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battery tender
- Thread starter jcoker
- Start date
Jeriatric
Thinks out loud
Others may disagree but I'm going to give this one a try. See what you think.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051D3MP6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
Edit. Word is, it's available at Home Depot for around twenty bucks.
Phil
Mod Monster
Most any one of battery tenders will work that way. You MAY need to look for the right connector. Many battery tenders come with connectors like this:
Look for or build an adapter that goes from that type connector to a standard cigarette lighter jack. Plug it into the accessory jack in the trunk. And whala.
Phil, Tyler TX- from my iPad3.5 using Tapatalk HD
Look for or build an adapter that goes from that type connector to a standard cigarette lighter jack. Plug it into the accessory jack in the trunk. And whala.
Phil, Tyler TX- from my iPad3.5 using Tapatalk HD
harrypottar
magical member
stated many times that I have battery tenders on all our stuff, tractors, atv's, bikes etc
Plugged in 24/7 when parked in the garage. Before I got in battery tenders I would be replacing batteries after some brutal winters.
Highly recommend them would never not use them now.
harry
Plugged in 24/7 when parked in the garage. Before I got in battery tenders I would be replacing batteries after some brutal winters.
Highly recommend them would never not use them now.
harry
Grandpa Spyder
New member
Yes, mine is always hooked up that way when parked in garage, it is quick and easy.
Bob Denman
New member
It's the ONLY way to fly... :thumbup: 
hyea:hyea: Plug them in when you're not in the saddle and it helps to keep all of the electrons happy! :2thumbs:
hyea:hyea: Plug them in when you're not in the saddle and it helps to keep all of the electrons happy! :2thumbs:
Kinderhook
New member
Battery Tender
As a new owner of an RS a year ago I went out and bought a charger to "keep the battery up" as many suggested. Last winter I used the charger every week or so to check my battery's charge. Guess what? Over the course of threee months it never lost its charge, I never used the charger at all. My guess is that, if your battery keeps running down over short periods of time, you have an issue with shorts or something plugged in that uses juice when the machine is not in use. My further guess is that many who have the problem have installed "mods" that were poorly designed or incorrectly installed. About the only item drawing power in the off position is the clock. When you stop and think how little power a clock requires (think electric watch that runs 3 years on a button battery) and it us obvious the large battery in a vehicle will hardly be affected. Bottom line, unless you plan to store your Spyder for long periods of time, save your money. It should NEVER be necessary to plug in charger on a regular basis unless there is a problem with the machine or a bad battery. Just as an aside, I purchased my 2009 RS used (had only 600 miles on the clock) and it still has the original battery installed. I don't know what the mean life is for a sealed battery, but I must be in the upper range.
As a new owner of an RS a year ago I went out and bought a charger to "keep the battery up" as many suggested. Last winter I used the charger every week or so to check my battery's charge. Guess what? Over the course of threee months it never lost its charge, I never used the charger at all. My guess is that, if your battery keeps running down over short periods of time, you have an issue with shorts or something plugged in that uses juice when the machine is not in use. My further guess is that many who have the problem have installed "mods" that were poorly designed or incorrectly installed. About the only item drawing power in the off position is the clock. When you stop and think how little power a clock requires (think electric watch that runs 3 years on a button battery) and it us obvious the large battery in a vehicle will hardly be affected. Bottom line, unless you plan to store your Spyder for long periods of time, save your money. It should NEVER be necessary to plug in charger on a regular basis unless there is a problem with the machine or a bad battery. Just as an aside, I purchased my 2009 RS used (had only 600 miles on the clock) and it still has the original battery installed. I don't know what the mean life is for a sealed battery, but I must be in the upper range.
Bob Denman
New member
I believe that the Battery Tender actually helps to "maintain" the correct amount of juice in that big black box... It does more than just keep throwing power at it. (I think! pps
It's relatively cheap insurance! :thumbup:
pps It's relatively cheap insurance! :thumbup:
Firefly
Active member
Well, sorry... but you may think your battery was still at 'full charge' after sitting for 3 months.... but I guarantee it was not. Not only does a proper battery tender keep a full charge on your battery, it conditions and maintains your battery and will make it last years longer.
