Battery Float Charger/Maintainer

The Real BigGuy · 12-12-2023, 10:07 AM

I’m looking for a float charger/maintainer for my boat batteries. I keep them in a friend’s heated garage several towns over so it is a pain to go over there every several weeks to check them.

Every time I find one and read the reviews they are usually something to the effect of, “after leaving my battery on it over the winter my battery was dead flat.” Or, “a piece of junk. Don’t waste your money.”

Anybody use one of these that they can recommend?

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ishoot308 · 12-12-2023, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Real BigGuy

I’m looking for a float charger/maintainer for my boat batteries. I keep them in a friend’s heated garage several towns over so it is a pain to go over there every several weeks to check them.

Every time I find one and read the reviews they are usually something to the effect of, “after leaving my battery on it over the winter my battery was dead flat.” Or, “a piece of junk. Don’t waste your money.”

Anybody use one of these that they can recommend?

Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Look at the "Battery Tender" line of smart trickle chargers. I use this one on all of my boats and have for years and never had issues. They have a quite a few different ones depending on your needs but only a couple that are waterproof / resistant.

https://www.batterytender.com/weather-resistant-800

I like it because it is water resistant and I can use it most anywhere inside or out. I keep a couple in my boat attached to the batteries with an SAE quick disconnect. My batteries last for years!

Dan

Hillcountry · 12-12-2023, 11:05 AM

Dan is correct!
I have 3 of them…one is a solar charger on my shed that trickle charges my ZT BATTERY and have 2 on my wife’s ‘55 ford Fairlane which occupies her old garage space. The ‘55 has one 6v and one 12v battery. (Starter booster.)
Back when I had Harleys they all had a Battery Tender brand charger on them in winter storage. Walmart has a decent selection of them for different sized machines.

DRH · 12-12-2023, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Look at the "Battery Tender" line of smart trickle chargers. I use this one on all of my boats and have for years and never had issues. They have a quite a few different ones depending on your needs but only a couple that are waterproof / resistant.

https://www.batterytender.com/weather-resistant-800

I like it because it is water resistant and I can use it most anywhere inside or out. I keep a couple in my boat attached to the batteries with an SAE quick disconnect. My batteries last for years!

Dan

I agree with Dan's recommendation of the "Battery Tender" brand of smart trickle/battery maintainer chargers. I have several of their "Battery Tender Junior" model, which is similar to the one Dan uses but is a wall plug-in model.

https://www.batterytender.com/junior

This particular model is not water resistant, but I only use them indoors.

Battery Tender models are fully automatic, use four charging stages, and cannot overcharge a battery. I have used them for years on a lawn tractor, compact utility tractor, boats, and motorcycle and have never had a dead battery in the spring.

Woody38 · 12-12-2023, 01:42 PM

What is not needed is a trickle charger. these never stop charging, which is not good for a battery long term, great for short term. A battery minder is called for. These charge the battery until charged and then stop until needed again.
I have two of these on my car presently, one for the starting battery and one r the accessory. Then all will be good to go when I return. The battery on my John Deere is not on a charger as I have found it really is not necessary, I put the trickle charger on for a short while when returning.

I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic

gwhite13 · 12-12-2023, 01:50 PM

I also use only the "battery tender" line of chargers.
Have tried others with terrible luck.
One for each battery lined up on a wooden board off the floor.

NHskier · 12-12-2023, 03:46 PM

Battery Tender brand all the way. I’ve used them on motorcycles and garden tractors and gotten many extra years of life out of my batteries. I have two of them, and one is pushing 20 years and still working just fine.

The Real BigGuy · 12-13-2023, 07:21 AM

Thank you! I’ll check them out.

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thinkxingu · 12-13-2023, 08:42 AM

+1 for Battery Tender. I bought one some years back after having to replace a series of lawn tractor batteries, and now I'm getting 4-5 years out of them.

