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 Battery tender? Looking for recommended
Looking for recommended brands and models of battery tenders. Seems to be a million out there that range from dirt cheap to pricey. Price isn't an issue, but I want one that works, is reliable, and maybe offers some sort of extra feature that is useful.
Here in Charlotte, I expect that I'll be able to get out and ride even through the winter - though that will be completely random. This coming winter is looking to be a bit colder than normal, so I may not be able to get out as often as I think.
I plan on using an unswitched powerlet outlet to feed the battery.
So, are there any brands to stay away from and any brands that are good/better? ANy features that I need? I'm pretty familiar with regular chargers and lead acid batteries, but not sure if the same conditioning options, etc apply to gel type batteries like found in the Spyder.
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I'm going to use the Battery Tender Jr which I've never heard anything bad about.
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Very Active Member
I have used 2 Schumacher 1.5 Amp Maintainers on my Jet Ski batteries for years without problems. $19.95 at Walmart? It shows charging yellow , Charged Green, and Problem Red and it will detect a problem as I had one battery that had a bad cell and it indicated it! Made in USA.
2015 F3 sm6, Custom Dynamics fender lights.
Sea Doo GTI-SE 90 Jet Ski!!
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The best charger/maintainer out there is probably the Xtreme that NoMagicNeon sells. Next is the Optimate, which can also desulfate and renew a marginal battery. The standard Battery Tender (TM) and the Accumate are excellent, and have sophisticated maintenance modes that don't damage batteries or cause sulphation. The Battery Tender Jr. is great, but not quite as smart. I have also used the Schumacher, with mixed results. Whatever you do, get one that specifically states it is for motorcycle batteries (and not in Chinese). I personally have an Optimate, two Accumates, two Battery Tender Jr., and two Schumachers of different amperages. Maybe I'll get lucky and get an Xtreme for Christmas. 
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 Originally Posted by gnkc
I ordered the Xtreme charger and it showed up today. It is the yellow one for motorcycles. I haven't tried it yet but it looks to be very heavy duty and the bottom of the case is rubber so it won't scoot around on the floor. Five year warranty. Hate to say it Scotty, but the box says Made in China. 
Well... I work for a Chinese company... So no skin off my teeth. *Though I do try to buy "Made in USA" where I can.
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Originally Posted by NancysToy
The best charger/maintainer out there is probably the Xtreme that NoMagicNeon sells. Next is the Optimate, which can also desulfate and renew a marginal battery. The standard Battery Tender (TM) and the Accumate are excellent, and have sophisticated maintenance modes that don't damage batteries or cause sulphation. The Battery Tender Jr. is great, but not quite as smart. I have also used the Schumacher, with mixed results. Whatever you do, get one that specifically states it is for motorcycle batteries (and not in Chinese). I personally have an Optimate, two Accumates, two Battery Tender Jr., and two Schumachers of different amperages. Maybe I'll get lucky and get an Xtreme for Christmas.
Battery Tender here,had for 4 years no problems yet (smart one will not overcharge battery-maintains full charge all winter long )
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Originally Posted by WackyDan
Well... I work for a Chinese company... So no skin off my teeth. *Though I do try to buy "Made in USA" where I can.
Yeah, but did it say "Made for Motorcycle Use" in Chinese? 
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Battery Tender Plus
This is my first post so here it goes. I have used the Battery Tender Plus on 4 of my previous bikes and now using it on my Spyder. Can't say enough good about it. If the bike is in the garage it's on the charger.
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battery tender...go to Amazon...with prime is only like 40.00...at least that's what it was last year...thing is small and works great!
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Originally Posted by Arthur
This is my first post so here it goes. I have used the Battery Tender Plus on 4 of my previous bikes and now using it on my Spyder. Can't say enough good about it. If the bike is in the garage it's on the charger.
welcome
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Originally Posted by Arthur
This is my first post so here it goes. I have used the Battery Tender Plus on 4 of my previous bikes and now using it on my Spyder. Can't say enough good about it. If the bike is in the garage it's on the charger.
welcome Nice to have you aboard. Ride safe.
Dick
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Optimate
I have the Optimate 4. Seems to work real well. I like to watch the lights .
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There is only one "Battery Tender", the others mentioned here are battery chargers. Battery Tender is a trademarked name.
I have been using real battery tenders since they came out and personally think they are the best on the market. They were the first to patent technology that properly maintains the battery vs. a float charger and they have been copied many many times, a few competitors ended up in court they coped so well.
