Comparison of the best battery maintainers
| Make | Model | Amperage | Price | |
| Best battery maintainer overall | Battery Tender | Plus | 1.25 | $58 |
| Best battery maintainer for the price | Battery Tender | Junior | 0.75 | $46 |
| Best battery maintainer based on amp ran ... | Schumacher | SC1355 | 1.5 | $33 |
| Best multibank battery maintainer | Battery Tender | 4-Bank | 1.25 | $251 |
Full Answer
What is a battery maintainer for a car battery?
Battery maintainers are slow-working chargers that let you replenish the regular discharge that affects car batteries -- particularly when the vehicles aren't in use.
Do you need a battery maintainer if you have a charger?
But if you regularly use a battery maintainer, you'll eliminate the need for a charger -- along with the inconvenience of a dead battery. Battery maintainers are slow-working chargers that let you replenish the regular discharge that affects car batteries -- particularly when the vehicles aren't in use.
What is the best battery maintainer for 12 volt batteries?
The first is our Schumacher Battery Maintainer, which is the perfect solution for someone looking to maintain 12-volt batteries. At 8/10 of an amp, it’ll provide a steady current for overnight battery charging OR maintenance.
What is the best multibank battery maintainer?
While there are two-bank battery maintainers and chargers that allow users to charge up two batteries at once, our pick for the best multibank maintainer is the Battery Tender 4-Bank, which has four ports that allow just as many vehicles' batteries to be kept full at the same time.
Is a battery maintainer a good idea?
Since maintainers are used for maintenance during periods when cars aren't going to be used, time isn't of the essence when charging. This means that a maintainer can give a battery a "low and slow" charge, which is better for its health than a faster charge or a jump.
How long can you leave a battery maintainer on?
Qualification A) The Battery Tender® Plus should be left on the new battery for a minimum of 24 hours on float, in addition to whatever amount of time it takes for the charger to get to the float stage.
Does a battery maintainer charge?
The battery maintainer sends a trickle charge to your battery and can sense when it's fully charged. At this point, it shuts off to avoid overcharging the battery, making it perfect to use when your batteries will be sitting for awhile without any use.
When should you use a battery maintainer?
A battery maintainer is used to keep a battery fully charged when the battery is not going to be used for days, weeks or months at a time. This prevents the battery from dying or going bad. Just leave the battery maintainer hooked up to the battery and the device will keep the battery charged.
How do I choose a battery maintainer?
1:093:32How To Choose The Right Battery Maintainer / Charger for your Car or ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you're running smaller life pro 4 batteries. Then the 8 amp intelligent battery charger is goodMoreIf you're running smaller life pro 4 batteries. Then the 8 amp intelligent battery charger is good for charging at 2 amps. If you have a larger vehicle or a big life pro 4 battery.
Will a battery maintainer charge a dead battery?
If your car battery has died, you may be wondering if a battery maintainer can charge it. The answer is yes, a battery maintainer can charge a dead battery.
How do I keep my car battery from dying when not in use in winter?
Tricks for Keeping Your Car Battery Charged in Cold TemperaturesPark your car in the garage, away from the wind. ... Pause before turning on accessories. ... Juice it up! ... Keep your battery free of dirt and debris. ... Get your battery checked before winter hits.
Does a battery maintainer use a lot of electricity?
Minimal. We're talking 50 mA at 13.6 VDC during maintenance charge, so about 0.68W. In 1 hour, that's about 0.00068 kW-h. You figure $0.11 per kW-h, so about $0.054 in a month for 24/7 operation.
Do I need a battery maintainer for new battery?
Many exotic and high-end new cars even come with some kind of battery maintenance device, because those manufacturers have acknowledged the level of electrical sophistication in their vehicles has advanced so far, that regular use of a battery maintainer is now simply part of ownership of those vehicles.
Do battery tenders ruin batteries?
I've had 2 Battery Tenders go bad over the years and kill batteries. One was the regular Battery Tender and another was a Battery Tender Jr. Actually, the Battery Tender Jr. just stopped working - the regular Battery Tender actively killed batteries.
What is the difference between a trickle charger and a battery maintainer?
The main difference between a battery charger and a battery maintainer is that a charger applies a constant charge until it's done, which means it needs to be disconnected once the battery has been fully charged. This means battery chargers cannot be left connected and unattended for long periods of time.
How do you keep a car battery charged when not in use?
How to Keep a Car Battery Charged When Not in UseDisable Parasitic Drains. If you're planning on parking in your garage, you can disable your vehicle's security system. ... Use a Battery Maintainer. ... Disconnect the Negative Battery Cable. ... Remove the Battery Entirely.
Can I leave a battery charger on permanently?