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ishoot308 · 12-13-2023, 09:15 AM

What I do is I buy their ring terminal pig tails and attach them to all my toys batteries... boats, snowmobiles, Atv's, lawn mower, snowblower, etc, etc. then its just a simple quick connect to the battery tender when needed.

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tende...1zcF9hdGY&th=1

Dan

NHskier · 12-13-2023, 04:54 PM

The ring terminal approach ishoot mentioned definitely makes it easier than the small alligator clips. You can have that pintail exposed so no need to get under a hood or maneuver to get to battery terminals. You can also get extension cables if needed.

thinkxingu · 12-14-2023, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

What I do is I buy their ring terminal pig tails and attach them to all my toys batteries... boats, snowmobiles, Atv's, lawn mower, snowblower, etc, etc. then its just a simple quick connect to the battery tender when needed.

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tende...1zcF9hdGY&th=1

Dan

Great tip. A lot of people do this with jetskis because the batteries are often tucked in tight and the posts are usually don't have much room to attach alligator clips.

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fatlazyless · 12-14-2023, 08:24 AM

Hey ....... snowblowers do not have batteries ........ you attach an extension cord to the electric start motor or just pull on the pull-start handle. Have never seen a snowblower with a battery?

According to Wikipedia, there is not a single snowblower in the world history of snowblowers, ever made, that has a battery! Not even the most expensive Ariens has a battery. .....

AC2717 · 12-14-2023, 08:43 AM

What about solar options, what do people like, I have older model ones on my boats, but last year I noticed they were struggling, so I was looking for reccomendations on ones I can leave on the boat when at dock or sand bar. U usually put one out on the swim platform while it sits, and small fishing boat I like one on the starter battery as well another on the deep cycle for the accessories and trolling motor. anything out there that does two batteries at once for that type of application?

ishoot308 · 12-14-2023, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AC2717

What about solar options, what do people like, I have older model ones on my boats, but last year I noticed they were struggling, so I was looking for reccomendations on ones I can leave on the boat when at dock or sand bar. U usually put one out on the swim platform while it sits, and small fishing boat I like one on the starter battery as well another on the deep cycle for the accessories and trolling motor. anything out there that does two batteries at once for that type of application?

Battery Tender has a full line of solar chargers from 5 watt to 35 watt charging capabilities. You can also get a simple splitter when needed for two batteries, obviously your charging rate is cut in half for each battery.

If you go over a 10 watt panel, I would recommend you also get their solar controller to keep your batteries from over charging.

https://www.batterytender.com/solar-...ater-Resistant

Dan

The Real BigGuy · 12-14-2023, 05:45 PM

Thanks again for the input. I picked up a Battery Tender plus. I don’t use during the season as the batteries seem to keep charged from boat use. My need is over the winter while the batteries are in storage. Thanks for the input one more time.

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12-12-2023, 10:07 AM	#1
The Real BigGuy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,112 Thanks: 109 Thanked 410 Times in 244 Posts	Battery Float Charger/Maintainer I’m looking for a float charger/maintainer for my boat batteries. I keep them in a friend’s heated garage several towns over so it is a pain to go over there every several weeks to check them. Every time I find one and read the reviews they are usually something to the effect of, “after leaving my battery on it over the winter my battery was dead flat.” Or, “a piece of junk. Don’t waste your money.” Anybody use one of these that they can recommend? Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

12-12-2023, 01:42 PM	#5
Woody38 Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 564 Thanks: 46 Thanked 104 Times in 75 Posts	battery minder What is not needed is a trickle charger. these never stop charging, which is not good for a battery long term, great for short term. A battery minder is called for. These charge the battery until charged and then stop until needed again. I have two of these on my car presently, one for the starting battery and one r the accessory. Then all will be good to go when I return. The battery on my John Deere is not on a charger as I have found it really is not necessary, I put the trickle charger on for a short while when returning. I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic

