Who's Using a Trickle Charger / Battery Tender?

[fried1765]

The last one I had was one of those so called "cheapies". Lasted about 90 days and died. Tried a regular charger with the smart plug. This one from Costco I got on sale for $33. My only regret was not buying 2.
But even at it's regular $46 price it's a darn far cry better than anything else I have found. Yeah I could have bought the smaller version with IIRC 1 amp but everywhere I looked they cost more than I paid for this one. So what is the problem?

There are many maintenance chargers on the market.
Some are junk (Horrible Freight?)....some are fine
I have been using some for up to 15 years, and have never paid more than $30 for one.
Many bought (Battery Tender .75 amp) for $19.99.
I have only used Battery Tender, and battery Minder Brands, but just ordered 2 NOCO.

 

[lmichael]

There are many maintenance chargers on the market.
Some are junk (Horrible Freight?)....some are fine
I have been using some for up to 15 years, and have never paid more than $30 for one.
Many bought (Battery Tender .75 amp) for $19.99.
I have only used Battery Tender, and battery Minder Brands, but just ordered 2 NOCO.

Would like to know where you can find an actual "Battery Tender" brand for that price. What I got at Costco is the absolute CHEAPEST actual BT brand of any amperage I have ever seen anywhere. And it works fantastic.

 

[fried1765]

Would like to know where you can find an actual "Battery Tender" brand for that price. What I got at Costco is the absolute CHEAPEST actual BT brand of any amperage I have ever seen anywhere. And it works fantastic.

$19.99 Battery Tender Jr's have been available for years.

Just checked, and apparently "Joe" has inflated the price to $44.99.
That is an insane price, for what it is!
I am not a particular disciple of the Battery Tender brand!

Makes the Amazon price of $29.47 for the 1 amp NOCO even more appealing!

I have a combined total of TWELVE Battery Tenders, Battery tender Jr's, and Battery Minders.
Now, I will also have 2 NOCO genius 1 amp chargers.

An amperage rating of more than 1 on these little maintenance chargers has no particularly useful purpose, if using one charger per battery.

 

[lmichael]

Back when I had my boat I used an onboard Minnkota battery minder. Worked like a champ. Stupid me I left it on the boat It was the kind you built on to the boat, but I could have just as easily built it on a tractor LOL

 

[emac]

I have several Deltran battery tenders (1.25amp) and all my stuff hardwired. I have been using them for years, wait probably decades now! I have had good luck with the Deltran brand, especially the 1.25amp models.

 

[fried1765]

I have several Deltran battery tenders (1.25amp) and all my stuff hardwired. I have been using them for years, wait probably decades now! I have had good luck with the Deltran brand, especially the 1.25amp models.

I have had a total of six of the 1.25 amp Battery Tender units.
Three of them have failed (over 10 years).
I no longer buy that brand.!

 

[emac]

I have had a total of six of the 1.25 amp Battery Tender units.
Three of them have failed (over 10 years).
I no longer buy that brand.!

Dang, that sucks. Maybe they aren't made like they used to be. Most of mine are pretty old, but one of more newer ones is made a little different. I hate when companies with a good reputation sell out.

 

[lmichael]

I tried a couple from Hazard Fraught and both failed right after their 90 day "warranty". Both cost me more than the Battery Tender I got on sale at Costco. Which has so far been working perfectly back there. Like I indicated before. My only regret was not buying 2 at the price I got them at. They were crazy cheap

 

[fried1765]

Dang, that sucks. Maybe they aren't made like they used to be. Most of mine are pretty old, but one of more newer ones is made a little different. I hate when companies with a good reputation sell out.

I strongly suspect that the Battery Tender (brand) has been, and is being, manufactured in China (maybe "assembled" in USA.... like Kubota tractors?)
My originals mostly lasted a bit beyond the ten year warranty period before they died.
As they fail, I have been replacing them with Battery Minders.

