Battery Tender
Thread Starter
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Strokin Okie
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 21
From: Oklahoma
Battery Tender
Well my FICM is due back tomorrow! I am wanting to get a battery tender since I only drive the truck a couple of days a week.
Is the Battery Tender Jr a good option for these trucks? If not, what are you using?
Battery Tender Junior 12V @ 0.75A - Batterytender.com
Is the Battery Tender Jr a good option for these trucks? If not, what are you using?
Battery Tender Junior 12V @ 0.75A - Batterytender.com
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,604
Likes: 4
From: Claremore, OK
If your driving the truck a couple of times a week, and more than 5-10 miles at a time...you should be good. I say all this with one disclaimer...unless you've had a problem with dead batteries in the past. Battery tenders are more for vehicles that are stored more than they move (classic hot rods, motorcycles in winter, etc...). I've left my truck sitting for a week at a time without battery issues. But then I put 500 miles a week on my truck when I do drive it.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,604
Likes: 4
From: Claremore, OK
You should be fine, with that kind of mileage everything is getting warmed up/recharged. Just for the sake of discussion, how old are the batteries?
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
This is the one i have hard wired into the passengerside battery one thing you need, new battery bolts because they will screwup if you do it this way when i want to chage just set it by the battery and plug it in.
Car Battery Tender Plus 1.25 Amp 12 Volt New | eBay
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Car Battery Tender Plus 1.25 Amp 12 Volt New | eBay
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,180
Likes: 669
From: Scio, OR
I use a simple Schumacher 1.5 amp like the one below, only mine is older and the mount is different. I think .75 amp might be a little light for 2 big batteries and I preferred something that permanently mounted.
http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SE-...=pd_sim_auto_5
I also have a Battery Minder for my deep cycle battery. It is supposed to use some high frequency technology to prevent the battery from building up sulfates on the plates. You might look at something like this one.
BatteryMINDer® 12 Volt 1.5A OnBoard Battery Charger/Maintainer/Desulfator/Conditioner Model 12151 | Automotive Battery Chargers | Battery Chargers by BatteryMINDers.com
If you're driving the vehicle enough, the battery shouldn't be a problem. Where I run into trouble is if it sits for more than 2 weeks, or when I start using it around town. Around town for me is just far enough for the glow plugs to shut off before I'm where I'm going, so the battery never gets a chance to charge.
http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SE-...=pd_sim_auto_5
I also have a Battery Minder for my deep cycle battery. It is supposed to use some high frequency technology to prevent the battery from building up sulfates on the plates. You might look at something like this one.
BatteryMINDer® 12 Volt 1.5A OnBoard Battery Charger/Maintainer/Desulfator/Conditioner Model 12151 | Automotive Battery Chargers | Battery Chargers by BatteryMINDers.com
If you're driving the vehicle enough, the battery shouldn't be a problem. Where I run into trouble is if it sits for more than 2 weeks, or when I start using it around town. Around town for me is just far enough for the glow plugs to shut off before I'm where I'm going, so the battery never gets a chance to charge.
Thread Starter
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Strokin Okie
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 21
From: Oklahoma
But it sounds like the consensus is that I really don't need a battery tender unless I am letting it set for weeks at a time. Which won't happen, cuz I just can't go that long without driving it!
Thanks for the additional options!
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
From: Land of Lincoln
Been wanting to do this for some time now, thanks for bringing it up. Is there a solenoid that separates the batteries from each other when the ignition is turned off? That would require 2 separate tenders if so?
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 803
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From: S CAL
I do not believe so. They are still connected together even when the ignition is turned off.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,604
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From: Claremore, OK
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 979
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From: SoCali!!
I have Tenders on my '02 7.3, my '03 6.0, and my E350, all with dual batteries, just one Tender. Hard wired in. I use them on all of my vehicles that have any inactivity at all, boat, buggy, 4 stroke quads and motorcycles.
I love Battery Tenders, obviously.
I love Battery Tenders, obviously.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 979
Likes: 0
From: SoCali!!
That is a cool idea Ed, if I lived in 'Chillinois', I would definitely wire them in together!
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
From: Land of Lincoln
LOL, yea its starting to get cold over here. I thought wired together would work till David brought up a good point. What if I just want to have the charger on without the block heater for other than the cold time. Looks like Im going to be installing 2 Marinco plugs now.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ry-minder.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ry-minder.html