[Pete S]

So when I woke up and it was it was 36 degrees (about 1 degree C) out I started to think that I would be using my SL less and less with the approaching winter. Although I don't comment on many threads, I have been reading most threads to gain some knowledge. It seems that even a low battery can cause problems in the SL so I decided to purchase a battery tender for the extended times I will not be driving the SL.

Just wondering what the take on the battery tenders are here in the forum. If you need one have you purchased, plan on purchasing or do you simply unplug one of the battery terminals?

 

[bayhas]

Winterize the car, and unplug the battery...

ultimately, if you can take the battery out, and store it indoor in controlled temp enviroment, that would be best.

At the beginning of next season, it's not a bad idea to take the battery to autozone and charge it (for free) before reinstalling it...

 

[tdoriot]

Keeping batteries alive in garage queens is a bitch. Just the small amount of draw the electronics seem to suck out of the battery will kill one quicker than you think. I have a 1976 Rockwell Comamnder that sits in the hanger from November to March. The fricking little lawnmower battery ends up costing nearly $ 300 bucks. When I put a new one summer before this, I got the hot idea of using a battery tender. I bought that brand, put the quick connect leads on the battery and left it. It seemed to work. At a point I noticed acid on the floor. I checked the voltage and it was 15 volts. It should be 13.5. The aviation mechanic said those are nothing but trouble.
I emailed their technical line. No response. Since I hate trying to start an airplane with a low or dead battery, I decided to put a simple timer on the cord. After a bit of testing I had the thing come on about 3 hours a day. Seemed to work. Jimmy rigged, but it works.
I need to get one for the 600, but will watch it like the other. Boiling a battery in a trunk for 6 Months would be much worse than Glen Close boiling your bunny ! ( Fatal attraction )

 

[Pete S]

LOL @ tdoriot!

@bayhas, by winterize I'm guessing you mean get fresh fluids in the car which I did a change on everything (except trans) when I ourchased the car so I should be fine there. The car will be stored here at home and I have a feeling that although I won't drive it much (especially if we get the snow they are predicting) I will probably still sit in it with gloves and earmuffs and rev the V8 once every 2 weeks or so

 

[DALE.M]

4 years on a battery tender and have had no issues, November til April, I look at it for the first few days in the fall to ensure it is normal and cycling on and off. At 2 amps its going to take a long time to boil a battery, don't confuse a maintainer with a trickle charger which may cause damage if left on too long..

 

[Poundy]

I think the CTek are the best by far, they desulphurize and regenerate if required. They trickle up to about 13v and then cut out. When the battery drops below about 12.89v it starts again. They have safety cut outs so the battery cannot overcharge. There is a LED accessory lead available that fits to the terminal with a quick connect fitting for the charger. This lead is mounted in my trunk and depending on battery condition flashes Green, Amber or Red. If your car is a weekender or short tripper this enables you to just lift the trunk lid to see if you need to charge as well as being ideal for winter storage use.
Iv'e just upgraded my old one to a MXS 5.0 $95 delivered. Comes with a 5yr warranty :thumbsup:

I think the electronics on these cars appreciate a battery being in good state of charge. I'm not keen on disconnecting unless I have too

 

[Pete S]

I purchased this one a Battery Tender Jr. which is rated at 0.75A. I actually purchased it through Amazon for $25. I wasn't looking for something to fully charge a battery if it were to go dead more to trickle charge to keep a well maintained battery.

Battery Tender® Junior 12V @ 0.75A - Automotive - Products - Batterytender.com

 

[SRHsl600]

I am a fan of the modern C-Tek, but have lessons learned from some old systems!;(
I have used several systems during the past decade. Some did not help without supervision. I do not trust any even though the last several by C Tek have been flawless for 3 years.
Vehicle battery is a cost but try aviation! ( that is sticker shock worthy of a MB dealer )
I start and drive or fly regularly but sometimes it is 30 plus days. I have several single units and two multiply ( up to four at a time ) MB and Jag get a treatment about once a month. ( plug in and operate at car charge for 2-4 days so that the cycle goes 6-10 times ) Older ( 1937-1977) cars are hooked up a day when they may be used, but they are not driven regularly.
The Cessna, Saratoga, and Mooney get a hook up after each flight during the cold months ( Dec-Feb.) The aircraft has heat to the block before we travel.

