Battery Tender Question / Advice

[MapleLeafFarmer]

I am not an electrical expert but I make due.
We use a lot of these NOCO GENIUS2D Onboard Smart Battery Charger, Maintainer, and Desulfator.
They work fantastic.

Question is if I have it hooked to a tractor battery and energized (plugged into a 120v outlet)... what happens when I start the tractor or p/u and have it plugged into the wall at the same time?
(would it affect tractor charging system, affect the charger itself, impact the battery, impact ecu, other....)

no problems on this end just has me wondering what would/could happen.

 

[jimh406]

I think it would be ok. For one, most are only about 2 amps. Worse case, it would be similar to jump starting for the tractor. Chargers generally have circuitry to shut them off when full charge is reached.

On the other hand, why wouldn't you just unplug?

 

[imnukensc]

On the other hand, why wouldn't you just unplug?

Or plug it into a timer.

 

[NCL4701]

I’ve done it accidentally at least once. No harm but YMMV.

 

[Botamon]

I have around 13 battery maintainers on various vehicles/batteries. Mine are Battery Minder brand but I often start the vehicle and then unplug the maintainer afterwards. Been doing that for years and never any bad effects to either vehicle or maintainer.

 

[lmichael]

Have never had an issue when I've done it

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

I think it would be ok. For one, most are only about 2 amps. Worse case, it would be similar to jump starting for the tractor. Chargers generally have circuitry to shut them off when full charge is reached.

On the other hand, why wouldn't you just unplug?

its just a matter of convenience and comfort thing for me.

I could unplug it then start my truck. Means I wait in the -20/-30 or more cold for a minute or two while ecu warms up engine and drops rpm indicating ready to drive.

Or while in the house hit auto start letting it warm up, then go outside / make the unhooks and immediately hit the road.

Means I get to walk into a warm / ready to drive truck w/o having to wait for rpm to drop before I start out.

When its -20 or -30 for weeks at a time this saves time but also way more comfortable to leave a warm house into a ready to drive vehicle. Call me old and lazy and looking for a little more comfort. Always wondered if this is good habit or bad as I just don't know. <<inquiring minds want to know>>

 

[GeoHorn]

There is no advantage to starting with the maintainer connected/operational….. But it does risk damaging the maintainer, which must witness large voltage surges/spikes for-which it is not intended/designed.

Owners often spend inordinate amounts of time and money addressing and micro-managing motor-oil brands, types, viscosities, fuel additives, oil additives, etc etc etc…. Perhaps you do as well…. so why would you not be just as diligent in treating your equipment with care just as devotedly..?

Unplug it/disconnect it and be nice to both charger and tractor/vehicle systems, IMO.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

If the maintainer gets fried from the tractor starting, it was NOT properly designed ! Anyone dealing with 'automotive electrical' has volumes of information and test standards they can READ and then design/build their 'black box' to be bulletproof WRT 'automotive electrical'. It's not that hard to do, BTDT for past 5 decades, even got into the '42V battery' nonsense decades ago.
Today's electronic products are built based on cost, due just enough to make them work bit ,be disposable and cheap enough that few, if any apply for any warranty claims. Most are not reparable, cheaper to give new unit. Proper repair techs charge $100 per hour, battery tender costs $20..do the math.....

 

[chim]

When I was a youngster running with the volunteer fire company we had our trucks (all gasoline) plugged in all the time. The plugs were located in the rear of the trucks and the standard practice was for the driver to go and let the cord pull the plug as the truck ran out of leash..

 

[GeoHorn]

If the maintainer gets fried from the tractor starting, it was NOT properly designed ! Anyone dealing with 'automotive electrical' has volumes of information and test standards they can READ and then design/build their 'black box' to be bulletproof WRT 'automotive electrical'. It's not that hard to do, BTDT for past 5 decades, even got into the '42V battery' nonsense decades ago.
Today's electronic products are built based on cost, due just enough to make them work bit ,be disposable and cheap enough that few, if any apply for any warranty claims. Most are not reparable, cheaper to give new unit. Proper repair techs charge $100 per hour, battery tender costs $20..do the math.....

That is a totally-incomprehensible and self-contradictory post… It makes a statement that it immediately counters with the logic that “Since it is designed on the cheap…. it cannot withstand abuse…so it’s OK to Abuse it …because it is cheap.

Doh.

 

[GeoHorn]

When I was a youngster running with the volunteer fire company we had our trucks (all gasoline) plugged in all the time. The plugs were located in the rear of the trucks and the standard practice was for the driver to go and let the cord pull the plug as the truck ran out of leash..

Public-Dollars…. are frequently abused by public servants.

What are we gonna do..?? Fire a volunteer?

 

[Spam Bot]

Public-Dollars…. are frequently abused by public servants.

What are we gonna do..?? Fire a volunteer?

Just be sarcastic and demeaning toward them, and I hope they will not be available when you need them most.

 

[GeoHorn]

Just be sarcastic and demeaning toward them, and I hope they will not be available when you need them most.

I have that privilege. I have served as a VFD fireman/worker. Have you?

Everyone should try that at least once in their lifetimes. There’s nothing more fun than answering a call at 3 AM to go save a drunk who set their house on fire by driving all the way thru their garage, and crashing into the kitchen.

 

[Spam Bot]

Good possibility of more years that you have been alive.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

That is a totally-incomprehensible and self-contradictory post… It makes a statement that it immediately counters with the logic that “Since it is designed on the cheap…. it cannot withstand abuse…so it’s OK to Abuse it …because it is cheap.

Doh.

I didn't SAY you should abuse it, only that the products are cheaply made, poorly engineered to not withstand starting the tractor . A properly designed and built 'battery tender' CAN stay connected while starting the tractor,or car or boat or truck or motorcycle. They also should not be destroyed if connected backwards aka reverse polarity.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

I asked same question to NOCO and they got back to me and said it is ok to start and warm up vehicles while the tender is plugged in and hooked up.


NOCO maintainers are intelligent maintainers and employee an advanced Smart Technology; when your alternator starts, the charger detects the increased voltage and simply stops charging, going back to monitoring mode.