I currently have their 4 bank charger with 3 bikes and a car plugged in and I haven't replaced a battery in any of them for well over 5 years.
Stick with a real Battery Tender and you won't go wrong.
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Senile Member
Float Charger from Harbor Freight - $1.99 when on sale. I bought a case and use it on everything. Works great. Can't beat the price.
Silver SM5 PE# 1274, Hindle Exhaust, Touring Windshield, Caliper Trim, B.E.S.T. 3 Year Ext, Nuvi 255 GPS, Fog Lights, Sport Rack, Back Rest, 12V Outlet, Talon 3300p Alarm, NMN Mud Flap and TipZ LEDs, SpyderLovers Emblems, Kuryakyn Widow Pegs and Axel Trim, Luimoto seat skin, Evo Air Filter and O2 Mod, Cranker Tank Bag, Blue Sea fuse block, MAD/AMS/MBG, Oddyssey battery, IPS.
Service Bulletin Applied: Gen II parking brake, 2nd SW patch, evap can/hose update, Gen II DPS
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I have the Optimate 3 and the Yuasa. Both are suppossed to very similar to each other. And both work very well. My batteries (4 wheelers & motorcycles) have went from lasting 2yrs to 5 and 6yrs. Also both are supposed to do more than 1 battery function.
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Registered Users
this my new one 
 great feed back with pictures
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I have a battery tender JR for each of my bikes. I wired the pigtail directly to the battery, with the connector under the (Corbin) seat. This allows me to connect it daily, when I park it for night, or longer...
I like the JR, because I can take it with me, and I have a wired trailer too.
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Deltran battery tender from the....
jaz-store.com for about 40 bucks. I got mine a short time ago for 36. They have a 10 year warranty and do not boil the electrolite out of the cells or overheat the plates.
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I use a Battery Tender and am going to try a new attachment approach. I ordered 2 Powerlets which I want to install similar to Dltang's and a cable with a battery charger plug in on one end. Don't know how it will work, but should be OK.
Last edited by HD2CANAM; 10-22-2009 at 12:06 PM.
Reason: spelling
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Originally Posted by HD2CANAM
I use a Battery Tender and am going to try a new attachment approach. I ordered 2 Powerlets which I want to install similar to Dltang's and a cable with a battery charger plug in on one end. Don't know how it will work, but should be OK.
Should work fine. I do that with an Optimate or Accumate. Picture in my album, and I think I may have explained it in the Mods section. You need one of the Powerlets to be unswitched (powered all the time) to charge the battery. I have one of each. Powerlet makes an adapter cord to the Battery Tender, too.
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Originally Posted by NancysToy
Should work fine. I do that with an Optimate or Accumate. Picture in my album, and I think I may have explained it in the Mods section. You need one of the Powerlets to be unswitched (powered all the time) to charge the battery. I have one of each. Powerlet makes an adapter cord to the Battery Tender, too.
I am installing the Evolunize power bus. May seem like a stupid question, but what do you mean and how do you have one unswitched and the other (I assume) would be switched?
Last edited by HD2CANAM; 10-22-2009 at 02:41 PM.
Reason: Rephrase
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I use the Batery Tender Plus and have always had excellent results with it. I like the fact that there is no spark when clamping to the battery terminals. After having a car battery blow up in my face while giving a stranded motorist a jump, I appreciate its no spark technology. I had a Battery Tender Jr that must have "stuck" on constant charge because it boiled the water out of a jet ski battery and ruined it. The company replaced the "JR" charger under warranty but I have yet to use it.
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Originally Posted by HD2CANAM
I notice you have your Powerlets in a different location than Dltang. Do you have more room here? I also am installing the Evolunize power bus. May seem like a stupid question, but what do you mean and how do you have one unswitched and the other (I assume) would be switched?
I don't really understand. Deb's outlets and mine are in the same place, just below and outside the gauge cluster. I do know that there is room here for either the straight or the 90 degree Powerlets.
The Powerbus is a good idea. I made my own from a fusebox and relay I bought at the auto parts store. The relay with the Powerbus is triggered by the switched accessory circuit on the Spyder. That makes the circuits running off it hot only while the ignition is on...and for about 30 seconds afterward. Keeps you from running down the battery. A battery charger must be connected with the key turned off, so you need to either run to the feed side of the Powerbus, as I did with one of my Powerlets, or directly to the battery with the pigtail included with the Battery Tender .
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I have had mine for more than a year, and I love it. I got it for $75 from amazon. It is a 2 bank one, so I can put my Infiniti G35 and my spyder on it at the same time. 
