody go away for say 3 or 4 months and leave their car on a trickle charger?
Anybody ever have a bad experience doing this?
Anybody ever have a bad experience doing this?
Battery Charger
- Thread starter Narragansett
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Not on my car, but my lawnmower is on a trickle charger 24-7-365 except when in use of course. It doesn't take a car battery but a smaller, yet similar lead acid unit. My friend does the same for his wife's Corvette, which hasn't been driven in at least 2 years.
I use a Battery Tender or equivalent. It cycles the battery between full and allows the charge to come down to some point, and then charges it back up to full. I have had motorcycles on one of those for over 12 months and they were ready to go.
To answer your question directly I am not sure if a constant 2amp charge would be good or not.
$25-$40 depending on the model for a smart charger like the battery tender and you will be worry free for a lot longer than that. My riding mower came with one from the mfg.
To answer your question directly I am not sure if a constant 2amp charge would be good or not.
$25-$40 depending on the model for a smart charger like the battery tender and you will be worry free for a lot longer than that. My riding mower came with one from the mfg.
The trickle charger I use is all-digital; I got it from my motorcycle dealer. It varies the charge amperage, depending on the need. Thus, no over-charging.
I use one successfully on my Mazda CX-5 in Oregon. Works well. I tried one on my car, a Prius C, in Japan. It did not work. Battery was dead when I got back about 10 months later. I think the trickle charger I used was too small. Probably was for motorcycles and the like.
This last time I was over in Japan, in discussing the problem — leaving my car unattended for most of the year — with the local Toyota dealer, he recommended disconnecting one of the wires, the negative pole,* I believe. He came to my house there and did this for me. (The battery in a Prius C is a bit tricky to get to. It is under the rear passenger seat, and there is very little room to maneuver, especially for a large, overweight, aging guy.)
He, the dealer, says that battery disconnected that way will not draw any electricity at all, and that when reconnected will start right back up. We'll see if he's right when I get back over there at year end.
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*If anybody tries this, confirm that it is the negative pole that should be disconnected. That's my memory, but my memory might be faulty.
This last time I was over in Japan, in discussing the problem — leaving my car unattended for most of the year — with the local Toyota dealer, he recommended disconnecting one of the wires, the negative pole,* I believe. He came to my house there and did this for me. (The battery in a Prius C is a bit tricky to get to. It is under the rear passenger seat, and there is very little room to maneuver, especially for a large, overweight, aging guy.)
He, the dealer, says that battery disconnected that way will not draw any electricity at all, and that when reconnected will start right back up. We'll see if he's right when I get back over there at year end.
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*If anybody tries this, confirm that it is the negative pole that should be disconnected. That's my memory, but my memory might be faulty.
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Pete
My C8 is on this when it sits in the garage. I had been using a Battery Tender for decades but recently went to CTEK. Personal choice, nothing wrong with BT.
You can leave it on with no worries.
My C8 is on this when it sits in the garage. I had been using a Battery Tender for decades but recently went to CTEK. Personal choice, nothing wrong with BT.
You can leave it on with no worries.
I do it 4-5 month's in the summer (F150) all good.
Tom B
Tom B
I keep my 12v Polaris Ranger on one in the fall when it’s at the cabin for 3-4 months. Cheapo $5 harbor freight unit. Works great
cherrypointmarine
Member
I have a Battery Tender which I use on my 2003 Mustang Mach 1 . I put maybe 500 miles on it a year and got tired of buying or trading in batteries . Easy to use and never had a problem .
I have one on my C5 Corvette late October till late may now after a battery went dead on me. Replace it with Red Top AGM battery.
My mom keep a Battery Tender on her Toyota Highlander from November till May since she bought it new in 2021. Starts right up when she gets back to Ohio.
I keep one on my Harley and Mower except when I'm using them.
I keep one on my Harley and Mower except when I'm using them.
JET4
Member
I use one on one of our 4Runners. Only drive it around 300-400 miles a year. Never had a problem with it.
I keep one on my '49 Ford 8N tractor.
Best to make sure that the vehicle's charging system and any external chargers, are compatible with the batteries.
Some boats have 10-20 batteries, most non electric land cruisers, one or two.
About four decades, outfitting boats, with electronics/electrical, mistakes are costly.
Plus, you can miss a weather window.
Some boats have 10-20 batteries, most non electric land cruisers, one or two.
About four decades, outfitting boats, with electronics/electrical, mistakes are costly.
Plus, you can miss a weather window.
I have 9 battery maintainers running and have for years. I have had 2 to fail and both drained the battery they were attached to. I hesitate to leave them running when I am gone on vacation.
I keep everything that doesn't get used daily on tenders. I have 6 going now. Never had an issue.
rcnixon
Member
Yes, always disconnect a vehicle battery negative terminal first, then positive. Reconnect in reverse order. Reason: if, when disconnecting the positive, the tool grounds the positive to the chassis with the negative already disconnected there will be no “electro-boom”.
There is a tremendous amount of energy in a car battery. The starter can draw upwards of 100 amps turning the engine over. Don’t be fooled by “well, it’s only twelve volts”. The current (amps) does all the work (or damage).
I second the suggestion for the Battery Tender chargers. They cost more but won’t fry your battery.