The Spyder charging system uses a magneto rather than an alternator and thus lacks a bit when it comes to charging. There's also more going on than just powering the clock when the Spyder is off.
It's a wise, inexpensive addition that I highly recommend for any motorcycle.
I also plug in my tractors, mowers, etc......
----------------------
For my RT I just ordered a couple of the lighter plug ins:
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/4/60/29312/ITEM/Battery-Tender-Cigarette-Lighter-Adaptor.aspx
SilverFox1
New member
Battery Tender???
Well my Spyder Friend, you might think that your battery was at full charge simply because it started up your engine but,,,
was is at 12.8 volts or over or was it at 12 volts and lower? I have just recently gone through this scenario with my ATV battery.
A well maintained battery should be closer to 13 volts and not at 12 volts. Anyway to each his own but please don't tell everyone
that a battery tender is a waste of money. Especially if you ride with others that don't use it. I believe a low battery is very often
the cause for error codes. Just saying,,, I have made up a bunch of batery end pigtails (connectors) and installed them on all my
toys that have a battery; Spyder, lawn tractor, ATV, outboard motor, trolling motor, elctric start lawn mower. Keeps them all happy!!!
I use the same battery tender on all of them. Just give them all a turn if you will. It only takes a couple of seconds.
PS. There are however, some lower end battery chargers that do not completely shut off when you have a full charge! Stay away
from these units. They will keep your battery warm and thus evaporate your acid completely.
SilverFox :thumbup:
Well my Spyder Friend, you might think that your battery was at full charge simply because it started up your engine but,,,
was is at 12.8 volts or over or was it at 12 volts and lower? I have just recently gone through this scenario with my ATV battery.
A well maintained battery should be closer to 13 volts and not at 12 volts. Anyway to each his own but please don't tell everyone
that a battery tender is a waste of money. Especially if you ride with others that don't use it. I believe a low battery is very often
the cause for error codes. Just saying,,, I have made up a bunch of batery end pigtails (connectors) and installed them on all my
toys that have a battery; Spyder, lawn tractor, ATV, outboard motor, trolling motor, elctric start lawn mower. Keeps them all happy!!!
I use the same battery tender on all of them. Just give them all a turn if you will. It only takes a couple of seconds.
PS. There are however, some lower end battery chargers that do not completely shut off when you have a full charge! Stay away
from these units. They will keep your battery warm and thus evaporate your acid completely.
SilverFox :thumbup:
Kinderhook
New member
Battery Tender
One last comment. If keeping a tender on your battery at all times is so important, seems that the engineers who designed the Spyder and the persons who wrote the owner's manual might have mentioned it. Don't see it in the manual, shop manual or for that matter any manual for any Ford, Chevrolet, etc. I have ever owned. Until the engineers who designed the machine reccomend it, I will save my money!
One last comment. If keeping a tender on your battery at all times is so important, seems that the engineers who designed the Spyder and the persons who wrote the owner's manual might have mentioned it. Don't see it in the manual, shop manual or for that matter any manual for any Ford, Chevrolet, etc. I have ever owned. Until the engineers who designed the machine reccomend it, I will save my money!
Firefly
Active member
Really??.... you're worried about spending $32 on a battery tender to help keep a $20,000+ investment running good?
Plenty of other things you won't see in a manual or that the engineers don't specifically recommend.. but they make good old fashioned common sense.
The engineers don't tell you to change the shocks out to something better to greatly improve handling either.... but it's a well known fact that switching to Elka's makes a day and night difference--- especially on the RT.
bluestratos
New member
I know it is hard on batteries to sit long periods between charges, especially deep discharges. Keeping them topped up extends the life and ensures a quick start every time. I wired my tender up with a cigerette plug so I could just plug into the trunk when I get back. I also observed that the battery is always a tad low when I plug in as the charger comes on for an hour or more each time. I can remember the name of my charge but it is a high quality unit, over a $100.
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