The Battery Minder brand claims to have desulfating capability, which my Battery Tenders do not.
Right now though: The NOCO genius 1 amp (Amazon) is the best bang for the buck.
It claims desulfating, and it also charges both 6V and 12V batteries.

 

[jyoutz]

I Strongly suspect that the Battery Tender (brand) has been, and is being, manufactured in China (maybe "assembled" in USA.... like Kubota tractors?)
My originals mostly lasted a bit beyond the ten year warranty period before they died.
As they fail, I have been replacing them with Battery Minders.

The Battery Minder brand claims to have desulfating capability, which my Battery Tenders do not.
Right now though: The NOCO genius 1 amp (Amazon) is the best bang for the buck.
It claims desulfating, and it also charges both 6V and 12V batteries.

I doubt there’s any battery tenders that aren’t made in China. Our choices are low end or higher end Chinese products.

 

[lmichael]

Yeah show me any electronic product NOT made in China or some other 3rd world country. Hell, even the US military is buying electronics made in China!

 

[L35]

I have a couple of these and use them on my tractor and truck. There’s times they just don’t get used often and I believe this has helped keep the battery going for a lot longer than if I hadn’t used them.

Battery Tender® Plus 12V, 1.25 AMP Battery Charger

www.batterytender.com

 

[fried1765]

I have a couple of these and use them on my tractor and truck. There’s times they just don’t get used often and I believe this has helped keep the battery going for a lot longer than if I hadn’t used them.

Battery Tender® Plus 12V, 1.25 AMP Battery Charger

www.batterytender.com

I certainly hope that NO ONE is foolish enough to buy that 1.25 amp Battery Tender, at the ABSOLUTELY CRAZY advertised price of $76.95!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

no worse than the 1 amp job for $60 CDN....
if one reads the datasheet ,the 1A job is ONLY good for a 30AH battery, and 'recharges a 1/2 dead battery in 22 hours.....' course that'll be at 'room temperature' of course....probably 70*F not the normal 62 here.

reminds me of the 100Watt speakers powered by a PC USB port......

 

[fried1765]

no worse than the 1 amp job for $60 CDN....
if one reads the datasheet ,the 1A job is ONLY good for a 30AH battery, and 'recharges a 1/2 dead battery in 22 hours.....' course that'll be at 'room temperature' of course....probably 70*F not the normal 62 here.

reminds me of the 100Watt speakers powered by a PC USB port......

Not sure what "data sheet" you are reading, but the .75 amp Battery tenders will keep a standard 12V car battery topped off, even though they are sold as motorcycle battery maintainers.


"recharges a 1/2 dead battery in 22 hours"....... is NOT the design purpose of any MAINTENANCE charger!

That $60 Canadian, would be $67.80 with HST in most provinces.
$67.80 CDN = $50.85 USD (in no tax states)
Still bad !

 

[L35]

I certainly hope that NO ONE is foolish enough to buy that 1.25 amp Battery Tender, at the ABSOLUTELY CRAZY advertised price of $76.95!

I believe they were around 55 bucks back when I purchased mine.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Might have been the NOCO units, Crappy tire's 'search engine' leaves a lot to be desired...
Ironically I cleaned up the garage attic a bit, brought down 2 boxes full of my PSUs with battery backup for the energy control systems I designed back in mid 80s.. Every 22 minutes they did an actual 'load test' and reported their status.

 

[fried1765]

I believe they were around 55 bucks back when I purchased mine.

The highly rated NOCO Genius 1 amp. will do a better job (more functions) @today's price of $29.47!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

yeah... $39 to $78 CDN depending on the website you buy from..and of course shipping, handling and 13% for the guvs....

 

[lmichael]

I had never heard of NOCO. Looked it up. So I noticed a "mode" button. Do they make you select a mode or are they smart enough to sense the type of battery and set accordingly (as is the Battery Tender and some others). Having to constantly "check" it would be a royal PIA. Every time power blinked or surged what have you then you have to run out to the shed and reset the device.