Battery tender killed my battery?
battery tender
I doubt the tender had any thing to do with it. I just removed my oem battery from my 05 deluxe it was six years old and still kicking. i had it on a tender every winter. its now in a friends bike and still kicking. I believe the tender will extend a battery's life. when a battery goes dead and is charged it takes away some of the life of the battery. its best to keep it up with the tender and it will last longe
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach
Bad battery? Or bad battery tender, which caused battery to go bad?
Could be either. I say that at this point because there is way too much information lacking to make the determination, but both are possible.
What brand and size is the battery tender? Is it an actual 'Battery Tender' brand? How old is it? Whats the state of the indicator light(s), if any? Whats the on state charge voltage? Whats the OCV (open circuit voltage)? It would appear that some here might be under the impression that it could not be the charging device, especially if there is a little green LED that says everything is honky dory. Maintaining an AGM battery on a float charge requires a pretty narrow voltage climate once the battery is fully charged. Many of the float type maintenance chargers have microprocessor-controlled circuitry that manipulates charging algorithms depending on the state of the battery. As with any electronic device, especially one thats microprocessor controlled, failure is a possibility. A slightly high float charge can be even more detrimental to a battery than a slightly low float charge, either scenario is not good for the battery .. so it is possible. Most of these devices are pretty reliable, but remember, nothing is forever!
As for the battery, is it completely dead? Whats the OCV? How old is it? Have you tried charging it with another charger? If the battery is toast at this point, then you really have to do some testing on the battery tender device to make the determination of what failed.
Could be either. I say that at this point because there is way too much information lacking to make the determination, but both are possible.
What brand and size is the battery tender? Is it an actual 'Battery Tender' brand? How old is it? Whats the state of the indicator light(s), if any? Whats the on state charge voltage? Whats the OCV (open circuit voltage)? It would appear that some here might be under the impression that it could not be the charging device, especially if there is a little green LED that says everything is honky dory. Maintaining an AGM battery on a float charge requires a pretty narrow voltage climate once the battery is fully charged. Many of the float type maintenance chargers have microprocessor-controlled circuitry that manipulates charging algorithms depending on the state of the battery. As with any electronic device, especially one thats microprocessor controlled, failure is a possibility. A slightly high float charge can be even more detrimental to a battery than a slightly low float charge, either scenario is not good for the battery .. so it is possible. Most of these devices are pretty reliable, but remember, nothing is forever!
As for the battery, is it completely dead? Whats the OCV? How old is it? Have you tried charging it with another charger? If the battery is toast at this point, then you really have to do some testing on the battery tender device to make the determination of what failed.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 267
From: Southern California
Bad battery? Or bad battery tender, which caused battery to go bad?
Could be either. I say that at this point because there is way too much information lacking to make the determination, but both are possible.
What brand and size is the battery tender? Is it an actual 'Battery Tender' brand? How old is it? Whats the state of the indicator light(s), if any? Whats the on state charge voltage? Whats the OCV (open circuit voltage)? It would appear that some here might be under the impression that it could not be the charging device, especially if there is a little green LED that says everything is honky dory. Maintaining an AGM battery on a float charge requires a pretty narrow voltage climate once the battery is fully charged. Many of the float type maintenance chargers have microprocessor-controlled circuitry that manipulates charging algorithms depending on the state of the battery. As with any electronic device, especially one thats microprocessor controlled, failure is a possibility. A slightly high float charge can be even more detrimental to a battery than a slightly low float charge, either scenario is not good for the battery .. so it is possible. Most of these devices are pretty reliable, but remember, nothing is forever!
As for the battery, is it completely dead? Whats the OCV? How old is it? Have you tried charging it with another charger? If the battery is toast at this point, then you really have to do some testing on the battery tender device to make the determination of what failed.
Could be either. I say that at this point because there is way too much information lacking to make the determination, but both are possible.
What brand and size is the battery tender? Is it an actual 'Battery Tender' brand? How old is it? Whats the state of the indicator light(s), if any? Whats the on state charge voltage? Whats the OCV (open circuit voltage)? It would appear that some here might be under the impression that it could not be the charging device, especially if there is a little green LED that says everything is honky dory. Maintaining an AGM battery on a float charge requires a pretty narrow voltage climate once the battery is fully charged. Many of the float type maintenance chargers have microprocessor-controlled circuitry that manipulates charging algorithms depending on the state of the battery. As with any electronic device, especially one thats microprocessor controlled, failure is a possibility. A slightly high float charge can be even more detrimental to a battery than a slightly low float charge, either scenario is not good for the battery .. so it is possible. Most of these devices are pretty reliable, but remember, nothing is forever!
As for the battery, is it completely dead? Whats the OCV? How old is it? Have you tried charging it with another charger? If the battery is toast at this point, then you really have to do some testing on the battery tender device to make the determination of what failed.
Thanks all for your feedback.
To answer a few of the questions regarding specifics: 2 year old OEM battery connected to a HD SuperSmart Battery Tender. The indicator light on the charger has been yellowish orange for days, indicating it's still charging. I have not checked the inline fuse yet. At this point the bike still won't start. It may be time to pull the battery and have it checked.
To answer a few of the questions regarding specifics: 2 year old OEM battery connected to a HD SuperSmart Battery Tender. The indicator light on the charger has been yellowish orange for days, indicating it's still charging. I have not checked the inline fuse yet. At this point the bike still won't start. It may be time to pull the battery and have it checked.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
For what it's worth, I had a BT Plus on a vintage car. Green light on steady. Unplugged the unit to go start the car, and noticed light stayed green!! Car would not even turn over. After checking with a meter, the BT was putting out 14. Battery inside was fried.
They sent a new BT to me after I explained everything, but that did not cover the cost of a new battery. My point in all of this (yes there is a point) is that the charger can malfunction. They probably rarely do, but it can happen.
Get a meter and find out what is going on with both the charger and the battery. Keep us posted.
They sent a new BT to me after I explained everything, but that did not cover the cost of a new battery. My point in all of this (yes there is a point) is that the charger can malfunction. They probably rarely do, but it can happen.
Get a meter and find out what is going on with both the charger and the battery. Keep us posted.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 945
Likes: 3
From: Oklahoma City
Thanks all for your feedback.
To answer a few of the questions regarding specifics: 2 year old OEM battery connected to a HD SuperSmart Battery Tender. The indicator light on the charger has been yellowish orange for days, indicating it's still charging. I have not checked the inline fuse yet. At this point the bike still won't start. It may be time to pull the battery and have it checked.
To answer a few of the questions regarding specifics: 2 year old OEM battery connected to a HD SuperSmart Battery Tender. The indicator light on the charger has been yellowish orange for days, indicating it's still charging. I have not checked the inline fuse yet. At this point the bike still won't start. It may be time to pull the battery and have it checked.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,271
Likes: 29
From: Green Country,Oklahoma
I had stupidly left my switch in the acc.position when I parked my springer ,came out later to find tender with red light and warm to the touch.I had to take it off and charge battery for a hour on regular charger,then it went to green and maintained it.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
