Battery Tender question
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,252
Likes: 113
From: Mandan, ND
Battery Tender question
On the 2005 6.0, was at the Lake this last weekend and the batteries were down from sitting for 3 weeks. Thinking it is time for a battery tender.
Question #1, are the batteries hard wired in parallel or is there some electro-mechanical connection? Basically wondering if you can put one tender on and it will do both batteries?
Question #2, what brand nd model of tender do you recommend?
Thanks!
Chris
Question #1, are the batteries hard wired in parallel or is there some electro-mechanical connection? Basically wondering if you can put one tender on and it will do both batteries?
Question #2, what brand nd model of tender do you recommend?
Thanks!
Chris
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,841
Likes: 6
Yes one tender will do both batteries. The battery tender plus has been working well like 44 bucks on amazon. Just needs to be kept dry I think there's a weather proof option as well depending on where it's parked.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Center, Texas
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,169
Likes: 3
From: SW Florida
A battery tender is a good idea....if you want something better, get one of these. You want something that will desulfate the batteries. You only have to hook it up to one battery, it will charge both. Since your batteries sit for long periods of time, you need one of these. I don't think the Battery Tender desulfates, but I could be wrong.
BatteryMINDer 1500 | 12 Volt Maintenance Charger Desulfator
If you want their older model without the temperature compensation, Northern has them on sale for $29.99.
BatteryMINDer Charger/Maintainer/Desulfator — 1.3 Amp, 12 Volt, Model# 12117 | Battery Maintainers| Northern Tool + Equipment
Google battery sulfation....here is one explanation of it.
How Does Sulfation Drain a Battery?
BatteryMINDer 1500 | 12 Volt Maintenance Charger Desulfator
If you want their older model without the temperature compensation, Northern has them on sale for $29.99.
BatteryMINDer Charger/Maintainer/Desulfator — 1.3 Amp, 12 Volt, Model# 12117 | Battery Maintainers| Northern Tool + Equipment
Google battery sulfation....here is one explanation of it.
How Does Sulfation Drain a Battery?
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,252
Likes: 113
From: Mandan, ND
A battery tender is a good idea....if you want something better, get one of these. You want something that will desulfate the batteries. You only have to hook it up to one battery, it will charge both. Since your batteries sit for long periods of time, you need one of these. I don't think the Battery Tender desulfates, but I could be wrong.
BatteryMINDer 1500 | 12 Volt Maintenance Charger Desulfator
If you want their older model without the temperature compensation, Northern has them on sale for $29.99.
BatteryMINDer Charger/Maintainer/Desulfator — 1.3 Amp, 12 Volt, Model# 12117 | Battery Maintainers| Northern Tool + Equipment
Google battery sulfation....here is one explanation of it.
How Does Sulfation Drain a Battery?
BatteryMINDer 1500 | 12 Volt Maintenance Charger Desulfator
If you want their older model without the temperature compensation, Northern has them on sale for $29.99.
BatteryMINDer Charger/Maintainer/Desulfator — 1.3 Amp, 12 Volt, Model# 12117 | Battery Maintainers| Northern Tool + Equipment
Google battery sulfation....here is one explanation of it.
How Does Sulfation Drain a Battery?
"Never connect two or more batteries together before fully charging each and checking their condition. Failure to fully charge each battery and check their condition can result in a serious safety hazard."
So if the batteries were low and you plugged this unit in what would happen?
I guess I am trying to make this thing "goof proof" as other family members use the Lake place and the truck. If I am not there all the time to monitor if truck is plugged in, then by reading this I would have to charge batteries before plugging in tender/desulfator if the last person to visit Lake did not plug it in?
Thanks for any advice...Chris
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Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,169
Likes: 3
From: SW Florida
I always use a battery charger to charge a battery to 12+ volts before using these. However on my truck, I just hook up the BatteryMinder when I know the truck will sit for 2+ days.
