battery tender for storage

Originally Posted by phrider

Dang! Amazon now wants $115 for the CTEK 7002.

Looks like one at Amazon at $89.95.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Yes, but Amazon is out of stock on the $89.95 CTEK 7002's.

I have no regrets over getting the one from etoolnet.com that Ron pointed me to a year ago.

Originally Posted by phrider

Yes, but Amazon is out of stock on the $89.95 CTEK 7002's.

I have no regrets over getting the one from etoolnet.com that Ron pointed me to a year ago.

The etoolnet.com link goes to a page which says the site is FOR SALE now so I guess we need another source....

Maybe this one?

http://www.streetsideauto.com/p/c-te...GoogleShopping

Originally Posted by phrider

Yes, but Amazon is out of stock on the $89.95 CTEK 7002's.

I have no regrets over getting the one from etoolnet.com that Ron pointed me to a year ago.

I just got a CTEK 3300 from Bavarian Autosport in Portsmouth for $59.95. Looks like a nice little unit!

Settings for car, motorcycle and winter battery storage.

I think I will get a 7002 sometime in the future. Looks like a very nice charger with added options.

I just thought I'd throw my 2 cents worth into the fray. I've used battery tenders in the past on bikes, boats, and cars and it took me a while and several dead batteries to determine that leaving the tenders on was cooking the water out of the batteries and ruining them. I have since change my routine to only hooking them up every couple of months and unplugging them when the light turns green. No more toasted batteries.

I'm new here. I have a Z3 with a trunk leak at the 3rd brake light. I have a new gasket, but alas, I am trouble finding an allen wrench to fit the 2 mounting screws. Has anyone run into this and do you know the correct tool for removing the 3rd brake light?

leaving the tenders on was cooking the water out of the batteries

What brand of battery tender(s) were you using? The newer ones with advanced electronics shouldn't be doing that ... I've used the CTEK 3300 on a motorcycle battery during the winters (continually connected for six months at a time) for a couple of years now, and it's a pretty small battery - I've never had a problem with it boiling out the electrolyte.

I should have specified that I use the $30 Battery Tender brand tenders. I would guess that some of the more expensive versions have features that prevent them from ruining the battery. I still have good luck with my $30 but I just don't leave them connected all the time.

Originally Posted by madurodave

I just got a CTEK 3300 from Bavarian Autosport in Portsmouth for $59.95. Looks like a nice little unit!

Settings for car, motorcycle and winter battery storage.

I think I will get a 7002 sometime in the future. Looks like a very nice charger with added options.

FYI...The CTEK 3300 actually worked better than the 7002, at least for me. I got the 7002 initially as it had more features than the 3300, but the 7002 would not charge up my X5 correctly. After some additional research, it appears that other 7002 owners ran into the same issues as I did. I ended up returning the 7002 and exchanged it for the 3300. Had the 3300 for a couple of years now and it does do a pretty good job on both the X5 and Z4MC.

FWIW I used a "battery tender jr" for three months on my Z then another month on a Venza. Worked great with no problems. Came with hard wire(Z) and clip connections(Venza).


08 3.0si Rdstr TrplBlk

Originally Posted by dkl

FYI...The CTEK 3300 actually worked better than the 7002, at least for me. I got the 7002 initially as it had more features than the 3300, but the 7002 would not charge up my X5 correctly. After some additional research, it appears that other 7002 owners ran into the same issues as I did. I ended up returning the 7002 and exchanged it for the 3300. Had the 3300 for a couple of years now and it does do a pretty good job on both the X5 and Z4MC.

Do you have AGM batteries on your cars?

Does the 3300 have a AGM option?

When you had the 7002 did you use the AGM option assuming you have the AGM batteries?

Does the 3300 have a AGM option?

Yes, it does.

3300 Manual

I've used a Battery Tender Plus for more than a decade on my Harleys and tractor. Whenever either were parked, the tender was plugged in. I've never had a problem with either. The Harley has 7 years and counting on the original battery; the tractor is on its 4th year.

I have another BT Plus for the Z3 that will get used over the winter, once I figure out how best to hook it up (may need an extension cable).

JB

Originally Posted by WestCDA

Yes, it does.

3300 Manual

No reconditoion.

On the 7002 I was wondering if dkl used the recondition for the AGM.
Recondition CTEK AGM is higher than the BMW max. of 14.8 volts.

Originally Posted by Ron Stygar

No reconditoion.

On the 7002 I was wondering if dkl used the recondition for the AGM.
Recondition CTEK AGM is higher than the BMW max. of 14.8 volts.

The X5 does not have AGM and I was just using the regular "car" charging and maintaining mode on the 7002 (did not even tried the recondition mode as there wasn't anything wrong with my battery). What happened was that the 7002 was cycling through various charging stages normally as it should during the initial charging cycle. When the battery appears to be full, the 7002 should go into maintaining/floating mode, but instead, it just continuously cycle through the entire charging cycle repeatedly without going into the "maintain/float" state.

The replacement 3300 unit is working correctly on both the X5 and Z4MC (cycles through various charging states and then into maintaining mode when the battery is fully charged as it should).

I've used the CTEK 7002 (in normal mode) on a dead GMC truck battery, weak Braille AGM and keep it on the 328iT garage queen during the week. Great product and no complaints.

I have been using Battery Tenders on my Z3 and motorcycle for years at times for very extended periods of time. No problems.

This is the first time I've heard of a battery tender. If I have a good battery and I drive my car every day, what would be the benefit?

Thanks!
Laura

If I have a good battery and I drive my car every day, what would be the benefit?

None - when regularly used, the car's alternator ensures that the battery is charged. The battery tender/minder is used when the car will be stored for an extended period of time, such as over the winter in a climate like ours. It monitors and maintains the battery charge, as it would otherwise slowly discharge over time. Allowing the battery to discharge that much can damage or severely reduce it's useful life.

Originally Posted by LauraM

This is the first time I've heard of a battery tender. If I have a good battery and I drive my car every day, what would be the benefit?

Potentially no, or very little, benefit . . . but many people who drive their car everyday do not drive far enough and fast enough to keep their battery fully charged all the time. Driving five miles in stop and go traffic does not fully recharge the battery. I think it is generally understood that a lead-acid battery (including AGM) will last longer if you keep them as fully charged as possible.

You can buy a Battery Tender Plus from Competition Accessories (mail order motorcycle parts) for about $40 or so. It comes with a ring terminal extension (to permanently connect to your battery terminals) and an alligator clip extension. You can then easily plug the Battery Tender in once a week and your battery will be kept fully charged. A new battery for your BMW is probably more than $100 (the last Sears Diehard for my Z3 was about $130). Seems like cheap "insurance".

Yeah, my BMW battery was $130 after BMWCCA discount.

I have left Battery tender brand deviceson vehicles for years, and not had any issues.

Same with the Battery Minder brand unit on my generator. That one has been in plce for at least 5 years.

Originally Posted by Ron Stygar

Mines on the floor too. It drags on the floor when I'm backing out and it reminds me to undo the connection.

On ignition position two with the AE it was drawing 1.7 ampere if I remember right. ~200 watts.

I hope it's not 200W !! 1.7A @ 13ish Volts = ~25W and that's when the battery is charging. When it's on top-up (float mode) it's way lower.

BTW, I've used the Duracell BT on my motorcycle for over a year. Gonna use the same one on my Z4. 2A max charge. Since it's trickle charge through the cigar lighter socket I don't think I'll need much more. Will keep you posted.

And, yes, I still LOVE my Z4. :-)