Whats the scoop on trickle chargers?

[ppun]

I am about to put an '88 Targa in storage for the upcoming Cleveland Winter (November till April) and plan to use a trickle charger. Are there any words of wisdom on what brands/features you all would reccomend? Thanks.

[RickM]

I have used the Battery Tender for years with success. Others have had great luck with the Harbor Freight chargers as well.

Here's a good thread for reference Trickle or float charger?

[ppun]

Originally posted by RickM
I have used the Battery Tender for years with success. Other have had great luck with the Harbor Freight chargers as well.

Here's a good thread for reference Trickle or float charger?

Rick,
Thanks - much appreciated.
Mark

[widgeon13]

If you are not going to run the car during that period, why not pull the battery and store in warm dry location. I don't like trickle chargers and don't believe they extend the life of the battery that much. To me it's just as easy to pull battery, you can still use charger but and check charge level without uncovering the car.

[ozz]

I have had very good success using the Battery Minder.

http://www.pacificbattery.com/batteryminder1.html

I actually have 2 - one is used for the 911 battery. It stays plugged in all winter (and during the summer season when I'm not running the car) and keeps the battery fully charged without boiling or overcharging. I bought a 2nd and use it with all of my other seasonal batterys (travel trailer, race hauler, lawn tractor). I pull all of them out and line them up on a shelf in the garage. You can connect up to 4 bateries and maintain proper charge on all with one unit.

[azasadny]

I remove my battery and store it in the basement. I also remove the wheels and put them in the basement and put the car up on jack stands. A can of Stabil in the gas tank and I'm all set for winter...

[Emission]

Originally posted by widgeon13
I don't like trickle chargers and don't believe they extend the life of the battery that much.

My PO replaced the battery almost every other year.

I now have it on a trickle-charger... same battery for 5+ years now.

I am a believer!

[RickM]

Originally posted by Emission
My PO replaced the battery almost every other year.

I now have it on a trickle-charger... same battery for 5+ years now.

I am a believer!

+1

[scottb]

I bought a Schumacher on-board trickle charger at my local Kragen Auto Parts for about $25. It mounts right next to the battery and is permanently connected to the terminals. Whenever my car is going to be unused for a long period of time, I simply plug the charger into an extension cord. The Schumacher turns itself off and on depending on the charge level of the battery.

[randywebb]

removing the battery is fine but it still needs a trickle charger

batteries will self-discharge over time (in part due to the creation of the emf in the air between the terminals); altho you can recharge it, running down the battery will shorten its life

[edward993]

Can someone tell me what's the rationale behind removing the battery. A good charger will taper down its charge rate as the battery approaches 100%. I just don't see the point vs charing it in the car (with the hood up in a ventilated area).

Edward

[RickM]

My understanding is that a battery is not only self discharging but self destructing. The plates are sacrificial...correct? So over time a battery will lose potency, even under ideal conditions.

Add to that any activity that damages the internals like complete discharges and you shorten the life expectency.

Taking the battery out is a common practice where temps get very low and potentially freeze the battery. Otherwise I don't see the point.

In fact, IIRC, keeping baterries in lower temperatures (not freezing) slows down the electrolitic processes and may help preserve it.