Some trickle chargers can be left on a battery indefinitely. These would be used on a vehicle that is not used all the time or is stored away for the winter or the summer. A trickle charger built specifically for this is left on in the event that the vehicle is needed in an emergency or other unexpected situation.
Do battery tenders ruin batteries?
I've had 2 Battery Tenders go bad over the years and kill batteries. One was the regular Battery Tender and another was a Battery Tender Jr. Actually, the Battery Tender Jr. just stopped working - the regular Battery Tender actively killed batteries.
Is it OK to leave a battery on trickle charge?
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.
Is it OK to leave a trickle charger on all the time?
Trickle chargers are designed to be left on indefinitely, so there's no need to worry about losing your battery charge. However, it's still a good idea to check on the charger and your battery periodically to make sure everything is working properly.
Battery Maintainer Basics
So, what is a battery maintainer? This tool dispenses small increments of electricity to the battery over time while the car is inactive, ensuring that the battery always has enough charge to power the vehicle’s systems.
How to Choose a Battery Maintainer
It’s important to choose a battery maintainer that will provide the right amount of voltage for your car’s battery. Most cars use 12-volt batteries. If this is the case for your vehicle, you’ll need a 12-volt battery maintainer.
What does it mean when a car battery maintainer is smart?
This means that a maintainer can give a battery a "low and slow" charge, which is better for its health than a faster charge or a jump. Enlarge Image. Car battery maintainers are all "smart" and will stop delivering charge when a battery is full. Schumacher.
How many amps does a Schumacher battery maintainer use?
One of the things that makes this Schumacher battery maintainer notable, though, is that the amperage adjusts automatically in order to maintain your battery efficiently, up to a maximum of 1.5 amps. Like all car battery maintainers, it also shifts automatically into float charger mode when the job is done.
What is a battery tender?
Battery Tender. If you want to maintain multiple batteries at the same time, you'll need what's called a "multibank" maintainer. As the name suggests, these maintainers have multiple connections, each of which can be hooked up to a different battery in order to keep it full.
What is a smart charger?
A charger is designed to give a charge to a battery, filling it up from a depleted state (and, depending on the charger, maybe even bringing it back from the dead). A "smart" charger automatically shuts off when the battery is full, while a manual charger continues to deliver the same charge as long as it's plugged in.
What happens when you try to recharge a car battery?
When you try to recharge the battery, the sulfation blocks the charge from doing its job of recharging.". By contrast, car battery maintainers are all "smart" -- they have sensors that allow them to "know" when they're connected to the battery terminal of low batteries and full ones.
How many amps does a battery tender have?
When the Battery Tender Plus is maintaining a battery, it delivers a continuous 1.25 amps of power until the battery is full, and then it goes into "float" mode. This means it doesn't deliver any more electricity until the battery drops from full due to standard discharge.
What is a deep cycle battery?
A deep-cycle battery is a special kind of lead-acid battery (most cars use standard lead-acid batteries) which is meant to be deeply depleted during regular use. This means that deep-cycle batteries need to be charged up regularly or maintained consistently.
What is a battery maintainer?
Also known as float chargers, the job of a battery maintainer is to keep your car’s battery in good health if it isn’t being used for a long period of time.
What battery maintainer works with 12 volt?
Another option that works with both 6- and 12-volt batteries comes from LEICESTERCN. This battery maintainer can be used an automatic trickle charger and after it’s done monitoring the whole charging progress, it will automatically switch to float mode. This maintainer also provides visual feedback and diagnostic information, even in maintenance mode, so you can keep an eye on how your battery is doing.
What is a diehard battery charger?
Designed for both 6- and 12-volt batteries, this is a fully automatic, microprocessor-controlled 5-stage charging system with LED indicator lights to show progress. Safety features prevent overcharging and will shut off the device if your clamps are reversed. As a battery maintainer, Float Mode Monitoring will keep your car’s battery at a normal voltage to maintain the battery’s charge.
Why is it important to keep your car battery in good health?
Keeping your car’s battery in good health is extremely important. Not only does it save you money in the long run from not having to prematurely replace your battery , you won’t have to deal with the inconvenience of your battery unexpectedly dying. At first glance, battery maintainers may appear to be the same thing as a battery charger, ...
Is a 15AH battery charger waterproof?
If you’re using this as a battery maintainer, it’s best to make sure the battery capacity is higher than 15Ah. Constructed from high-quality ABS, this battery charger/maintainer is IP65 waterproof and safety features include short circuit, over voltage, overcharging, overload, and reverse polarity protection.
Does a battery maintainer stop charging?