You have a unique situation where other people use the truck. Everyone needs to get in the routine of putting the BatteryMinder on the truck when they are done using it for their vacation. I guess if someone forgets, the next person needs to check the batteries for 12v prior to starting. If the batteries are weak (less than 11v) and you try to start it, you/they risk damaging the FICM/injectors/alternator.
I have no idea what would happen if you put the maintainer on prior to the batteries being at 12v, I've never done it.
I guess whoever forgets to put the maintainer on gets to pay for the repairs? LOL
You have a unique situation where other people use the truck. Everyone needs to get in the routine of putting the BatteryMinder on the truck when they are done using it for their vacation. I guess if someone forgets, the next person needs to check the batteries for 12v prior to starting. If the batteries are weak (less than 11v) and you try to start it, you/they risk damaging the FICM/injectors/alternator.
I have no idea what would happen if you put the maintainer on prior to the batteries being at 12v, I've never done it.
I guess whoever forgets to put the maintainer on gets to pay for the repairs? LOL
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Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,252
Likes: 113
From: Mandan, ND
I am starting to wonder if I read this wrong on BatteryMinder's site.
"Never connect two or more batteries together before fully charging each and checking their condition. Failure to fully charge each battery and check their condition can result in a serious safety hazard."
This could be a warning to not connect two batteries together of dissimilar charge states, NOT to not hood a BatteryMinder to two batteries.
Since the batteries in the F-250 are already together, no big deal.
Perhaps I just took that context wrong...
Anyway thanks for all the good info. Going to get one on order in the next couple days and install the next time I am over. With this new "revelation" I don't think there will be problems with others. Plug the truck in when done/leaving. Simple.
"Never connect two or more batteries together before fully charging each and checking their condition. Failure to fully charge each battery and check their condition can result in a serious safety hazard."
This could be a warning to not connect two batteries together of dissimilar charge states, NOT to not hood a BatteryMinder to two batteries.
Since the batteries in the F-250 are already together, no big deal.
Perhaps I just took that context wrong...
Anyway thanks for all the good info. Going to get one on order in the next couple days and install the next time I am over. With this new "revelation" I don't think there will be problems with others. Plug the truck in when done/leaving. Simple.
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,252
Likes: 113
From: Mandan, ND
A battery tender is a good idea....if you want something better, get one of these. You want something that will desulfate the batteries. You only have to hook it up to one battery, it will charge both. Since your batteries sit for long periods of time, you need one of these. I don't think the Battery Tender desulfates, but I could be wrong.
BatteryMINDer 1500 | 12 Volt Maintenance Charger Desulfator
If you want their older model without the temperature compensation, Northern has them on sale for $29.99.
BatteryMINDer Charger/Maintainer/Desulfator — 1.3 Amp, 12 Volt, Model# 12117 | Battery Maintainers| Northern Tool + Equipment
Google battery sulfation....here is one explanation of it.
How Does Sulfation Drain a Battery?
BatteryMINDer 1500 | 12 Volt Maintenance Charger Desulfator
If you want their older model without the temperature compensation, Northern has them on sale for $29.99.
BatteryMINDer Charger/Maintainer/Desulfator — 1.3 Amp, 12 Volt, Model# 12117 | Battery Maintainers| Northern Tool + Equipment
Google battery sulfation....here is one explanation of it.
How Does Sulfation Drain a Battery?
I just ordered a BatteryMinder #2012. Will install the next time I get over there.
Chris
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,951
Likes: 512
From: Foothills, CA
Unfortunately, by the time I raised my face out of the plate(s) of turkey and fixins' and read this thread, the Northern ones were all gone 
Personally I am putting the + on one batt and the - on the other and letting it work them in a true parallel state. I'm using a smart charger but want to find a reasonably priced desulfating model...
Personally I am putting the + on one batt and the - on the other and letting it work them in a true parallel state. I'm using a smart charger but want to find a reasonably priced desulfating model...
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