Battery tenders

ed spangler
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Battery tenders

08 Nov 2015 13:01

OK, Already have a thread going on AGM Battery's. Now,I would like opinions on properly using the "Deltran Battery Tenders".
Heretofore, I have used these Battery tenders and historically have always just hooked them up ( Yes, I remove the filler caps, since my Z has that type battery right now ) until Spring and I don't really turn them off.....well maybe once every 6-9 weeks Ill start my bikes and if its warm enough take them for a very short ride, I always use Sta-Bil in Gas tanks too.
So here is my question,s please.
1. Do you just connect the Battery Tender and leave it alone? I guess in Theory, they are supposed to "Automatically" shut off once a Maintenance charge has been reached.Mine do go "Steady Green" after they have been connected for a while.
2.If you have an AGM or sealed Battery, do you do anything different? Use a different "Tender"?? My cousin who has a "Wing" uses the same Tender on it which has an AGM /Sealed Battery as his Vintage bikes and always has, ., Reason I ask is obviously I intend to get one of these AGM/Sealed Batteries for My "Z", My Harley already has an AGM Battery and there are no filler caps I am aware of to remove during charging..
Thanks in advance for your thoughts / advice!!
ED

Have 1975 Kawasaki Z1-B & 2003 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Classic
Had Hondas, Harleys and many ,many Z Series Kaws both Std. & LTD's

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TexasKZ
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Re: Battery tenders

08 Nov 2015 13:07

#697790

personally, I think the best way to use a Battery Tender is to donate it to the local landfill and buy a CTek.

smartercharger.com/

1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough

www.kzrider.com/11-projects/620336-anoth...uild-thread?start=24

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martin_csr
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Re: Battery tenders

08 Nov 2015 13:52 - 08 Nov 2015 13:53

#697799

I have a Ctek US 0.8 smart charger purchased via eebbaayy (authorized seller) & a Scorpion AGM battery from batterystuff.com. The Ctek has "comfort" connectors that're really nice. I also got a spare comfort cable & spliced it for use with a Slime mini pump for emergency use. The Scorpion battery was 12.79 volts straight out of the box & it holds its charge --- much better than the wet cell batteries I've used in the past.

1981 KZ650 Competition Sports and Road

Last edit: 08 Nov 2015 13:53 by martin_csr.

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bountyhunter
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Re: Battery tenders

09 Nov 2015 10:38 - 09 Nov 2015 10:39

#697952

ed spangler wrote: OK, Already have a thread going on AGM Battery's. Now,I would like opinions on properly using the "Deltran Battery Tenders".
Heretofore, I have used these Battery tenders and historically have always just hooked them up ( Yes, I remove the filler caps, since my Z has that type battery right now ) until Spring and I don't really turn them off.....well maybe once every 6-9 weeks Ill start my bikes and if its warm enough take them for a very short ride, I always use Sta-Bil in Gas tanks too.
So here is my question,s please.
1. Do you just connect the Battery Tender and leave it alone? I guess in Theory, they are supposed to "Automatically" shut off once a Maintenance charge has been reached.Mine do go "Steady Green" after they have been connected for a while.
2.If you have an AGM or sealed Battery, do you do anything different? Use a different "Tender"?? My cousin who has a "Wing" uses the same Tender on it which has an AGM /Sealed Battery as his Vintage bikes and always has, ., Reason I ask is obviously I intend to get one of these AGM/Sealed Batteries for My "Z", My Harley already has an AGM Battery and there are no filler caps I am aware of to remove during charging..
Thanks in advance for your thoughts / advice!!
ED

If the tender is properly designed, you can leave it connected. But the really cheap ones don't cut off (just trickle charge continuously) so no way to know if yours does.

I have a charger I built that does taper off and also has temperature compensation so it holds the battery at the perfect voltage. I am not sure what kind of designs are in the new chargers.

1979 KZ-750 Twin

Last edit: 09 Nov 2015 10:39 by bountyhunter.

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ed spangler
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Re: Battery tenders

09 Nov 2015 10:43

#697953

bountyhunter wrote:

ed spangler wrote: OK, Already have a thread going on AGM Battery's. Now,I would like opinions on properly using the "Deltran Battery Tenders".
Heretofore, I have used these Battery tenders and historically have always just hooked them up ( Yes, I remove the filler caps, since my Z has that type battery right now ) until Spring and I don't really turn them off.....well maybe once every 6-9 weeks Ill start my bikes and if its warm enough take them for a very short ride, I always use Sta-Bil in Gas tanks too.
So here is my question,s please.
1. Do you just connect the Battery Tender and leave it alone? I guess in Theory, they are supposed to "Automatically" shut off once a Maintenance charge has been reached.Mine do go "Steady Green" after they have been connected for a while.
2.If you have an AGM or sealed Battery, do you do anything different? Use a different "Tender"?? My cousin who has a "Wing" uses the same Tender on it which has an AGM /Sealed Battery as his Vintage bikes and always has, ., Reason I ask is obviously I intend to get one of these AGM/Sealed Batteries for My "Z", My Harley already has an AGM Battery and there are no filler caps I am aware of to remove during charging..
Thanks in advance for your thoughts / advice!!
ED

If the tender is properly designed, you can leave it connected. But the really cheap ones don't cut off (just trickle charge continuously) so no way to know if yours does.

I have a charger I built that does taper off and also has temperature compensation so it holds the battery at the perfect voltage. I am not sure what kind of designs are in the new chargers.

I was thinking that the "Deltran" brand of battery Tenders did cut off??
I sure hope so bc I have been "Assuming" they did.
Any thoughts on that specific brand??
Thanks bountyhunter
Ed

Have 1975 Kawasaki Z1-B & 2003 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Classic
Had Hondas, Harleys and many ,many Z Series Kaws both Std. & LTD's

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jakedude
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Re: Battery tenders

09 Nov 2015 12:42

#697965

I use Deltran battery tenders on my bikes. The front of the unit has an LED that changes from red to green when the battery is charged. You are supposed to be able to leave them on indefinitely. I don't. I plug them in once a month or so and unplug them when the LED turns green. Yeah sometimes I leave them plugged in for days simply because I forget to unplug them, but most of the time they are not plugged in.

Nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.

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650ed
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Re: Battery tenders

09 Nov 2015 15:48

#697991

I use one on a car I rarely drive in the winter. I leave it hooked up for weeks; it does not over charge the battery. Ed

1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)

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RonKZ650
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Re: Battery tenders

09 Nov 2015 16:23

#697995

I have a Battery Tender, but it's 20yrs old or more and don't think it even says Deltran on it, can't comment on the new ones, but I did check mine with a meter years ago, and it did as advertised, and shut off to storage charge after battery was fully charged, so it does not hurt to leave it hooked 365 days a year in theory, but in my opinion battery life is not enhanced by doing so, but you have a fully charged battery at all times in case you decide to ride, and that is good. AGM battery vs water battery, charging works same. One great thing about AGM, beyond the maintenance free aspect is the fact it has no water to freeze during winter. Common problem on old water batteries was low charge, cold weather, freeze, broken case, acid all over. Never happens with an AGM.

321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.

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rrsmsw9999
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Re: Battery tenders

09 Nov 2015 17:36

#697999

Never had problems with batteries. I bring them in the house for the winter (WI) and pop em in when it thaws. I have a nice schumacher agm/standard, small/med/lrg battery size, 6v/12/v/200amp automatic job that works fast on new batteries and can jump the car if needed. The Vulcan I have had BT leads for a trickle charge, took it off. I'd say ride your bike and don't waste the effort with it. Good Yuasus last 3-7 years in my experience. Unless you leave the key/headlight on for a total discharge a time or two... or three DOH !

R

1980 KZ 1000E2
Crashed 6/2016

1980 KZ550A
Sold 3/2016

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bountyhunter
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Re: Battery tenders

09 Nov 2015 21:35

#698010

rrsmsw9999 wrote: Never had problems with batteries. I bring them in the house for the winter (WI) and pop em in when it thaws.

Problem is any battery including lead-acid has a self discharge rate. If a cell becomes discharged and left standing over time it will sulphate and ruin the battery (even if it is in the house). Keeping in the house is good because the electrolyte can't freeze but it can still suplhate out.

1979 KZ-750 Twin

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bountyhunter
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Re: Battery tenders

09 Nov 2015 21:36 - 09 Nov 2015 21:39

#698011

ed spangler wrote:

bountyhunter wrote:

ed spangler wrote: OK, Already have a thread going on AGM Battery's. Now,I would like opinions on properly using the "Deltran Battery Tenders".
Heretofore, I have used these Battery tenders and historically have always just hooked them up ( Yes, I remove the filler caps, since my Z has that type battery right now ) until Spring and I don't really turn them off.....well maybe once every 6-9 weeks Ill start my bikes and if its warm enough take them for a very short ride, I always use Sta-Bil in Gas tanks too.
So here is my question,s please.
1. Do you just connect the Battery Tender and leave it alone? I guess in Theory, they are supposed to "Automatically" shut off once a Maintenance charge has been reached.Mine do go "Steady Green" after they have been connected for a while.
2.If you have an AGM or sealed Battery, do you do anything different? Use a different "Tender"?? My cousin who has a "Wing" uses the same Tender on it which has an AGM /Sealed Battery as his Vintage bikes and always has, ., Reason I ask is obviously I intend to get one of these AGM/Sealed Batteries for My "Z", My Harley already has an AGM Battery and there are no filler caps I am aware of to remove during charging..
Thanks in advance for your thoughts / advice!!
ED

If the tender is properly designed, you can leave it connected. But the really cheap ones don't cut off (just trickle charge continuously) so no way to know if yours does.

I have a charger I built that does taper off and also has temperature compensation so it holds the battery at the perfect voltage. I am not sure what kind of designs are in the new chargers.

I was thinking that the "Deltran" brand of battery Tenders did cut off??
I sure hope so bc I have been "Assuming" they did.
Any thoughts on that specific brand??
Thanks bountyhunter
Ed

If it's a new one of decent quality it should have overcharge protection. The cheapie ones for less than $20 would worry me.... this Deltran claims it switches to float charge automatically.

www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0123-J...ltran+battery+tender

1979 KZ-750 Twin

Last edit: 09 Nov 2015 21:39 by bountyhunter.

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