Best battery tender - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Stormcloak · 12-19-2018, 05:57 PM

My car will be started less frequently during the winter than I originally thought (maybe 1x per month). Tips or advice on the best battery tender to get for this sort of scenario?

TIA

camguynj · 12-19-2018, 07:47 PM

CTEK the best...period

Rock-It Man · 12-19-2018, 08:02 PM

Everyone will answer with the one and only battery tender they have used.

There are a number of modern battery tenders to choose from, so I would use "you get what you pay for" as your guide.

qcman · 12-19-2018, 08:44 PM

Been using a Battery Tender Jr. for about 5 years. Cheap and works well.

Welker2 · 12-19-2018, 10:13 PM

There are a lot of very good tenders/maintainers on the market today. I personally like and use Deltran Battery Tenders. They have a great reputation, are very reasonably priced and can be purchased at just about any auto parts store or from any number of on-line sources. Have used a Battery Tender Plus on my Corvette for years and it has worked great. Recently replaced it with a Battery Tender 800 and the Plus will now be used on the Camaro when we take long trips in our CUV.

PJMZL1 · 12-19-2018, 11:28 PM

Ctek FTW

Memphis SS · 12-20-2018, 08:02 AM

As a few have posted above there are several good ones on the market.

I've used Battery Butler for about 15 years or more and works great if that's any help to you.

https://www.lectriclimited.com/battery-butler-products/

lbls1 · 12-20-2018, 08:11 AM

I've been using Deltran Battery Tenders for 11 years without fail. I still have my first unit I bought a decade ago.

mickss · 12-20-2018, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormcloak

My car will be started less frequently during the winter than I originally thought (maybe 1x per month). Tips or advice on the best battery tender to get for this sort of scenario?

TIA

What you should do is ignore everyone`s opinion because the battery maintainer they have and use is the "best" for you. Just Google (battery maintainer reviews) or what ever search engine you use and draw your own conclusion as to what is best for you.

SecondZ28 · 12-20-2018, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qcman

Been using a Battery Tender Jr. for about 5 years. Cheap and works well.

x2

I use 3-4 of these at any given time. Never had an issue.

JD555 · 12-24-2018, 10:18 AM

I am thinking about getting one. How are you guys hooking it up. I was just planning on using the charging post but what do you do with the power cord? Just close the hood on it since there seems to be a good space or fish it thru thru grill?

PJMZL1 · 12-24-2018, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD555

I am thinking about getting one. How are you guys hooking it up. I was just planning on using the charging post but what do you do with the power cord? Just close the hood on it since there seems to be a good space or fish it thru thru grill?

Fish it thru from the floor and close the hood.

silversleeper · 12-24-2018, 12:29 PM

Many of these have a good quick disconnect. Be careful if you switch brands because some fit the plug but have the polarity + - reversed.
I like the bat tender jr for price and performance and a black and decker. I think there were some fake "bat tenders"out there for some time that caused overcharge or burned out. The idea is they charge then "float" and don't constantly charge the battery if not needed. Reading much more; even the float charge might shorten the life of the battery if left on 24 7 for years. I try to plug it in and unplug it from time to time. How long it needs to be plugged in depends on how big drain you have. Batteries have internal discharge and slowly die even disconnected, that takes maybe 6mo to a year. Computers and clocks draw some power, and car alarms much more. Some other accessories like powered amps might cause a drain if they weren't properly engineered. Ideally a few days on and a few weeks off would be best for the battery with a low power unit that has float. As you know completely discharging a lead acid battery drastically shortens its lifespan (better to float charge it 24/7 than have that happen).

CamaroFred · 12-24-2018, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JD555

I am thinking about getting one. How are you guys hooking it up. I was just planning on using the charging post but what do you do with the power cord? Just close the hood on it since there seems to be a good space or fish it thru thru grill?

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJMZL1

Fish it thru from the floor and close the hood.

Yes, there is a good size opening on the passenger side. The tender can sit on a stock air box.

BTW, always disconnect the tender before starting the Camaro. The alternator can create a spike that may damage it.

