BatteryTender

[bajarick60]

Hi got a question, I have a Porsche battery tender that plugs into the cigarette lighter of my Porsche can this be used with my 2004 XLR ?
Thanks Rick.

 

[rexster314]

Not so sure when the RAP turns off both power outlets in the XLR. I'd say no. But I don't use any battery tender at all after upgrading the battery to an Odyssey

 

[ccclarke]

When owners mention Battery Tenders, (or Battery Minders) they're referencing a specific product, not a generic battery charger. There are a number of reasons why either of these two products are ideal for the XLR over a regular charger, and their websites describe the details.

The Battery Tender connects directly to the XLR's battery terminals.

CCC

 

[Army Al]

When owners mention Battery Tenders, (or Battery Minders) they're referencing a specific product, not a generic battery charger. There are a number of reasons why either of these two products are ideal for the XLR over a regular charger, and their websites describe the details.

The Battery Tender connects directly to the XLR's battery terminals.

CCC

I have been using a regular battery charger for over 12 months now. Why would a tender or minder be better?

 

[rexster314]

I have been using a regular battery charger for over 12 months now. Why would a tender or minder be better?

Get an Optima or Odyssey battery and you won't have to worry about any tenders or chargers. Unless of course you go months without driving the XLR

 

[lextoy]

Al,
it depends if your charger is automatic, do you leave it on all the time ?
or just clip it on once a month for a few hours.
tender or minder specifically go into a float mode which only charges as necessary.
some regular chargers or trickle chargers will keep charging ALL the time,
which once the battery is full isnt necessary and can heat up the battery
evaporating off the water. and killing the battery.
Rex
i also have an odyssey, but it does still need to be maintained once a week unless you drive it alot.
letting it discharge and sit at low voltage will cause premature battery failure. even if its an AGM.
rick,
i do not know if either of the cigarette lighter ports stays active for very long on the XLR.
i know the one under the armrest stays on after i shut the car off, but i never checked for how long.
if it shuts off after 20 min, then the charger would do no good there.
i recall the porsche tender is a rebadged CTEK. a good quality charger, so no issue in using it, just verify its got permanent continuity to the battery while the car is off.
or just get an adapter and wire directly to the battery. you can thread the wire up to the base of the windshield very easily on the passenger side of the car. my wire goes there and is capped off when not in use, cant even see it. then i dont have to open a door, or the hood, to hook up the charger...
the extra cord adapter is like 10 bux.
ill take some pics next time i get the car out. its been rainy here for 2 weeks!!!

 

[ccclarke]

I have been using a regular battery charger for over 12 months now. Why would a tender or minder be better?

Great question ArmyAl:

Lead-acid batteries are chemical reaction chambers. The area of the lead plates exposed to the chemical reaction in large part, determines the battery charge capacity. Reduce the area, and the battery is diminished. Lead is deposited in a sponge-like pattern to increase plate surface area. When batteries are discharged, microscopic amounts of sulphur crystals build up on the plates and reduces the area. This is why once a battery is fully discharged, it's often never the same if it remains in that state for any appreciable length of time.

The lead in a battery is mechanically active. When a battery discharges, the plates expand slightly. Over time bits of lead shed off due to expansion and contraction of the plates during charge-discharge cycles. This shedding accelerates when sulphites bind to the plates. Over time, if enough lead accumulates on the bottom of the battery case, soft shorts can form. These differ from a hard short in that the battery can be re-charged, but won't hold a charge for long. At that point, the battery needs to be replaced.

These units, (Battery Tender and Battery Minder) are microprocessor-controlled and pulse the plates after fully charging in a maintenance mode, minimizing sulphation. On a microscopic level, these pulses can knock off the sulphur before it fully binds to the lead plates. Conventional battery chargers apply voltage to a battery (after it's been charged) if they sense the battery voltage level going down down over time.

I used to travel about nine months a year and as many of you have found out, a parked XLR can drain a battery in two or three weeks if not kept on a charger. I needed something to not only charge, but to protect the battery and discovered the Battery Tender.

Later, the car was stored for over a year with a Battery Tender and the battery was like new. It lasted another three years under daily driver use.

Sulphation is a cumulative problem which irrevocobly ruins a battery over time.

This is why you'll see many-a-post where the owner says, "I found my battery dead and put it on a charger, but it keeps dying." Once cells are suphated, it's too late, they're history, useless, nada, zip, unreliable. The only way to keep them from dying a slow, lingering death is to prevent plate corrosion. These units do a great job for those of us who store batteries for extended periods of time during winter periods.

CCC

 

[rexster314]

Al,

Rex
i also have an odyssey, but it does still need to be maintained once a week unless you drive it alot.
letting it discharge and sit at low voltage will cause premature battery failure. even if its an AGM.

ill take some pics next time i get the car out. its been rainy here for 2 weeks!!!

Our XLR gets out several times a week at least, not a daily driver but enough for us to keep the battery up

 

[pure zen]

Why chance over-charging,,,,,

I agree with lextoy and CC's statements,,,,,, I've been using four Battery Tender PLUS models for over 10 years now, with no battery problems. Automatic shut-off after reaching full charge status is critical to prolonging battery life I've found.

 

[rnrt99]

I agree with lextoy and CC's statements,,,,,, I've been using four Battery Tender PLUS models for over 10 years now, with no battery problems. Automatic shut-off after reaching full charge status is critical to prolonging battery life I've found.

I just bought a battery tender and I was just wondering if you have to or need to disconnect the battery from the car before charging ? Im assuming it wont hurt anything still connected to the car ?

 

[ccclarke]

Leaving the Battery Tender connected to the battery while connected to the car is fine. It's preferred, because you won't lose any of your programmable settings.

CC

 

[rnrt99]

Leaving the Battery Tender connected to the battery while connected to the car is fine. It's preferred, because you won't lose any of your programmable settings.

CC

Thats what I was hoping you'd say , thanks