 

[tdoriot]

I am a fan of the modern C-Tek, but have lessons learned from some old systems!;(
I have used several systems during the past decade. Some did not help without supervision. I do not trust any even though the last several by C Tek have been flawless for 3 years.
Vehicle battery is a cost but try aviation! ( that is sticker shock worthy of a MB dealer )
I start and drive or fly regularly but sometimes it is 30 plus days. I have several single units and two multiply ( up to four at a time ) MB and Jag get a treatment about once a month. ( plug in and operate at car charge for 2-4 days so that the cycle goes 6-10 times ) Older ( 1937-1977) cars are hooked up a day when they may be used, but they are not driven regularly.
The Cessna, Saratoga, and Mooney get a hook up after each flight during the cold months ( Dec-Feb.) The aircraft has heat to the block before we travel.

Thanks for the info ! I'll have to check that out. The Battery Tender sales folks swore that the things can't overcharge. But the acid on the floor and the 15 volt plus digital voltmeter doesn't lie ! As with any electronic device perhaps it is defective. What really cheesed me was the lack of response from their tech department. And yes it has a very low current supply, but the battery was pretty damn warm and dripping acid !
Here near Vancouver Washington, the weather goes to hell (like the past 2 days !) and seems to stay pretty nasty till March. Of course there are beautiful days, but usually not at the departure point, destination and return for both. Being a VFR pilot, that makes for some unplanned diversions and stays. So the flying seems to go on the back burner during the late fall and winter. Nice fleet of toys you have ! Talk about negative cash flow huh ?

 

[RKH]

Check with boating supply stores. Pleasure boats are usually not used often, and use shore power to maintain the batteries.

 

[Steve6]

So when I woke up and it was it was 36 degrees (about 1 degree C) out I started to think that I would be using my SL less and less with the approaching winter. Although I don't comment on many threads, I have been reading most threads to gain some knowledge. It seems that even a low battery can cause problems in the SL so I decided to purchase a battery tender for the extended times I will not be driving the SL.

Just wondering what the take on the battery tenders are here in the forum. If you need one have you purchased, plan on purchasing or do you simply unplug one of the battery terminals?

I've been using an Accumate battery tender here in UK for the last 2 years with no downside whatsoever. I made a short loom from the battery terminals to a small plug just inside the boot, sorry, make that the trunk . It takes 5 seconds to connect and keeps the battery topped up for months if necessary with no damage to the electronics. Ctek also have good reputation here. Either is available for about £40 / $60, probably the best money you'll ever spend on your SL imho. Bear in mind you should start with a healthy battery charged off the car by the usual means and re-connected in accordance with the manual, THEN the battery tender will do it's job, it's too small to be used as a charger as such. Hope this helps. Regards Steve

 

[Silver Arrow007]

CTek are the best

 

[dflamer]

I've been using Deltran Battery Tenders for years on our collector cars. They have worked great on wet cell, AGM, and gel cell batteries.

I have been using replicated vintage batteries in these cars and they have never had to be replaced while being maintained with the Battery Tenders

 

[826363]

Battery Tender / Winterizing for storage

Like others here I have a C-tek (they are also resold by Porsche) that I have used for many years and cars. (Cigar lighter connection) It works great, no issue and keeps car ready for use for when I have that nice day to drive it when I take car out of storage or hibernation.

If you live in an area of cold weather where you will leave car offline for several months, in addition to this, I would recommend a list of additional items to also include.