12-19-2018, 05:57 PM	#1
Stormcloak slower than you Drives: 2012 C6 Z06 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: NY Posts: 668 View My Garage	Best battery tender My car will be started less frequently during the winter than I originally thought (maybe 1x per month). Tips or advice on the best battery tender to get for this sort of scenario? TIA __________________

12-19-2018, 10:13 PM	#5
Welker2 Ret AF, cancer survivor Drives: 2013 Camaro 2SS/RS & 2006 Corvette Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Mesquite, NV Posts: 2,741 View My Garage	There are a lot of very good tenders/maintainers on the market today. I personally like and use Deltran Battery Tenders. They have a great reputation, are very reasonably priced and can be purchased at just about any auto parts store or from any number of on-line sources. Have used a Battery Tender Plus on my Corvette for years and it has worked great. Recently replaced it with a Battery Tender 800 and the Plus will now be used on the Camaro when we take long trips in our CUV. __________________ Last edited by Welker2; 12-20-2018 at 09:48 PM.

12-19-2018, 11:28 PM	#6
PJMZL1 Drives: 2015 ZL1 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Alberta Posts: 274	Ctek FTW __________________ 2015 ZL1 M6

12-20-2018, 08:02 AM	#7
Memphis SS Drives: 2017 SS A8 Hyper Blue/White Stripes Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Arlington, TN. Posts: 1,874	As a few have posted above there are several good ones on the market. I've used Battery Butler for about 15 years or more and works great if that's any help to you. https://www.lectriclimited.com/battery-butler-products/ __________________ *2017 Camaro 2SS Hyper Blue* *2011 Camaro 2SS* *2004 Corvette CE SOLD*

12-20-2018, 08:11 AM	#8
lbls1 Drives: 2002 Camaro SS SOM; 2015 Malibu LTZ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 4,022	I've been using Deltran Battery Tenders for 11 years without fail. I still have my first unit I bought a decade ago. __________________ '02 CAMARO SS SOM; 5.7L LS1/FLS6B '08 TBSS AWD Black Granite Metallic '15 Malibu LTZ 2LZ Turbo *'14 CAMARO ZL1 Blue Ray Metallic*

12-19-2018, 07:47 PM	#2
camguynj Drives: '13 SS/RS LS3 BRM Cammed NPP Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: NJ Posts: 3,812 View My Garage	CTEK the best...period

12-19-2018, 08:02 PM	#3
Rock-It Man 376 cubic inches of fun Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 4,033 View My Garage	Everyone will answer with the one and only battery tender they have used. There are a number of modern battery tenders to choose from, so I would use "you get what you pay for" as your guide.

12-19-2018, 08:44 PM	#4
qcman Drives: 2013 Camaro 2SS RDP Tuned L99 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada eh? Posts: 1,889	Been using a Battery Tender Jr. for about 5 years. Cheap and works well.

12-24-2018, 10:18 AM	#11
JD555 Drives: 2014 2SS RS, 6 sp man Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Marlton, NJ Posts: 461	I am thinking about getting one. How are you guys hooking it up. I was just planning on using the charging post but what do you do with the power cord? Just close the hood on it since there seems to be a good space or fish it thru thru grill?

12-24-2018, 12:29 PM	#13
silversleeper Big Crow Drives: '13 ZL1 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: California Posts: 1,487	Many of these have a good quick disconnect. Be careful if you switch brands because some fit the plug but have the polarity + - reversed. I like the bat tender jr for price and performance and a black and decker. I think there were some fake "bat tenders"out there for some time that caused overcharge or burned out. The idea is they charge then "float" and don't constantly charge the battery if not needed. Reading much more; even the float charge might shorten the life of the battery if left on 24 7 for years. I try to plug it in and unplug it from time to time. How long it needs to be plugged in depends on how big drain you have. Batteries have internal discharge and slowly die even disconnected, that takes maybe 6mo to a year. Computers and clocks draw some power, and car alarms much more. Some other accessories like powered amps might cause a drain if they weren't properly engineered. Ideally a few days on and a few weeks off would be best for the battery with a low power unit that has float. As you know completely discharging a lead acid battery drastically shortens its lifespan (better to float charge it 24/7 than have that happen).