 Battery Tender Plus. Click image to enlarge |
 Share this story on Facebook
|
Review and photos by Frank Rizzuti
Photo Gallery:
Battery Tender Plus
This time of year, most enthusiasts have put their summer toys away for the winter. Bikes, boats, RV’s and classic cars are all hunkered down for a long winter sleep, awaiting a spring awakening. One common element amongst all these playthings is the battery. A battery is a series of galvanic (voltaic) cells used for the production and storage of electricity. Batteries don’t last forever – their lifetimes are measured in cycles, or how many times they can be discharged and recharged. Maintaining the battery and using the proper charger will dramatically increase its life, and when spring arrives you won’t have the click-click blues.
Deltran Corporation in Deland Florida, have been building and designing battery chargers for over 41 years. They have an extensive array of products from six-volt golf cart chargers, waterproof chargers for boat use and multi-bank style for charging up to four batteries at once. They recently sent me a Battery Tender Plus 12-volt for an evaluation.
In the package was the Battery Tender Plus, two quick connect harnesses, one with conventional clamps and one that can be permanently installed in your vehicle. Both harnesses come equipped with automotive type fuses for protection. These are good quality, heavy gauge copper components. The Battery Tender has diagnostic green and red lights that monitor every step of the charging process.
 Battery Tender Plus. Click image to enlarge |
It first does an initialization: verifies appropriate battery voltage and ensures good electrical continuity between the charger and the battery. Secondly, it does a bulk charge to 80 per cent of full charge, it then does an absorption charge which conditions the battery and finally it goes into a float/maintenance mode. The unit also has temperature compensation which increases the output voltage in cold climates.
Most automatic battery chargers turn off when battery voltage rises or the charge current falls to a pre-set level. Then after a period of time the charger will turn on and recharge the battery. This type of cycling will reduce battery life. The Battery Tender Plus does not turn off. It automatically switches to a safe float voltage level that keeps the battery charged and yet does not do any harm to the battery or cause any reduction in its useful life.
 Battery Tender Plus. Click image to enlarge |
The battery in my sports car (1966 MGB) is located in a very awkward spot, making removing the battery for winter storage a real hassle. I installed the quick connect harness in a convenient spot and hooked up the charger. In a matter of a few hours the unit brought the voltage up and switched over to float mode. It can be left hooked up indefinitely with no harm to the charger or battery.
Next I hooked it up to my deep cycle RV battery. It hadn’t been charged for a few months and had only ten volts left in it. It took the Battery Tender about six hours to fully charge and be ready to go.
This unit also works well for your daily driver, especially if it hasn’t been driven for a few days or weeks.
This is one of the smartest chargers available — good quality, well built and it comes with a 10 year warranty. The cost of the unit ($64.95 US) will quickly be saved by extending the life cycle of your batteries.
If you own any of the aforementioned toys this unit is a must-have. Canadians can purchase a Battery Tender Plus online from www.marinemagik.com .