Restoration Battery Charger or Tender Recommendation?

[Michael J.]

Re: Restoration Battery Charger or Tender Recommendation?

I have a question regarding the use of a battery tender. Can they be used if you have the "spade" cut off? I do not have the Historic Battery but I do have the topper to appear more original. I will not purchase the Historical battery until I'm ready to flight the car. I do use the CTEX on my 2015 and it works great! I would like to install one on my C2 to support the life of the battery. I don't mean to derail this thread but I didn't want to start a new one since it is the same topic. Thank you.

Hi Debi, yes you can, I use them with both my knob and spade battery disconnects. Then you can chose if you want to maintain it connected to the car's electrical system (knob or spade closed), or disconnect and hook the maintainer directly on the posts so only the battery is on it.

[Patrick T.]

Re: Restoration Battery Charger or Tender Recommendation?

I have 2 Battery Minder Plus' for my 2 cars. Just hook em up and forget em. I've had these for several years with no problems.

[Mark E.]

Re: Restoration Battery Charger or Tender Recommendation?

I have 2 Battery Minder Plus' for my 2 cars. Just hook em up and forget em. I've had these for several years with no problems.

Maybe it's just me, but the idea of keeping a charger or tender connected to the battery all the time and unattended makes me nervous. Batteries can be capricious. I don't have any facts or data supporting this fear, but what if the charger/tender malfunctions or the battery develops an internal problem? And this happens while I'm not home?

If the car has been unused for three weeks, I connect a regular charger in 2 amp mode until fully charged, usually four to eight hours. And I do this while I'm home in case something happens. The battery is then disconnected, and good for another three weeks.

This approach minimizes the time a charger is attached, while still providing a life-extending slow charge for the battery.

[Jaime G.]

Re: Restoration Battery Charger or Tender Recommendation?

I've used either the Battery Tender Junior (Model 021-0123) or the Battery Companion (a 6V or 12V battery saver unit) on my Restoration Battery for my '71 Corvette for 6-7 years with no ill effects. I just got a Restoration Battery for my '68 4-4-2 a little over a year ago an have used the same Battery Tender Junior on it since receiving the battery, with no ill effects.

Randy C.

I have 5 battery tenders (doubles). 10 cars connected all the time. The oldest one is 8 years old. They are connected to both restoration batteries and delco service replacement batteries. They are connected both directly to the posts and/or thru the cables so the clocks stay working. I have had no issues with any of the batteries or the tenders.

[Michael W.]

Re: Restoration Battery Charger or Tender Recommendation?

Maybe it's just me, but the idea of keeping a charger or tender connected to the battery all the time and unattended makes me nervous. Batteries can be capricious. I don't have any facts or data supporting this fear, but what if the charger/tender malfunctions or the battery develops an internal problem? And this happens while I'm not home?

If the car has been unused for three weeks, I connect a regular charger in 2 amp mode until fully charged, usually four to eight hours. And I do this while I'm home in case something happens. The battery is then good for another three weeks.

This approach minimizes the time a charger is attached, while still providing a life-extending slow charge for the battery.

Think of the large number of battery powered devices you have in your house that are plugged into a charger or tender. Probably the laptop or smartphone you're using right now.

[Mark E.]

Re: Restoration Battery Charger or Tender Recommendation?

Think of the large number of battery powered devices you have in your house that are plugged into a charger or tender. Probably the laptop or smartphone you're using right now.

Good point; the risk isn't limited to car batteries. While conventional lead-acid car batteries generate H2 gas while charging, the flammable electrolyte in Li Ion batteries sometimes go up in flames.

Fires and explosions from car batteries happen, especially during charging. The H2 gas produced is a powerful explosive if allowed to accumulate in a confined space like a garage or the interior of a C3.

So maybe my safety practice is conservative, but I don't leave a battery being charged unattended. Especially when the battery is in my prized car, which is parked in my prized home.

[David P.]

Re: Restoration Battery Charger or Tender Recommendation?

Here's one more data point. I just got 10 full years of service out of my original C6 OEM AGM battery, replaced now on only because I didn't want to chance getting stuck somewhere if it did finally fail. I contribute the long life to 2 main factors: 1) never let it run flat. 2) I religiously kept it on my CTEK charger in AGM mode when in storage. I love my CTEK.

[Michael J.]

Re: Restoration Battery Charger or Tender Recommendation?

Here's one more data point. I just got 10 full years of service out of my original C6 OEM AGM battery, replaced now on only because I didn't want to chance getting stuck somewhere if it did finally fail. I contribute the long life to 2 main factors: 1) never let it run flat. 2) I religiously kept it on my CTEK charger in AGM mode when in storage. I love my CTEK.

That's great. I have had my 2012 on the CTEK (Battery Protection Package option) since new and the battery is still going strong, maybe I can expect another 5 years.

[Jimmy G.]

Re: Restoration Battery Charger or Tender Recommendation?

Schumacher WalMart $ 20 Best I have had

[Mark E.]

Re: Restoration Battery Charger or Tender Recommendation?

Schumacher WalMart $ 20 Best I have had

I also have an old-fashioned, large, metal housing Schumacher. Maybe it's time I joined Michael and David and get one of those fancy computer controlled chargers. From what I read, they supposedly sense the condition of the battery and set the charge profile accordingly. They also shut down at the proper time to avoid overheating the battery...

[Don W.]

Re: Restoration Battery Charger or Tender Recommendation?

I purchased the Battery MINDer Model 128CEC1. Best price I found with shipping costs was here: https://www.batterystuff.com/ I put it on and it seems to work great...Don

[Tom B.]

Re: Restoration Battery Charger or Tender Recommendation?

I have 2 called Battery Butler. I don't remember where I bought them but it was around 10 years ago, probably more. One is on my mower all the time except in regular use season. The other is on the '81 Vette. It isn't driven often so it is almost always connected. I just changed the battery after 7 years. They have been flawless. A couple of years ago I bought 3 from Harbor Freight on sale. Two have been in constant use ever since on other batteries with no problems what so ever. I'd just buy a Harbor Freight one and test it's output to see if it is in spec for your battery. If it isn't in range use it on your lawn tractor. I think I paid in the $13. range on sale and you can still use a 20% super coupon on top of the sale price.

Tom