Battery Tender Recommendations
#4
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You're probably not getting very much response because there was a (clearly titled) robust discussion on this a few weeks back. Look for it and you'll find your input.
#5
Needs to Get a Life
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(jerky comment toward Rick removed) - my bad ............................I have been able to tell in this thread that the Porsche tender is a well accepted product. Disparate comments in other threads did not provide clarity around recommendations.
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ghlight=tender
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ghlight=tender
....among other threads.............<removed>
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ghlight=tender
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthre...ghlight=tender
....among other threads.............<removed>
Last edited by GT3CAR; 02-12-2008 at 05:29 PM.
#6
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Bottom line: the technology is fairly low-tech and, I would guess that virtually all of the products will do fine. I, and some others, prefer the Battery Tender, while many like the Porsche-branded version. I think the biggest issue is whether you want to attach to your battery (ala Battery Tender) or lighter (ala Porsche). If you look at both, it will be clear that the Porsche brand costs 2-3x more due to the label. If you visit the BT website, you will find that battery maintaining is their core competence.
Hope that helps.
#7
Needs to Get a Life
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Can you tell I am a little sensitive about the search police?
Thanks for the information. I read it again and realized I took it wrong. I revised it.
You make a good point about name brands.....Tylenol vs. Acetaminophen......Deka vs. Braille batteries...and the tenders
Thanks for the information. I read it again and realized I took it wrong. I revised it.
You make a good point about name brands.....Tylenol vs. Acetaminophen......Deka vs. Braille batteries...and the tenders
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#9
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Interesting side-bar: This Winter before I thought to hook up my tender, the battery went dead (leaving the key in the ignition accelerates the drain, duh). I tried the jump-from-the-fusebox that always worked with my previous 996 and no dice. I jumped via the lighter plug and, presto. So...if anyone has problem with the procedure in the manual, try the lighter input approach.
#11
CTEK is the one to get. They make it for Porsche, and it is half the price with a case, and two different lead sets. I've got several and they are fantastic. Better than the little brick Porsche sells, the maintainer.
#12
Rennlist Member
I have 3 BT's - two on my motorcycles and one on the P-car. Some will post that anything made in China will cause you problems but I've been using BT's for years and have never had a problem. I have all three with the BT pigtails permanently attached to the batteries so I just plug the BT into the pigtails and start charging.
#13
Three Wheelin'
#14
I have been using a Vector for few years with no problem. Recently bought 2 more under different label - Black & Decker, both were defective out of the box! Other than the different color heatsinks, they are identical units. Even has the same model number.
I have learned CTEK makes the charger for Porsche, but I don't think it comes with the cigarette lighter plug. And they have 3 versions, I was trying to figure out which one is the same as the Porsche but couldn't because the specs i had was limited.
Anyways, ended up buy a Porsche one from Sunset Imports. Porsche makes two different kinds, be sure to get the newer one. Here are their differences per Jeff @ Sunset Imports:
"There are two different styles of maintainers. Both versions plug into a wall socket and have a lighter plug on the other end that goes into the vehicles cigarette lighter socket. The 955-044-900-54 for 106.71 can do motorcycle (m/c) batteries and car batteries, but the 106.71 charger puts out up to 3.3 amps and trickles down from there. This more expensive one fits the 2002 and later Porsche cigarette lighter socket just perfect, but not the older cars. You can use it in the older cars if you buy the newer cigarette lighter (male and female part, comes together) for little under 15.00 dollars. This unit is good for older batteries to help keep them fully charged as older batteries tend to be less apt to hold a charge the older they get in my opinion. What this charger does is cycle it’s charging rate. It charges the battery up, then introduces a small load on the battery to draw it’s charge down somewhat, then charges it back up. This makes the battery think it is in use, and in cycling the battery this way it will stay active. The worst thing for a battery is to be inactive without any charger or maintainer on it at all. The 980-611-981-00 maintainer for 47.10 puts out a max of .5 (half an amp) so it's meant to only keep the battery at the state of charge it was in when put up for winter storage for example. It doesn't even TRY to charge the battery, where as the more expensive one has the capability to put out more than a half an amp it can actually charge a battery if left on for a couple of days. Although it wasn't designed to be a charger it will charge up a dead battery but will take longer than the higher amperage variety sold elsewhere. Any questions please ask, thanks, Jeff."
I have learned CTEK makes the charger for Porsche, but I don't think it comes with the cigarette lighter plug. And they have 3 versions, I was trying to figure out which one is the same as the Porsche but couldn't because the specs i had was limited.
Anyways, ended up buy a Porsche one from Sunset Imports. Porsche makes two different kinds, be sure to get the newer one. Here are their differences per Jeff @ Sunset Imports:
"There are two different styles of maintainers. Both versions plug into a wall socket and have a lighter plug on the other end that goes into the vehicles cigarette lighter socket. The 955-044-900-54 for 106.71 can do motorcycle (m/c) batteries and car batteries, but the 106.71 charger puts out up to 3.3 amps and trickles down from there. This more expensive one fits the 2002 and later Porsche cigarette lighter socket just perfect, but not the older cars. You can use it in the older cars if you buy the newer cigarette lighter (male and female part, comes together) for little under 15.00 dollars. This unit is good for older batteries to help keep them fully charged as older batteries tend to be less apt to hold a charge the older they get in my opinion. What this charger does is cycle it’s charging rate. It charges the battery up, then introduces a small load on the battery to draw it’s charge down somewhat, then charges it back up. This makes the battery think it is in use, and in cycling the battery this way it will stay active. The worst thing for a battery is to be inactive without any charger or maintainer on it at all. The 980-611-981-00 maintainer for 47.10 puts out a max of .5 (half an amp) so it's meant to only keep the battery at the state of charge it was in when put up for winter storage for example. It doesn't even TRY to charge the battery, where as the more expensive one has the capability to put out more than a half an amp it can actually charge a battery if left on for a couple of days. Although it wasn't designed to be a charger it will charge up a dead battery but will take longer than the higher amperage variety sold elsewhere. Any questions please ask, thanks, Jeff."
#15
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I use the CTEK Multi US 3300 ($70) -- they sell a cigarette lighter attachment for something like $10. I found it more secure than the battery clips. It works great.