What is the difference between a battery charger and maintainer?

What is the difference between a battery charger and maintainer?

A battery maintainer is essentially a small battery charger that sends small amounts of energy to your battery. Doing so lets the battery sit for long periods of time without any activity and lets the battery retain a full charge. They can also help extend the life of your battery by preventing damage to your battery.

Is it OK to leave a battery maintainer on all the time?

In theory, you can leave the Battery Tender® Plus battery charger connected to a battery forever. That’s a really long time. Sales people like to say, “Just plug it in and forget about it!” However, practically speaking, it is a good idea to check on the battery at least once every couple of weeks.

How does a battery charger maintainer work?

A battery maintainer will keep the battery charged AND extend its life. The great thing about battery maintainers is that they’re completely automatic, so you can leave them connected for long periods of time. They use a system that applies the appropriate amount of current based on the charge level of the battery.

How many amps should a battery maintainer be?

In order to charge your battery properly, your charger should be a minimum of 10% of the battery’s Ah rating. That means that a 100Ah battery requires a 10 amp charger.

Is a battery maintainer the same as a battery tender?

A Battery Tender® only turns on and charges the battery when the battery requires charging while a battery charger keeps charging the battery regardless of whether it requires it or not.

What is the difference between a battery tender and a trickle charger?

A trickle charger provides a constant current all the time. It does not know whether the battery is charged or discharged. A battery tender is smart. It will charge the battery only when it needs charged.

Can you leave a trickle charger on all the time?

A trickle charger can take up to 48 hours to charge a battery to full capacity as most only use one to two amps of power. You can even leave some smarter trickle chargers for days or weeks at a time, but it’s best to check with the manufacturer if this is suitable.

How big of a battery maintainer do I need?

As a rule of thumb, your charger should be 10% minimum of your battery’s Ah rating. This means a 100Ah battery would need a 10 Amp charger minimum. You can increase the battery charge amp if you need the battery to be charged at a faster timeframe.

What’s the difference between a trickle charger and a battery charger?

A trickle charger never was the “best way” but thankfully new generation of “battery chargers” is on the market, which do the job nicely. The difference between a trickle charger and a battery charger is that a trickle charger constantly applies a charge, whether the battery is fully charged or not.

Do battery tenders ruin batteries?

Battery chargers can overcharge and damage your battery. They are not intended to maintain a battery’s charge.

How often should I start my car to keep the battery charged in cold weather?

If you plan on not using your car for an extended period of time during snow season, it is important to turn it on every 6-12 hours and let it run idle for 15-20 minutes so that it reaches operating temperatures. This provides current to the battery, allowing it to regain its charge.

How long will a battery last on a maintainer?

By using a maintainer, you’ll be able to extend the life of your batteries; when properly maintained, batteries can last for more than five years. Without proper maintenance, however, batteries may fail in less than two years.