More dumb questions from a newbie ....

[Peteoz]

I can find no verification of this happening. Perhaps some kind of article you could list to prove it.

As much as it pains me to say it, I have to agree with Easy Rider on the second part of his statement based on personal experience, Highwayman.

I leave my battery on its tender whenever I remember to plug it in. If I didn’t remember to plug it in, it wouldn’t start after a few days. Alarm bells should have started to go off, but the F3 was only a little over 12 months old, so I assumed it was a parasitic draw of some kind, not the battery.....poor assumption. I never got around to checking for parasitic draw.

Recently, I took the tender off in the morning and headed off on an overnighter. Sure enough, it wouldn’t start the next morning. I used my RuggedGeek to get going to the nearest bike shop and the battery was cactus. Luckily they had one in stock.

So if you do have your Spyder constantly on a tender, it could well be that your battery is slowly deteriorating without you knowing it, and your first overnighter could leave you with a flat battery. This will not be a problem for anyone carrying a jump starter like a Rugged Geek, but could prove vexing if you are riding alone without a jump starter. For me, I will continue to attach my tender when I park at home, and keep the Rugged Geek on the F3 for backup.

Pete

 

[gerald37]

I have a Battery Tender but have only used it in off riding season. I have never used it during riding season on any motorcycle I have owned. My bikes never set more than three maybe four days without riding. The only time I ever had a bike that would not start it probably needed a battery replaced. I always make sure everything is turned off on the bikes so they would not run the battery down.

 

[gerald37]

ONLY if:
The charging system does not keep it fully charged.
AND
It sits for a LONG time between rides.

If the charging system is working good AND it is ridden fairly often, the AGM batteries in Spyders really don't NEED a constant tender.

As a matter of fact, keeping it connected all the time will tend to mask a failing battery and ensure that the final failure will occur AWAY from home.

But I've said that a lot on here lately and it appears the almost nobody understands it.
When their battery dies 100 miles from home on a Sunday afternoon maybe it will sink in.

I purchased a new BMW LT in 2005. I purchased a new Battery Tender from him at the time. He told me to only use the tender if I was not going to be riding for a long period of time. The battery would last longer if it does go down and up. I have also been told this by other people I have no facts to this. I do know I never use one only through the winter months and I never leave it on only maybe one day then take it off for several days.

 

[Easy Rider]

I can find no verification of this happening. Perhaps some kind of article you could list to prove it.

How about my own experience......and the experience of many others ??

And maybe just a tiny bit on knowledge about batteries and trying to apply a little logic to the situation ?????

Don't accept it if you don't want to. No skin off my nose.

 

[Easy Rider]

The battery would last longer if it does go down and up.

BAD advice, especially for "wet cell" batteries and other types to some degree.
Most last longest if kept within 10% or so of fully charged.

Different rules apply for the old NiCad rechargeables and some of the newer designs.
Lithium cells seem to like to be used.

 

[gerald37]

BAD advice, especially for "wet cell" batteries and other types to some degree.
Most last longest if kept within 10% or so of fully charged.

Different rules apply for the old NiCad rechargeables and some of the newer designs.
Lithium cells seem to like to be used.

Like I said I do not know and have no facts. I have been told by several people not to leave a tender on all the time. I have been riding motorcycles for over 60 years. The first Battery Tender I got was in 2005. Like I had said I only used it in the winder and I would just leave in on for maybe one night then leave it off for three to four weeks then put it on for one night. I have had six bikes since 2005 and I have never had any battery problems. I will continue doing as I have and if it goes down I will replace the battery at that time.

 

[SilverFox1]

gerald37 you really don’t know what a battery tender’s purpose is do you. Plug in the tender and walk away. It will only come on when the battery needs to be recharged. And then it shuts off,,,, completely. Every battery known to mankind looses power when just sitting. You’re using your tender as a charger. If anyone following this thread is getting a little bit dizzy from the back and forth of these conversations,, just Google it! There are a lot of very smart people on this forum but as you can see there is a lot of confusion for something so simple. Plug it in!!!

SilverFox

 

[Inflatableman]

Not to steal post, but also a newbie with a 2016 F3-T that does not have a battery tender pigtail installed. Looking for a convenient location for access to plug. Have searched but everything shows to drill hole in frunk. Looking for clean look and convenient.

 

[gerald37]

gerald37 you really don’t know what a battery tender’s purpose is do you. Plug in the tender and walk away. It will only come on when the battery needs to be recharged. And then it shuts off,,,, completely. Every battery known to mankind looses power when just sitting. You’re using your tender as a charger. If anyone following this thread is getting a little bit dizzy from the back and forth of these conversations,, just Google it! There are a lot of very smart people on this forum but as you can see there is a lot of confusion for something so simple. Plug it in!!!

