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View Full Version : Battery Tender's ???



dangerous
21st June 2004, 19:20
Ok then, As I don't use the bike a great deal during winter I am thinking of buying a battery tender and was woundering what you lot think about them who's got one?

Now looking in the MotoMail there is a Battery Doc at $100 and then there's the Battery Tender at $200.
These two items do the very same thing so why is one twice the price of the other?
Do these little puppys realy save the battery from a slow death?

Thanks in advance and if it makes a dif then my battery is a sealed low mainance type.

Hitcher
21st June 2004, 20:37
Ok then, As I don't use the bike a great deal during winter I am thinking of buying a battery tender and was woundering what you lot think about them who's got one?

Get out there and ride your bike, you poof!

Kickaha
21st June 2004, 20:51
Colin at Cresswell motors on new Brighton road used to import something like that,dunno if he still does them

dangerous
21st June 2004, 21:15
Get out there and ride your bike, you poof!

Come down here and say that........... come on then, I dear ya
call me a bloody poof 'mutter mutter mutter mumble groan' bet ya wouldent even make past Kaikoura ya oll bugger :Pokey: this is the Is of the Brass Monkey ya know :eyepoke: *runs and hides*

bgd
21st June 2004, 21:23
I use an Optimate. Seems to do the trick although I ride the bike all year round so that probably helps as well.

laRIKin
21st June 2004, 21:39
If you have a normal charger, you can just put your battery on the charger.
For a few hours, every week.
I got a cheap little charger, that chargers at 1 amp for about $30.(I think)
Thats suppose to stop over charging.
Arlec make it, it's proberly not as good as a tender, but I have had no
problems with it so far.

Lou Girardin
22nd June 2004, 06:44
I think the Remac version is cheaper and works fine.

dss3
22nd June 2004, 09:19
I have the 'battery tender', got it from road and sport for around $150.00 I think. It works great, just hook to battery and have leads with plug on end discretely under fairing.

From what I understand the more expensive ones have more features, and are less likely to screw your electronics. Mine has a processor that changes the amount of charge given to the battery depending on how flat the battery is. For example when battery is over 80% charged the tender just 'drip feeds' to maintain at this level without overcooking it. Meaning you can leave it connected for days on end without any worries.

My understanding is that these more expensive 'microprocessor' types are a lot better/safer for newer bikes and their fancy schmancy electronics.

my 5c
-Daryl

vifferman
22nd June 2004, 09:29
My understanding is that these more expensive 'microprocessor' types are a lot better/safer for newer bikes and their fancy schmancy electronics.
That's correct. Lead/acid batteries have an optimum charging voltage, and if you go under/over this, you're not doing them any favours at all.

FROSTY
22nd June 2004, 09:57
the old way to keep your battery in good nick was to hook it out and run a workshop radio off of it -then charging it up with a charger. To keep the battery tip top it does need to cycle

Jackrat
22nd June 2004, 12:01
Got the Battery Tender.
Plug under the seat,easy as,works good mate.
Every XS owner should have one.

dangerous
22nd June 2004, 18:37
My understanding is that these more expensive 'microprocessor' types are a lot better/safer for newer bikes and their fancy schmancy electronics.
my 5c
-Daryl

Thanks for that info it is what I was after, another words twice the price but worth it so as not to risk frying any thing like the bikes ECU etc. I like the idea of not having to remove the battary.

ps: The correct way that Darryl is spelt is with two r's :rolleyes:



To keep the battery tip top it does need to cycle

Which is what I thought the Tender did ie: it lets the battery drain (as it will conected to the bike not being used) and then charges it up again.

Big Dog
23rd June 2004, 18:23
Can't vouch for quality but I saw a battery tender at the warehouse the other day. Can't remember the price but it was under a hundy.

You see. I don't need to know how much they were cos I ride every day.

I bought a Arlec Charger from the warehouse for $29.99 for the cage. Exactly the same model was in repco mailer on special for
$130. Works well, easy to store and about half the price of the closest comparable product. Oh and it has flash lights that tell you what is doing. According to the instructions it disconnects when full but the leds stay on.


Cycling your battery will give you a longer battery life but more important it will ipmprove the life expectancy of your higher drain devices (coils, starters plugs etc.)

FROSTY
23rd June 2004, 18:38
Guys the steal of the month is a crowd in south auckland that have a jump starter for $50.00
it saves all problems with starting the bike

merv
5th July 2004, 13:15
I bought a Protecta one from K-Mart for $49, mainly because my DR250R was a pig to start if you left it more than a few weeks (and us dirt bikers don't get dirty too often). In the end I put the connectors on the DR and my VFR though the Honda doesn't normally get plugged in. Now I haven't got around to fitting the plugs onto my WR yet.

Basically the Protecta brand from Aussie did the same job as one twice the price. Unfortunately K-Mart don't seem to stock the model I bought any more but Repco do at about $99 - ouch. K-Mart still have other models of the Protecta brand and some are still reasonably priced, otherwise I'd say check out Super Cheap Autos and see what they have.

The ones advertised for bikes seem to have $50 added to the price - but hell a battery is a battery.

White trash
6th July 2004, 16:58
Ok then, As I don't use the bike a great deal during winter I am thinking of buying a battery tender and was woundering what you lot think about them who's got one?

Now looking in the MotoMail there is a Battery Doc at $100 and then there's the Battery Tender at $200.
These two items do the very same thing so why is one twice the price of the other?
Do these little puppys realy save the battery from a slow death?

Thanks in advance and if it makes a dif then my battery is a sealed low mainance type.

How'd ya get on?

I've got one here that with your KB discount you can have for $60 + courier.

Let me know via PM.

merv
6th July 2004, 19:42
Good price WT I would have bought one off you if I didn't already have one.

geoffm
7th July 2004, 10:09
Ok then, As I don't use the bike a great deal during winter I am thinking of buying a battery tender and was woundering what you lot think about them who's got one?
.
I got a battery tender a few years ago, since the bikes tend to sit around a lot at home, and the BMW clock drains the battery in a couple of weeks. Works well, although there are cheaper alternatives.
Geoff

SILVER SUZI
7th July 2004, 12:32
Whats that Frosty, $50 bucks for a jump starter, I'm woundering if you might want one for the whale? Oh thats right you aint riding that again eh! :Playnice:

maybe
7th July 2004, 21:09
We still have fine weather here for those who don,t like wet weather riding.....I guess it must be wet all the time where you are.