Batter tender kill my battery??
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 127
Likes: 3
From: Maine
Batter tender kill my battery??
I put a brand new battery in my 07 Softail last April. I have had it plugged into a Harley supersmart tender since riding season was over in late November. Last week I went out to the garage and noticed the light on tender was completely off. I unplugged it from the wall, plugged back in, still nothing. I checked the outlet- it was fine. I chalked it up to the tender failing after a few years. Just picked up a new tender at the dealer, plugged it in, and it lights up, but the lights would not change color when I plugged the bike into it. Turned the ignition on and absolutely nothing came on at all. No fuel pump, lights, anything. It's like there wasnt a battery even in the bike. I checked all fuses and connections, all looked fine. Just tested the battery with my multimeter, it's showing "0.0".... to make sure there wasn't an issue with the multimeter, I checked the battery on my other bike and it's working fine- not plugged into a tender for the same about of time, reading 11.9. 2 questions here- is it even possible for a battery less than a year old to have absolutely no juice in it at all? And has anyone ever heard of a tender failing and destroying a battery like this? It's all odd and really frustrating. The bike not plugged into a tender has a battery that's really low, but is showing voltage. And the one plugged in is completely dead... bike ran fine all summer with no electrical issues, including sitting for 3 weeks un-tendered while I was on my honeymoon.
Any insight or anyone else have anything like this happen??
Any insight or anyone else have anything like this happen??
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 289
Likes: 129
From: Flatlands of Indiana
Is your new battery a flooded type or an AGM?
If flooded, is it cooked dry? I did have one boil a flooded battery dry. Ever since then Iv'e put mine on a timer to charge for a few hours 2-3 times a week.
I'm wondering if your failed tender boiled the battery dry, or did it fail in a way that discharged your battery completely. Does your tender pig tail have a fuse in it?
As a test, you could connect your failed tender up to a good battery and measure the current to see if it's discharging.
If flooded, is it cooked dry? I did have one boil a flooded battery dry. Ever since then Iv'e put mine on a timer to charge for a few hours 2-3 times a week.
I'm wondering if your failed tender boiled the battery dry, or did it fail in a way that discharged your battery completely. Does your tender pig tail have a fuse in it?
As a test, you could connect your failed tender up to a good battery and measure the current to see if it's discharging.
Last edited by Randol; Jan 30, 2019 at 08:19 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 651
Likes: 29
From: Alabama
I have had that happen more than once, I have 2 portable generators, 2 ATV's and 2 Bikes, had it happen with 2 different brand chargers, some of mine sit on the battery maintainer (charger) for months, About a 2 years ago I sold all my chargers at a garage sale, and now only use Genius chargers, more money , but have never had a failure.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,156
Likes: 41
From: So Cal
generally if the battery is completely dead or a bad cell a battery tender wont be able to charge it, it wont even recognize that a battery is connected.
I use battery tenders for the past 5+ years on 6 things (jeep, tractor, riding mower, Fatboy, quad and a generator) Ive never had a problem but I also set a alarm on my phone for 90 days and I disconnect and start everything and let run 10-15 minutes then reconnect bout a week later. I dont know if this schedule does anything but it works for me and i think it allows the batteries to have a load put on them (starting) and a short break from continuous charging.
Im using 2 original "battery tender junior $ 30.00 , a Sears Craftsman $25 and 3 from harbor frieght $ 19 , they all seem to work the same. I do have a Interstate "trickle" charger that has been able to bring back to life a battery that the "tender' would not do anything to.
I use battery tenders for the past 5+ years on 6 things (jeep, tractor, riding mower, Fatboy, quad and a generator) Ive never had a problem but I also set a alarm on my phone for 90 days and I disconnect and start everything and let run 10-15 minutes then reconnect bout a week later. I dont know if this schedule does anything but it works for me and i think it allows the batteries to have a load put on them (starting) and a short break from continuous charging.
Im using 2 original "battery tender junior $ 30.00 , a Sears Craftsman $25 and 3 from harbor frieght $ 19 , they all seem to work the same. I do have a Interstate "trickle" charger that has been able to bring back to life a battery that the "tender' would not do anything to.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,398
Likes: 34
From: Newport news, Virginia
Make sure your hook up sequence is by the book. Hook up the bike first, then plug the tender into the wall. To disconnect, unplug the tender from the the wall first, wait till all the lights go out then unplug from the bike. If you do not do it this way it will fry your battery or damage the battery tender. I have seen this happen a few times.
Last edited by DrPlastic; Feb 2, 2019 at 07:31 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 852
Likes: 54
From: Dallas tx
It shouldn't. It should have a diode in it to prevent drainage..
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 865
From: Sheboygan, WI
In the OP's case, his tender failed so it's quite likely it drained the battery.
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Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 15,435
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From: Beyond Fucital
Like stated a tender will not charge a dead battery. And i know you said you checked all the fuses, Did you check the 1 in the tender pigtail too?
I'd not use it (the old tender) until I know what happened. If the was a short or heavy draw for the bike, the fuse in the pig tail could blow
once the battery got low enough.
I'd not use it (the old tender) until I know what happened. If the was a short or heavy draw for the bike, the fuse in the pig tail could blow
once the battery got low enough.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 3,336
Likes: 1,281
From: Ky
I had a new battery, put a HF trickle charger on a timer for 15 minutes a day, that spring I had to buy a new battery. Bike was parked in a heated garage.