12-12-2023, 03:46 PM	#7
NHskier Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 284 Thanks: 40 Thanked 33 Times in 30 Posts	Battery Tender brand all the way. I’ve used them on motorcycles and garden tractors and gotten many extra years of life out of my batteries. I have two of them, and one is pushing 20 years and still working just fine. __________________ NHskier

12-13-2023, 09:15 AM	#10
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 5,932 Thanks: 2,290 Thanked 4,943 Times in 1,918 Posts	Ring Terminal Connector What I do is I buy their ring terminal pig tails and attach them to all my toys batteries... boats, snowmobiles, Atv's, lawn mower, snowblower, etc, etc. then its just a simple quick connect to the battery tender when needed. https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tende...1zcF9hdGY&th=1 Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

12-13-2023, 04:54 PM	#11
NHskier Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 284 Thanks: 40 Thanked 33 Times in 30 Posts	The ring terminal approach ishoot mentioned definitely makes it easier than the small alligator clips. You can have that pintail exposed so no need to get under a hood or maneuver to get to battery terminals. You can also get extension cables if needed. __________________ NHskier

The Following User Says Thank You to ishoot308 For This Useful Post:
jbolty (12-12-2023)

12-12-2023, 11:05 AM	#3
Hillcountry Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: In the hills Posts: 2,348 Thanks: 1,591 Thanked 763 Times in 457 Posts	Dan is correct! I have 3 of them…one is a solar charger on my shed that trickle charges my ZT BATTERY and have 2 on my wife’s ‘55 ford Fairlane which occupies her old garage space. The ‘55 has one 6v and one 12v battery. (Starter booster.) Back when I had Harleys they all had a Battery Tender brand charger on them in winter storage. Walmart has a decent selection of them for different sized machines.

12-12-2023, 01:50 PM	#6
gwhite13 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Hanover and Moultonborough Posts: 87 Thanks: 7 Thanked 12 Times in 11 Posts	I also use only the "battery tender" line of chargers. Have tried others with terrible luck. One for each battery lined up on a wooden board off the floor.

12-13-2023, 07:21 AM	#8
The Real BigGuy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,112 Thanks: 109 Thanked 410 Times in 244 Posts	Thank you! I’ll check them out. Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

12-13-2023, 08:42 AM	#9
thinkxingu Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 5,946 Thanks: 1,154 Thanked 1,963 Times in 1,213 Posts	+1 for Battery Tender. I bought one some years back after having to replace a series of lawn tractor batteries, and now I'm getting 4-5 years out of them. Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk

The Following User Says Thank You to ishoot308 For This Useful Post:
Hillcountry (12-13-2023)

12-14-2023, 08:24 AM	#13
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,528 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 296 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	...... what, no battery? Hey ....... snowblowers do not have batteries ........ you attach an extension cord to the electric start motor or just pull on the pull-start handle. Have never seen a snowblower with a battery? According to Wikipedia, there is not a single snowblower in the world history of snowblowers, ever made, that has a battery! Not even the most expensive Ariens has a battery. ..... __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

12-14-2023, 08:43 AM	#14
AC2717 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maynard, MA & Paugus Bay Posts: 2,522 Thanks: 747 Thanked 344 Times in 257 Posts	What about solar options, what do people like, I have older model ones on my boats, but last year I noticed they were struggling, so I was looking for reccomendations on ones I can leave on the boat when at dock or sand bar. U usually put one out on the swim platform while it sits, and small fishing boat I like one on the starter battery as well another on the deep cycle for the accessories and trolling motor. anything out there that does two batteries at once for that type of application? __________________ Capt. of the "No Worries"

12-14-2023, 05:45 PM	#16
The Real BigGuy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,112 Thanks: 109 Thanked 410 Times in 244 Posts	Thanks again for the input. I picked up a Battery Tender plus. I don’t use during the season as the batteries seem to keep charged from boat use. My need is over the winter while the batteries are in storage. Thanks for the input one more time. Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app