SilverFox

I have said twice I have no facts and I'am probably stupid compared to you but I have never had any battery problems and will continue doing what I have been doing.

 

[Kiry]

Not to steal post, but also a newbie with a 2016 F3-T that does not have a battery tender pigtail installed. Looking for a convenient location for access to plug. Have searched but everything shows to drill hole in frunk. Looking for clean look and convenient.

When I got mine, I thought I didn't have it installed. It ended up hiding behind the computer access panel in the frunk. Have you looked there?

 

[Easy Rider]

gerald37 you really don’t know what a battery tender’s purpose is do you.

And then it shuts off,,,, completely.

Apparently he is not the only one who doesn't grasp all the details.

Some shut completely off but most drop down to a low "float" voltage and stay there until a bit of a charge is needed again.

 

[Easy Rider]

Have searched but everything shows to drill hole in frunk. Looking for clean look and convenient.

You have a problem drilling a small hole out the back of the frunk to attach to the battery ?
If so, why ??
Nobody will know it's there but you.

Where in Central Florida are you ?

 

[teninospyder]

outlet in trunk can be used with cigarette lighter adapter

Not sure which model you have but on our 2014 RTL there is an outlet in the rear trunk for using a cigarette style adapter for power. This can be used for a Battery Tender adapter as well. The fuse up front "may" need to be moved over to a different slot for this point to be "live", but that's easy to do. The manual even mentions it.

 

[Inflatableman]

You have a problem drilling a small hole out the back of the frunk to attach to the battery ?
If so, why ??
Nobody will know it's there but you.

Where in Central Florida are you ?

It's a dry space, and do not want to mess with that. If it comes to that i will. Would just like to untuck the lead from somewhere and plug it in and when done just tuck it back.

We are located in Longwood. This is wife's ride, traded up from a Victory Cross Country, she is ecstatic, just got to get past all this rain.

 

[gerald37]

Apparently he is not the only one who doesn't grasp all the details.

Some shut completely off but most drop down to a low "float" voltage and stay there until a bit of a charge is needed again.

Sorry, but I do Know exactly how a Battery Tender works but I guess there are two of you that don't understand that some people want to be sure their Spyder will start without a Battery Tender on all the time. If my battery is weak I want to change it at home not out on a trip. That is my reason for not using it all the time besides I don't need it because I don't leave my Spyder setting. This is my last post on this thread.

 

[Easy Rider]

It's a dry space, and do not want to mess with that. If it comes to that i will. Would just like to untuck the lead from somewhere and plug it in and when done just tuck it back.

Once the lead is through the hole, silicone calk should seal it back again.
Just realized that I probably need to check mine and see if there is a hole that needs to be plugged.


Mine dangles inside....until I tuck it into one of the mesh pockets; pretty much exactly as you stated.

 

[Easy Rider]

Sorry, but I do Know exactly how a Battery Tender works

That comment was NOT directed at YOU.
That's why I quoted the person that it WAS directed to.

Lighten up a bit, please.

 

[nhoj]

As much as it pains me to say it, I have to agree with Easy Rider on the second part of his statement based on personal experience, Highwayman.

...So if you do have your Spyder constantly on a tender, it could well be that your battery is slowly deteriorating without you knowing it, and your first overnighter could leave you with a flat battery..... I will continue to attach my tender when I park at home, and keep the Rugged Geek on the F3 for backup.

Pete why would you continue to use your tender after experiencing the exact scenario Easy Rider presented?

I am one of the never use a tender crowd and with all our motorcycles and 4 syders we've never needed one.

 

[AeroPilot]

Also haave the 16 F3T

Not to steal post, but also a newbie with a 2016 F3-T that does not have a battery tender pigtail installed. Looking for a convenient location for access to plug. Have searched but everything shows to drill hole in frunk. Looking for clean look and convenient.

And like others I ran mine out the left side near the suspension. It is a clear shot and easy to attach the battery pig-tail that comes with the DelTran Tender JR, and then run the SAE plug straight out and ziptie it to the upper A-Arm. Its handy when you need it and stays put without moving on the road.1330club

No Muss, No Fuss, No Drilling.

 

[Inflatableman]

And like others I ran mine out the left side near the suspension. It is a clear shot and easy to attach the battery pig-tail that comes with the DelTran Tender JR, and then run the SAE plug straight out and ziptie it to the upper A-Arm. Its handy when you need it and stays put without moving on the road.1330club

No Muss, No Fuss, No Drilling.

Thanks! That's exactly what I did. With only 18 in there are not many options. Just used a couple of tie wraps to keep in place. :clap: