[NRG x Exige]

To be technical a trickle charger is not a battery conditioner/tender/maintainer. Trickle chargers are less expensive and charge at a constant slow charge rate - when the batter is fully charged the trickle charger will continue and overcharge it (which can ruin a battery).

A battery tender/maintainer is designed to charge the battery up and maintain that charge indefinitely without overcharging it. The Battery Tender Jr. is a good example of a battery tender.

A battery conditioner is slightly different than a battery tender/maintainer. In addition to charging and maintaining the battery, it also "conditions" the battery. This is usually done by using a pulse along with the charging current. This pulse "knocks loose" the the sulfation on the battery plates, returning it to solution. This feature is supposed to greatly increase the life of a battery. The BatteryMINDer is a good example of a battery conditioner.

For what it's worth, I have two BatteryMINDers that I use on my cars, including the Elise. They also have large versions that you can connect several batteries to if you have a large fleet of cars that you have to store for long periods. I just use the regular one (similar in size to the Battery Tender Jr. The BatteryMINDer also sells for about the same price as a Battery Tender Jr.

Edit: After Charlie's post, I guess you can get the Battery Tender Jr. cheaper - I think I paid around $40 for my BatteryMINDers...

well said, well broken down... haha... :crazyeyes

 

[NRG x Exige]

can the BatteryMINDer also be spliced up with a cigerette lighter plug as mentioned above with the braille setup? and how would one go about doing this?

 

[fishguy]

last question before i buy my battery tender jr. will this thing work with regular size car batteries also, or is it only compatible with small batteries like braille. i was hoping to get something that could charge my battery for my generator in the trailer(old elise battery), and trailer winch battery also. if not, is there something out there that can work for both applications, or do i just need to buy 2 chargers?
looks like this would work, it says can be used on gel batteries.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Vect...mp-NEW-IN-BOX_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ63687QQihZ014QQitemZ330001279575QQrdZ1

 

[pixlpush]

can the BatteryMINDer also be spliced up with a cigerette lighter plug as mentioned above with the braille setup? and how would one go about doing this?

I'm sure it would work fine, that said I've only done it with the Braille charger.
Here's what I did:

it looks like the battery tenders come with 2 ways to attach to the battery
one that bolts it permanently to the battery and the battery clips. Pick the
one your never going to use, in my case the permanent one, and clip off the
ring shaped leads that attach to the battery. Pick up a cigarette lighter plug
from the local auto parts store, the Pep Boys has them, similar to this one:

solder the 2 together, the making sure you don't get the hot lead and ground
crossed. I used heat shrink tubing to finish off the solder joints but electrical
tape works ok too. Plug the new cigarette lighter plug adapter into the
battery tender, then into the cigarette lighter and your good to charge away.
I use my Braille charger/minder if I'm not driving the car for more than 3 days
and I've never had a problem. First time I left the Braille for a week on it's own
it was flat.

 

[insane]

desulfator schematic

....if you're handy with an iron, you could try this: (attched)

Just a few bucks in parts.

 

[NtflBlueLiz]

Not to throw a wrench into the battery tender thing but.....
I have an Odissey battery on my Elise and a Tender Jr always attached to it and the Elise wouldn't start this past weekend, finally I jump started it, drove it for 20 minutes than parked it for 2 days and tried to start it again and still nothing. Is my Tender Jr not working or is the battery fried? the battery isn't even 6 months old?

 

[raggedy1]

did your Tender Jr. show a green LED as if it had charged the battery?

 

[NtflBlueLiz]

did your Tender Jr. show a green LED as if it had charged the battery?

yes

 

[TimMullen]

I have an Odissey battery on my Elise and a Tender Jr always attached to it and the Elise wouldn't start this past weekend,

Apparently, according to the BatteryMINDer FAQ page, Optima batteries need a slightly higher voltage to charge them properly - I don't know if that applies to the Odyssey batteries too:shrug: :

<TABLE style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" borderColor=#111111 cellPadding=2 width=610 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">Q: Can I use model 12112 (12 volt BatteryMINDer) to charge and maintain my Optima batteries?</TD></TR><TR><TD width="100%" bgColor=#03edbe>A: Yes, you can use it on Optima batteries for short periods (2-3 months) at a time. If you need to maintain your Optima batteries for longer periods, you should get the BatteryMINDer adjusted for Optima batteries. The Optima-adjusted BatteryMINDer floats 13.6 volts, and the regular 12 volt BatteryMINDer floats 13 volts. Note that once your BatteryMINDer has been adjusted to Optima batteries, you cannot use the unit on other types of batteries.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

You can also buy ready made lighter sockets: http://www.batteryweb.com/batteryminder.cfm that connect to the BatteryMINDers and Battery Tenders. At least they use the same plugs (I have a 25 ft. Battery Tender extension cord that I use with my BatteryMINDer...

 

[NtflBlueLiz]

Apparently, according to the BatteryMINDer FAQ page, Optima batteries need a slightly higher voltage to charge them properly - I don't know if that applies to the Odyssey batteries too:shrug: :

<TABLE style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" borderColor=#111111 cellPadding=2 width=610 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">Q: Can I use model 12112 (12 volt BatteryMINDer) to charge and maintain my Optima batteries?</TD></TR><TR><TD width="100%" bgColor=#03edbe>A: Yes, you can use it on Optima batteries for short periods (2-3 months) at a time. If you need to maintain your Optima batteries for longer periods, you should get the BatteryMINDer adjusted for Optima batteries. The Optima-adjusted BatteryMINDer floats 13.6 volts, and the regular 12 volt BatteryMINDer floats 13 volts. Note that once your BatteryMINDer has been adjusted to Optima batteries, you cannot use the unit on other types of batteries.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

You can also buy ready made lighter sockets: http://www.batteryweb.com/batteryminder.cfm that connect to the BatteryMINDers and Battery Tenders. At least they use the same plugs (I have a 25 ft. Battery Tender extension cord that I use with my BatteryMINDer...

I thought the tender jr was made for this type of battery? Anyway, I'm going to work on getting the battery up to full charge and see what happens. How do I get the battery tender changed to work better with the Odissey battery?

 

[TimMullen]

I thought the tender jr was made for this type of battery? Anyway, I'm going to work on getting the battery up to full charge and see what happens. How do I get the battery tender changed to work better with the Odissey battery?

I'm not sure that the Odyssey needs a higher voltage like the Optima - in any case, you can get a modified BatteryMINDer, I have no idea about the Battery Tender Jr.:shrug:

 

[jib2222]

OPTIMA is one of my sponsors, they tell everyone to NOT attach a charger to your batteries, however on my Honda Insight Hybrid's unique system I needed a charger...

So...I talked to one of the lead engineers over at OPTIMA and he told me they were researching one company: ACI Advanced Chargers. THEY ARE THE BEST and most advanced chargers and sustainers you can buy. If people are interested I can set up a contact for you and get you hooked up.

Josh

 

[RWLott]

A Sears DieHard 1.5 Amp battery charger/maintainer has worked for me over the winter. It cost $32 three years ago.

 

[jib2222]

What kind of battery?

 

[Zoomie]

It has been a while since I read the Odyssey manual but I remember it saying you need quite a bit more ummph than the little battery tender junior.
Try this link: http://www.odysseybatteries.com/charging.htm

 

[J-Son]

i have the original stock battery and usually kept the battery tender hooked up to it. i didnt drive my elise for about 3 weeks and i went to drive it last sunday and the battery was dead (i forgot to hook the tender to it).

i've been charging it with the tender for 6 days already and still a red light on the tender. i jump started the battery today and let it run for 10 minutes and then shut the car off and hooked the tender back up to see if it was green....nope...still red light.

i didnt want to drive the car around and get stuck or something...should i just jump start it and drive around? or should i replace the battery....i'm not very mechanical and would probably be able to change the battery and put one in the same place without any modifications....any advice?

 

[plastique999]

I have the Sector 111 Braille lightweight battery...went to SOW tracking on Fri....left the V1 connected all weekend...couldn't disengage the immobilizer....battery weak.

I have a BatteryCompanion trickle charger by Schumacher which has a 6 V and 12 V setting. On the 12 V setting the "check battery" lights up, but on the 6 V setting it states "charging."
Is it supposed to be on the 6V setting to trickle charge the Braille?

 

[SirLotus]

Your battery is 12V, don't use the 6V setting. These smart chargers will not charge a battery with a voltage that is too low, maybe below about 8.7V, which is why you are getting a check light. I would jump it and let the alternator charge it up and then put your charger on it if needed. You will be able to disconnect the immobilizer once you have the jumper battery connected.
Michael

 

[Valenz]

Another option

Here is a maintainer with which I've been fully satisfied in a number of applications . :up: They also carry the Tender Junior at just under $30.00.

 

[plastique999]

Your battery is 12V, don't use the 6V setting. These smart chargers will not charge a battery with a voltage that is too low, maybe below about 8.7V, which is why you are getting a check light. I would jump it and let the alternator charge it up and then put your charger on it if needed. You will be able to disconnect the immobilizer once you have the jumper battery connected.
Michael

It must be the crappy trickle charger...for some reason on the 12V setting it still says "check battery" - unless the battery is indeed bad (only had it for a month thought).

I will try your suggestion this a.m. - jump it, then maybe go on a long canyon run...the immobilizer is useless for me!