I thought I read somewhere that the two were different and that you cannot leave a trickle charger on a battery for long periods of time like a battery tender...is this correct or are the two the same and people just use different terms?

 

I run a tender on my 02 from day 1 for 4 yrs never had any prob's at all with batt issues sold the bike with original batt in it kept my tender now it's on my new bike & proving it's self again .So i guess it's working for me.

 

Trickle charger will over change your battery over time. It can not float the charge off if the charge is finished. The battery tender can stay on the battery for months. And only charge as needed.

 

Yes, they are different.
As cadman311 pointed out, a true battery tender can be left on your battery for long periods of time.

Can't do that with a trickle charger, or you'll cook your battery.

 

I've got a sears charger for 2 amp, 10 amp, deep cell, and it has a starter mode. I'm sure it monitors the charge and will turn itself off when the charge is complete.

 

Battery tender is at .75 amps with a float charge

 

Would you charge your cell phone with that sears battery charger

 

Okay...so there is a difference. How do I know which one I currently have? The unit doesn't say "tender" or "trickle" or anything like that. I have had it for years and any paperwork is long gone. I have always used it for overnight and 24 hour charges but now I want to keep it on my second bike long term...

My unit has a switch on the front that goes between 6v or 12. Other than that, no meters, or other switches. Little green light goes on when plugged in.

If I have to, I will just pony up and go buy a tender, but I would like to first find out what is the one I have.

 

Go to harley or harbor freight. Harley has what you needed for $50 or $60. And harbor freight has some for $10 to $15. I would buy the Harley battery tender first.

 

If the battery tender was designed properly the output voltage is regulated at about 13.5 volts. It will only source about an amp or two, after your battery is fully charged it won't sink much if any current from the tender, but the battery tender output is regulated to stay at ~13.5 volts. The problem with your big old full blown battery charger is that the output voltage is not regulated very well, if at all. So after your battery is fully charged and it is not sinking much current from the charger the chargers voltage goes up, probably well over 15 volts. This high voltage level is what damages your battery over time.

Paul in Colorado