Battery Tender ?
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 832
Likes: 6
From: Vermont
1. Put some electrical tape around the negative connector so it doesn't inadvertently touch some metal and ground while you're attaching the positive connector of the pigtail.
2. Connect the positive end of the pigtail to the battery first.
3. Remove the tape from the negative connector.
4. Connect the negative end of the pigtail to the battery last.
5. Run tepid water over hands to treat the frostbite.
But it probably doesn't make much difference since the battery is likely dead as a doornail from sitting in the cold with the security system trickle discharging it. JUST KIDDING
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 253
Likes: 1
From: New Hampshire
Call me crazy but I don't like leaving any charger/tender pluged in while I'm not around. Cordless drill, flashlights, batteries, etc...
I'm in my shop/shed almost every day, when I turn the lights on I power up my chargers too. I just don't feel comfortable leaving 110v plugged into a charger leading to a battery. Anything could happen between these 3 points of contact, although the stats are in your favor I just choose not to chance it.
Maybe its not the best solution for my tender and battery but I have had bikes all my life and I rarely have to buy a battery. Sure, maybe I have to buy a battery or tender a couple years sooner but the cost is worth my piece of mind.
Ride Safe
or in this case Charge Safe
I'm in my shop/shed almost every day, when I turn the lights on I power up my chargers too. I just don't feel comfortable leaving 110v plugged into a charger leading to a battery. Anything could happen between these 3 points of contact, although the stats are in your favor I just choose not to chance it.
Maybe its not the best solution for my tender and battery but I have had bikes all my life and I rarely have to buy a battery. Sure, maybe I have to buy a battery or tender a couple years sooner but the cost is worth my piece of mind.
Ride Safe
or in this case Charge Safe
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Riverview, FL
The tender is the way to go, especially if your bike has a security system. The security system will drain the battery over time. Your battery and charging system need to know what a full charge from the battery is. I leave mine plugged in all time time when I know I will not be riding for several weeks. The charger sends a charge to the battery when it senses a drop in the full charge. Once it is back up to full charge, the tender goes into idle mode.
Dwayne
Dwayne
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,034
Likes: 1
Plugged in all time when not riding. Alarm on when I walk away, no matter!!!! Even when in house garage. If I am not going to be riding for a day or 2, disc lock as well. Paranoid?!?!?! No, crooks and thieves are what keep me employed!!!!
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,479
Likes: 4
From: SoCal
Schumacher makes the maintainer that WalMart sells for around $15. I have at least three of these things around the garage - there is really no reason to spend more money on a battery maintainer unless you also need a T-shirt to go with it! A chemist's point of view: Think of a battery as a box of energy, if you keep it full, it will stay full longer than if you take some out and replace it. You only get so much lead/acid turnover until the lead is gone, you can't get 12V anymore and you need to buy a new battery. Keep your maintainer plugged in 24/7 and you'll get more life out of your battery because you spent less lead replacing it to re-charge it.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,589
Likes: 98
From: Port Orange, Fl
Call me crazy but I don't like leaving any charger/tender pluged in while I'm not around. Cordless drill, flashlights, batteries, etc...
I'm in my shop/shed almost every day, when I turn the lights on I power up my chargers too. I just don't feel comfortable leaving 110v plugged into a charger leading to a battery. Anything could happen between these 3 points of contact, although the stats are in your favor I just choose not to chance it.
Maybe its not the best solution for my tender and battery but I have had bikes all my life and I rarely have to buy a battery. Sure, maybe I have to buy a battery or tender a couple years sooner but the cost is worth my piece of mind.
Ride Safe
or in this case Charge Safe
I'm in my shop/shed almost every day, when I turn the lights on I power up my chargers too. I just don't feel comfortable leaving 110v plugged into a charger leading to a battery. Anything could happen between these 3 points of contact, although the stats are in your favor I just choose not to chance it.
Maybe its not the best solution for my tender and battery but I have had bikes all my life and I rarely have to buy a battery. Sure, maybe I have to buy a battery or tender a couple years sooner but the cost is worth my piece of mind.
Ride Safe
or in this case Charge Safe
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Schumacher makes the maintainer that WalMart sells for around $15. I have at least three of these things around the garage - there is really no reason to spend more money on a battery maintainer unless you also need a T-shirt to go with it! A chemist's point of view: Think of a battery as a box of energy, if you keep it full, it will stay full longer than if you take some out and replace it. You only get so much lead/acid turnover until the lead is gone, you can't get 12V anymore and you need to buy a new battery. Keep your maintainer plugged in 24/7 and you'll get more life out of your battery because you spent less lead replacing it to re-charge it.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 539
Likes: 5
From: Penna
i agree.....I have a spare battery that has been on a tender solid for over a year and is still in fantastic shape. A tender is just what it says....a tender....only charges when battery hits about 80 % ... other than that it only maintains the charge as necessary. It will not burn up....