Suggestion for a battery tender

[Sebulba]

Hello all,

We will be sitting for about 4 months and am wondering about suggestions for a battery tender for the bus batteries.

Also, would it be advisable to get 2 battery tenders (12 volt), one for each battery?

Thanks

Seb

[richard5933]

My 24v bus battery bank (two 12v 8D batteries in series) has been on a Progressive Dynamics 24v converter/charger for years. This is a true multi-state unit which will keep the batteries well.

I've always been leery of 'battery tenders' as they are often not smart systems and only have one, constant voltage output.

This is the unit I have: https://www.progressivedyn.com/specialty/pd9240-24a-volt-power-converterbattery-charger/

[chessie4905]

Battery tenders may not be able maintain large batteries or ones that are older condition. Automatic smart charger?

[Sebulba]

My 24v bus battery bank (two 12v 8D batteries in series) has been on a Progressive Dynamics 24v converter/charger for years. This is a true multi-state unit which will keep the batteries well.

I've always been leery of 'battery tenders' as they are often not smart systems and only have one, constant voltage output.

This is the unit I have: https://www.progressivedyn.com/specialty/pd9240-24a-volt-power-converterbattery-charger/

Thank you, I will look into that.

Seb

[Sebulba]

Battery tenders may not be able maintain large batteries or ones that are older condition. Automatic smart charger?

Maybe.  I do have a 10 amp 12 volt charger?

Seb

[Van]

Heres ours
https://www.impactbattery.com/24-volt-40-amp-on-board-charger-quick-charge.html

[Sebulba]

Heres ours
https://www.impactbattery.com/24-volt-40-amp-on-board-charger-quick-charge.html

That looks like a nice unit.  Maybe a little more than I am looking for right now.

Thanks

Seb

[buswarrior]

I like the Noco Genius chargers.

Smart, reasonable price.

I watched the old 3/4 amp one work over a bad car battery. Multimeter on it to watch the voltage go up and down over 3 days, the circuitry had decided it needed equalization. Kissed 15 volts, voltage dropped to normal tending, and got the steady green light.

Battery returned to service.

For the coach, if it is "in storage" and not fully equipped electrically yet,  a 12 volt smart tender on each battery solves/prevents/defends against whatever evils pairing them up might cause/contribute/continue.

And cost effective, initially and later they can be used on all the rest of your 12 volt equipment

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[Sebulba]

I like the Noco Genius chargers.

Smart, reasonable price.

I watched the old 3/4 amp one work over a bad car battery. Multimeter on it to watch the voltage go up and down over 3 days, the circuitry had decided it needed equalization. Kissed 15 volts, voltage dropped to normal tending, and got the steady green light.

Battery returned to service.

For the coach, if it is "in storage" and not fully equipped electrically yet,  a 12 volt smart tender on each battery solves/prevents/defends against whatever evils pairing them up might cause/contribute/continue.

And cost effective, initially and later they can be used on all the rest of your 12 volt equipment

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

Great!  That's more like what I'm looking for now. 

Thanks for your input.

Seb

[Sebulba]

I like the Noco Genius chargers.

Smart, reasonable price.

I watched the old 3/4 amp one work over a bad car battery. Multimeter on it to watch the voltage go up and down over 3 days, the circuitry had decided it needed equalization. Kissed 15 volts, voltage dropped to normal tending, and got the steady green light.

Battery returned to service.

For the coach, if it is "in storage" and not fully equipped electrically yet,  a 12 volt smart tender on each battery solves/prevents/defends against whatever evils pairing them up might cause/contribute/continue.

And cost effective, initially and later they can be used on all the rest of your 12 volt equipment

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

Let me ask, to tend the batteries, how many amps do you think is enough?

Thanks

Sen

[richard5933]

If you are going through the effort to install a 'tender', why not just install something robust enough to actually charge them when you need?

[windtrader]

I don't see using a regular charger than is connected to a timer. Seems like x minutes every x days would do just fine. Not all that scientific but if just trying to keep the battery tickled and in the voltage range, seems like nearly zero cost if a charger is lying around.

[Sebulba]

If you are going through the effort to install a 'tender', why not just install something robust enough to actually charge them when you need?

That is worth considering. 

Sen

[Sebulba]

I don't see using a regular charger than is connected to a timer. Seems like x minutes every x days would do just fine. Not all that scientific but if just trying to keep the battery tickled and in the voltage range, seems like nearly zero cost if a charger is lying around.

I do have a good 12 volt charger, but that would only do one battery.

The ones that BusWarrior mentioned had double charger options.  I assume that they would equalize and do a good job of maintaining.

Seb

[luvrbus]

Charge the batteries to full charge disconnet the cable and you will fine for 4 months with no draw from the batteries, I am not a big fan of battery maintainers on lead acid batteries all they do is keep the voltage up .I replaced a NAPA G-27 battery the green lights said it was ok lol it wouldn't even start a lawn mower if you tried much less the generator