1.Change Oil and filter (cuts down on the acid residuals in crankcase)
2.Top off Tank w Best fuel ,if inclined add some fuel saver (StaBil or similar) before filling to mix it up and get in line before storing.
3.Pump tires up additional 5-8 lbs (helps with flat spotting, plus they usually lose 1-2 pounds a month just sitting)
4.Check the freeze point of Coolant if you haven't change it recently.
5.Wash and detail the car
6.Place some desiccant under the seats or on some tin or plastic plates on the floor
7.Plug in battery maintainer
8.Unless your garage floor is sealed w epoxy or paint , lay down a plastic sheet and park the car on it, some people put down a half dozen moth balls on the plastic to keep mice and other vermin away from the area.
9.Cover the car , if you don't have a legit indoor car cover, get a queen or king fitted sheet (find at local thrift or TJ MAxx) if you don't that size

10.Check on it every 3-4 weeks until spring to make sure battery is tended( on mine a little red light comes on when charging is taking place )

Don't be tempted to pull it out , unless you want to perform this again.

I collected this from many peoples expirences, on many lists over the years as I have always stored my "best" car for winter. It's not that I'm against driving it in the winter, it's that i know my chances of something happening (accident, sliding off road, corrosion (Ohio salts in winter ) are greater)

Besides , we have a 4matic for that fun.

Good luck,
Mike

 

[cec96sl500]

I have used the full size Battery Tender for a few years and think it's great. Plug it in and leave it alone, starts like a new battery every time. I don't have the patience to take it apart like Bayhas lol.

There are several threads here related to this and have pics and details on hard wiring, or permanent wiring to the battery so you don't have to take that area apart. Mine is connected to the terminals with the plug loose in the trunk (boot for my British friends, don't want to confuse you ). Others have placed the plug on the outside through the lower air vents and waterproofed the connector so they don't even have to open the trunk.

 

[bameyer]

I have used the full size Battery Tender for a few years and think it's great. Plug it in and leave it alone, starts like a new battery every time. I don't have the patience to take it apart like Bayhas lol.

There are several threads here related to this and have pics and details on hard wiring, or permanent wiring to the battery so you don't have to take that area apart. Mine is connected to the terminals with the plug loose in the trunk (boot for my British friends, don't want to confuse you ). Others have placed the plug on the outside through the lower air vents and waterproofed the connector so they don't even have to open the trunk.

CEC and 826323---I agree that the deltran Battery Tender works well and the C-Tek that I read about must do equally as well. I used the supplied connector with the Battery Tender to attach to the battery--routed the connector up thru the edge of the trunk mat and battery compartment. I bought a Battery Tender extension cord (25 ft. if I recall) and that lets the charging unit to be mounted on a workbench, or a dedicated shelf of its own. I tried a Wal-Mart cheapie charger on our 65 Mustang a few years ago and it cooked the battery---so I learned---go for the Deltran and that has worked flawlessly.

82623---you live fairly near to me and I appreciate the info on storing our cars for these cold winters and I bet CEC does as well!

Thanks....Regards to you both..........BAMeyer

 

[cec96sl500]

...I used the supplied connector with the Battery Tender to attach to the battery--routed the connector up thru the edge of the trunk mat and battery compartment. I bought a Battery Tender extension cord (25 ft. if I recall) and that lets the charging unit to be mounted on a workbench, or a dedicated shelf of its own....

82623---you live fairly near to me and I appreciate the info on storing our cars for these cold winters and I bet CEC does as well!

Thanks....Regards to you both..........BAMeyer

That's exactly what I did with my connectors, works great.

 

[RedLiner]

Both of my my R129s are always plugged into a 'Ring Smart Battery Charger RSC8'.
If any car is left for a long period, it will always start first time :thumbsup:

 

[Pete S]

Thanks for all the opinions guys, many tips that I will be using!

 

[gqmagic]

I use a diehard battery charger set at 2 amps