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How Often to Charge?

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Old Nov 6, 2013 | 12:00 PM
  #11  
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louie c
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I live upstate N. Y. And from November
To April it stays on the tender.
Summer months I don't bother because
I ride at least three times in a week.
 
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Old Nov 6, 2013 | 12:03 PM
  #12  
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Originally Posted by scott01
Why should you not charge a dead battery with a tender? I've done it many times to my old truck with no problem
It's not that you shouldn't, it is just not efficient. It takes much longer because it is not a "charger".
 
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Old Nov 6, 2013 | 12:05 PM
  #13  
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The charging pigtail on my bike makes it very convenient to plug it into the battery tender whenever garaged. Regardless if I ride daily or less than once a week. A quality battery tender which allows both trickle charge and discharge doesn't hurt the battery's longevity.
 
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Old Nov 6, 2013 | 12:07 PM
  #14  
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I connect my daily after my commute. Appears (hopefully) to extend the battery life.
 
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Old Nov 6, 2013 | 02:28 PM
  #15  
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Originally Posted by scott01
Why should you not charge a dead battery with a tender? I've done it many times to my old truck with no problem
Some brands (Battery Tender Jr for example) have internal circuits that prevent "sensing" the battery if the voltage is below a certain reading. I have read <3.0v

In any case those small Deltran battery Jr. types were never intended to bring a battery back from the dead.

Originally Posted by IAMSWUTIAMS
It's not that you shouldn't, it is just not efficient. It takes much longer because it is not a "charger".
 
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Old Nov 6, 2013 | 03:22 PM
  #16  
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I'm in MT, and mine is plugged in whenever I'm not riding it. I just replaced the battery this summer. I checked the dates, and it's been 8 years since the last new battery. That should answer why I stay plugged in.
 
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Old Nov 6, 2013 | 03:51 PM
  #17  
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Originally Posted by TWIN CAM 96
When your not riding it put on the tender keeps it 100% and ready to go when you are
Exactly!!
Why not?

It's what I do.
If the bike is at home it's on the tender.
 
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Old Nov 6, 2013 | 04:37 PM
  #18  
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My bike is stored in the winter in a shed without electricity. If I can't ride it every couple of weeks I'll run an extension cord out and give it a little quality time on the BT Plus (flashing green 80% right away and solid green 100% in under an hour). Every couple of weeks works fine for me....original battery in a 08 SG.
 

Last edited by rotti; Nov 6, 2013 at 04:39 PM.
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Old Nov 6, 2013 | 04:44 PM
  #19  
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I have a Battery Tender Jr on my Harley and Quad. I have the pig-tails going from the battery to the outside hidden. As soon as I pull into my garage with either one I plug the tender in. Its always on the tender unless the Harley or Quad is under my ***
 
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Old Nov 6, 2013 | 04:45 PM
  #20  
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Mine only goes on if I have not ridden for a month. Never had an issue
 
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