Battery Tender Plus - failed - better choice?

[foxpaws]

I have had my Battery Tender Plus for only 3 years and about a month ago it failed. I contacted Deltran and they had me ship it back to them (my dime) to see if it could be repaired or if they needed to replace it. They have a 10 year warranty.

Well, today they told me it wasn't repairable, and I needed to send them another $16 (on top of the $8 it cost to ship it back to them) for Deltran to send me a new one.

Really - $16 for a warrantied item? I am sure it doesn't cost $16 for them to have these things made in China, so they haven't really warranted anything - they are just shipping one back to me, at their cost.

Has anyone else had one fail - or does anyone have a better product for keeping the old beasties charged up over the winter?

[redstrosekNic]

That's annoying. I use this...

DieHard Battery Charger/Maintainer : Exclusively Available at Sears

I do not leave it on all winter. I use one charger to keep about 10 or so batteries charged up. I have not had any issues with my batteries by simply charging each one once every 1.5-2 months.

[redstrosekNic]

I'm sure the Porsche charger that Pelican sells is great as well... I'm just a bit too cheap to buy that one

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by foxpaws

Really - $16 for a warrantied item? I am sure it doesn't cost $16 for them to have these things made in China, so they haven't really warranted anything - they are just shipping one back to me, at their cost.

I've never had one fail. But, for your $16 bucks, I'm betting you won't receive a brand new one, but rather a "refurb" that was returned by another $16 victim. These things aren't rocket science. A quick component level repair (swap out the bad resistor) and she's off to the next $16 customer....+shipping.

[vash]

i know an older gentleman. this is what he does (did).

he put one of those lightbulb adaptors you see with a electrical cord plug on the side. he screws it into his garage door opener light bulb socket. replaces the bulb, plugs in an extension cord and plugs it into his regular trickle charger. now everytime his wife opens the garage door, the charger gets powered and it hits the battery with a tiny harmless bit of love.

he swears this works. this only applies if you have an garage door in constant use.

[Rusty Heap]

xtreme battery chargers, de-sulfates as well as trickle charges.

note, I don't own one, but for $100 I should after talking to a factory rep for 2-3 hours about them.


Basically they inject a 4K hz A/C signal on top of the 12vdc, to keep the lead plates from building up resistance, new technology (to the civilian market) that military and state patrol vehicles use.


Amazon.com: Pulse Tech XC100-P Xtreme Charge 12V Battery Maintenance Charger Desulfator: Automotive


Pulse Tech Xtreme Charger



Goggle the factory website, very interesting read. All sizes of chargers, from Motorcycle to charging 4 automotive at once.

[pwd72s]

You might check out this site...they now suggest a unit they consider better than battery tendsr.

Batteries battery, PacificBattery.com Dell Battery Products Compaq battery, IBM battery, Toshiba battery, Nikon battery, Powersonic battery, Yuasa battery, and many more batteries.

[drmatera]

I sell C-tek and use one on my 930

[Heel n Toe]

This is what I have, and it works great. It "floats" when you have it in the 2 AMP mode. It even has its own cooling fan built in:

Peak PKC0CS 2/4/6 Amp Intelligent Battery Charger
Peak 2/4/6 Amp Intelligent Battery Charger is Micro Processor controlled 4 stage technology and is the faster, safer, smarter way to recharge your 12 V lead acid, conventional and sealed automotive, and marine deep cycle batteries in your car, truck, boat, RV, SUV, motorcycle, snowmobile, garden tractor, and ATV. The 2 amp Float charging mode is great for charging and maintaining vehicles while in seasonal storage. The 4 amp and 6 amp settings allow for faster charging based on the batteries level of discharge. Soft start technology allows for safer charge rate so battery is undamaged. Reverse polarity LED indicator and alarm keeps you safe from miss use. Over temperature and over voltage protection completes the safety aspect. ETL approved.

Amazon.com: Peak PKC0CS 2/4/6 Amp Intelligent Battery Charger: Automotive

[Rusty Heap]

actually John, 2 amps is a pretty heavy "float" charge for storage of your Peak charger...........I'd really like some other Pelicans real-world input on the de-sulfation chargers, used to keep aircraft and other planes ready to crank over.

I mean, a wet lead acid battery doen't go "dead" it builds up internal resistance and the electrons can't flow between the plates. That's the real reason batteries only last XYZ years.

Come on, it's lead, and acid, not rocket science. Yes you have to keep a positive amount of electrons, on the plates, hence the trickle charger..........

[azasadny]

I swear by the CTek chargers and I use them on all of our cars...

[EarlyPorsche]

RIZK made in USA.

[GDNF2ET]

The best way, is also the cheapest way..Disconnect the negative cable..My regal has been in storage for years now with a junkyard battery..Connect the neg. cable, she fires right up, every time..

[VincentVega]

I've been using a BatteryMINDer and have no complaints. It lets me charge the boat batteries at the same time, simple and affordable.

[nynor]

i use a yuasa charger:

Yuasa Smart Shot Battery Charger YUA1201501

works like a charm and saved the battery in my 951 and ducati. it also got me about six more months out of the battery in my rover.

it is currently tending the battery in the ducati.

my one complaint is that the alligator clips are very flimsy. VERY flimsy. so, i got some at radio shack for $3 and replaced them.

[strupgolf]

Originally Posted by GDNF2ET

The best way, is also the cheapest way..Disconnect the negative cable..My regal has been in storage for years now with a junkyard battery..Connect the neg. cable, she fires right up, every time..

Me too. I just disconnect the negative. If I feel the mood, I just take it out and put it on the workbench. Why? Just to keep it off of the engine bay, just in case of bad things.

[nynor]

Originally Posted by strupgolf

Me too. I just disconnect the negative. If I feel the mood, I just take it out and put it on the workbench. Why? Just to keep it off of the engine bay, just in case of bad things.

a ziplock baggie is your friend.

[Racerbvd]

We are using CTEKs, picked em up from Apex at the track

CTEK Battery Charger

[djantlive]

Weathertech sells one for $59

[manbridge 74]

C-Tek here, but any smart charger is better than old designs as the smart ones desulfate. Revived 3 dead batteries that other co-workers had left for dead.

Also and of utmost importance: The Hemmings guys over at Sport and Exotic Car are gun shy about ALL trickle chargers due to malfunctions causing fires. I believe this was due to cheap chargers.

A little common sense goes a long way here.