winter and battery tender
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
2001 e320 4matic
winter and battery tender
As winter approaches here in northern NH and the CLK55 will be in hibernation I am in need of a battery tender.
Wow, so many choices. I have my eye on brand name battery tender plus 1.25 amp smart charger, any comments
on if this is reliable unit? The car is in my non-heated garage. Also, do most keep the battery in the car.
Recommended to turn it over and let the car run for a bit every so often; like monthly?
Thanks for advise/insight.
Wow, so many choices. I have my eye on brand name battery tender plus 1.25 amp smart charger, any comments
on if this is reliable unit? The car is in my non-heated garage. Also, do most keep the battery in the car.
Recommended to turn it over and let the car run for a bit every so often; like monthly?
Thanks for advise/insight.
Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 95
Likes: 8
2008 CLK 550 2012 C300
Hey,
I normally take the clk off the road in November and keep in an unheated garage until April/May. I do have a wood stove that helps warm things if I’m working out there. I use a batter tender but only connect it now and then. I don’t leave it connected 24/7. I had my eye on a solar charger. Leave the battery in the car. No problems with that or tire flat spots. Starting now and again does nothing but put tons of condensate in the exhaust. If you can’t get it up to real running temperature with good hot oil you’re doing no good. Clean it. Cover it. Then go visit the car now and again.
zill.
I normally take the clk off the road in November and keep in an unheated garage until April/May. I do have a wood stove that helps warm things if I’m working out there. I use a batter tender but only connect it now and then. I don’t leave it connected 24/7. I had my eye on a solar charger. Leave the battery in the car. No problems with that or tire flat spots. Starting now and again does nothing but put tons of condensate in the exhaust. If you can’t get it up to real running temperature with good hot oil you’re doing no good. Clean it. Cover it. Then go visit the car now and again.
zill.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 49
Likes: 2
From: Near Toronto, ON Canada
2005 CLK500 Cabriolet
Last winter I kept the CLK in the garage attached to my house (though otherwise unheated).
I left a battery tender on the battery the entire time. Battery left in car.
As per the other poster, I never start it once stored. It's dormant from Nov 1 to Easter here in Canada.
This year I will be leaving the car in the underground of my Mom's condo. I will pull the battery and leave it on the tender at my house.
I left a battery tender on the battery the entire time. Battery left in car.
As per the other poster, I never start it once stored. It's dormant from Nov 1 to Easter here in Canada.
This year I will be leaving the car in the underground of my Mom's condo. I will pull the battery and leave it on the tender at my house.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 916
Likes: 134
From: NOVA/DC
20' RCF, 18' NX, 09' E350, 07' Solara, 05' STi, 01' Ranger
I have Battery Tender Jr's attached to every vehicle in the garage. I think it's only 750mA. I also have the normal Battery tender plus which is rated at the 1.25amps. Both will charge and keep the battery topped off zero problems. The battery tender jr's just take longer, but who cares, it's in the garage not being driven.
I keep the batteries in the vehicles and simply attach the ring terminal battery tender to the terminals then plug it in. I left my STi at my friends garage for 5 months and didn't turn it on or start it. Just make sure if you aren't turning the vehicle on to check things like oil/coolant before you start it up just to make sure it's not low. In all reality you'd want to drive the vehicle and get it up to temp rather than just starting it and letting it idle. You want the moisture to burn off and not sit, which is what it would do. Also getting your oil up to temp so it burns off any moisture that happens to be there. Plus driving it helps to prevent flat spots on the tires.
I like the battery tender JR's because it's an all in one thing, where you just plug it into the wall. The normal battery tender plus sits on the floor and has the plug for the wall, and the plug for the car. It's kind of annoying to me because I want stuff off the floor so I don't trip on it.
Just like mentioned above make sure you or your significant other knows to unplug the vehicle. My wife decided she wanted to take the car out one day and just drove out of the garage without unplugging anything. Ripped the plug out of the damn wall and destroyed the battery tender. Her response was "I heard a noise, but didn't think anything of it..." ...smh
-Nigel
I keep the batteries in the vehicles and simply attach the ring terminal battery tender to the terminals then plug it in. I left my STi at my friends garage for 5 months and didn't turn it on or start it. Just make sure if you aren't turning the vehicle on to check things like oil/coolant before you start it up just to make sure it's not low. In all reality you'd want to drive the vehicle and get it up to temp rather than just starting it and letting it idle. You want the moisture to burn off and not sit, which is what it would do. Also getting your oil up to temp so it burns off any moisture that happens to be there. Plus driving it helps to prevent flat spots on the tires.
I like the battery tender JR's because it's an all in one thing, where you just plug it into the wall. The normal battery tender plus sits on the floor and has the plug for the wall, and the plug for the car. It's kind of annoying to me because I want stuff off the floor so I don't trip on it.
Just like mentioned above make sure you or your significant other knows to unplug the vehicle. My wife decided she wanted to take the car out one day and just drove out of the garage without unplugging anything. Ripped the plug out of the damn wall and destroyed the battery tender. Her response was "I heard a noise, but didn't think anything of it..." ...smh
-Nigel