As a maintainer, it’ll automatically stop charging once the battery is fully charged or topped off, switching to float mode monitoring to maintain the battery. Built-in circuit protection prevents overcharging, reverse polarity, or short circuit. This battery maintainer is ETL certified for performance and safety.
Why use a battery maintainer?
After all, leaving a battery charger connected to a car for months will overcharge the battery, but leaving a battery maintainer connected for that long is fine because charging will simply stop once the battery is full. This way, car owners can be sure their battery will be fully charged and ready to start the car even after spending months in storage.
Does a car need a battery?
Every type of vehicle needs power to start the engine and operate any electronics, and it derives that power from the battery. Just starting the car on a regular basis can keep the battery charged, so it should come as no surprise that a car that the owner rarely drives — such as a vehicle in storage — may end up with a battery problem.
Can you overcharge a battery with a charger?
This means it’s possible to overcharge the battery with a charger — which can result in damage to the battery. On the other hand, a battery maintainer can sense how much of a charge the battery needs, so it slowly sends a trickle charge to it over a period of several hours. It stops sending a charge once the battery is full.
Can you leave a battery charger on for months?
After all, leaving a battery charger connected to a car for months will overcharge the battery, but leaving a battery maintainer connected for that long is fine because charging will simply stop once the battery is full.
What Is the Difference Between Battery Chargers and Maintainers?
The main difference between a battery charger and a battery maintainer is that a charger applies a constant charge until it’s done, which means it needs to be disconnected once the battery has been fully charged.
Which Battery Maintainer Should I Buy?
The first is our Schumacher Battery Maintainer, which is the perfect solution for someone looking to maintain 12-volt batteries. At 8/10 of an amp, it’ll provide a steady current for overnight battery charging OR maintenance. Show More Show Less
What Batteries Do Maintainers Work With?
When it comes time to actually make a purchase, the first thing to determine is whether your battery is a 6 volt or 12-volt. Most vehicles run on 12-volt batteries. However, you can still find 6-volt systems and batteries in older cars, some motorcycles, lawn equipment, and golf carts.
When Should I Buy a Battery Maintainer?
When you store a vehicle for long stretches—like over the winter months—whether that’s a motorcycle, lawn mower, ATV or classic car, its battery can discharge through the electrical system. The longer a battery is discharged, the less likely it is to start the vehicle again when the time comes.
Additional Resources
The automotive repair work depicted in this series is performed under the direction of the manufacturer of the product featured. Prior to undertaking any of the demonstrated repairs on your vehicle, we suggest you consult with a certified mechanic or another professional who can adequately advise you of the proper repair or remedy required.
How Does Charging Work?
Most large batteries are built on lead-acid designs; each individual cell consists of lead plates submerged in an acidic solution, also known as the electrolyte. As batteries discharge, the lead plates react with the electrolyte, creating an electric current.
Why Do Batteries Need Long-term Charging?
Although the reaction between the lead and the electrolytes is accelerated when devices draw power from batteries, this reaction occurs even when you're not using your batteries. This is known as self-discharge; if your batteries are left uncharged for months, they may be dead when you need to use them.
Battery Maintainers
Fortunately, you can maintain your batteries safely with the use of specialized chargers called battery maintainers. Using one of these devices is ideal when your batteries will be unused for a lengthy amount of time.
What is the best battery tender?
Often considered to be one of the best battery tenders, the NOCO Genius G3500 not only looks pretty cool, but performs even better. As one of the most versatile models currently out there, you can count on this all-in-one to be used on cars, boats, trucks, RVs, and so much more.
Why does my car battery die?
A: This can be caused by a variety of different factors. One of the most common is extreme temperatures – no matter if it’s extreme heat or cold. Human error, like forgetting to turn off your headlights or interior light for long periods of time can also cause a dead battery. Frequent, short discharges can do the same, like frequent short trips or during the colder months when people aren’t driving their vehicles as often.
How many amps does a sonic battery have?
While it is 1.25 amps, it’s actually a great competitor for its 3-amp counterparts, charging just as quick or even quicker at times! The maintenance-free model is not only perfect for cars, but for ATVs, lawn mowers, motorcycles, and scooters (and all lead-acid, flooded, or sealed, maintenance-free batteries).
Can you use a battery if it's dead?
A: If you’re going to be storing your vehicles for long periods of time without use, then it’s a smart idea to use one, yes. There’s a common misconception that if your battery is dead, you can simply jumpstart it and all is well. While this may work occasionally, it’s not a good idea to rely on it.
Can you use a defective battery charger on a boat?
To ensure you’re not wasting your time, they also have a defective battery feature (on/off light) to let you know before you sit there for hours hoping it charges. While many use it as an emergency battery charger for their vehicles, you can also use it for the boat, motorcycle, electric tools, and more.