Who's Using a Trickle Charger / Battery Tender?

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,847
5,070
113
Eastham, Ma
The last one I had was one of those so called "cheapies". Lasted about 90 days and died. Tried a regular charger with the smart plug. This one from Costco I got on sale for $33. My only regret was not buying 2.
But even at it's regular $46 price it's a darn far cry better than anything else I have found. Yeah I could have bought the smaller version with IIRC 1 amp but everywhere I looked they cost more than I paid for this one. So what is the problem?
There are many maintenance chargers on the market.
Some are junk (Horrible Freight?)....some are fine
I have been using some for up to 15 years, and have never paid more than $30 for one.
Many bought (Battery Tender .75 amp) for $19.99.
I have only used Battery Tender, and battery Minder Brands, but just ordered 2 NOCO.
 
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lmichael

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota G2160
Apr 23, 2021
609
265
63
Rockford IL area
There are many maintenance chargers on the market.
Some are junk (Horrible Freight?)....some are fine
I have been using some for up to 15 years, and have never paid more than $30 for one.
Many bought (Battery Tender .75 amp) for $19.99.
I have only used Battery Tender, and battery Minder Brands, but just ordered 2 NOCO.
Would like to know where you can find an actual "Battery Tender" brand for that price. What I got at Costco is the absolute CHEAPEST actual BT brand of any amperage I have ever seen anywhere. And it works fantastic.
 

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,847
5,070
113
Eastham, Ma
Would like to know where you can find an actual "Battery Tender" brand for that price. What I got at Costco is the absolute CHEAPEST actual BT brand of any amperage I have ever seen anywhere. And it works fantastic.
$19.99 Battery Tender Jr's have been available for years.

Just checked, and apparently "Joe" has inflated the price to $44.99.
That is an insane price, for what it is!
I am not a particular disciple of the Battery Tender brand!

Makes the Amazon price of $29.47 for the 1 amp NOCO even more appealing!

I have a combined total of TWELVE Battery Tenders, Battery tender Jr's, and Battery Minders.
Now, I will also have 2 NOCO genius 1 amp chargers.

An amperage rating of more than 1 on these little maintenance chargers has no particularly useful purpose, if using one charger per battery.
 

lmichael

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota G2160
Apr 23, 2021
609
265
63
Rockford IL area
Back when I had my boat I used an onboard Minnkota battery minder. Worked like a champ. Stupid me I left it on the boat It was the kind you built on to the boat, but I could have just as easily built it on a tractor LOL
 

emac

Member

Equipment
L3600, ZD1211, ZG20, ZD331, KX-057-4, MX6000
Sep 13, 2021
34
14
8
SC
I have several Deltran battery tenders (1.25amp) and all my stuff hardwired. I have been using them for years, wait probably decades now! I have had good luck with the Deltran brand, especially the 1.25amp models.
 

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,847
5,070
113
Eastham, Ma
I have several Deltran battery tenders (1.25amp) and all my stuff hardwired. I have been using them for years, wait probably decades now! I have had good luck with the Deltran brand, especially the 1.25amp models.
I have had a total of six of the 1.25 amp Battery Tender units.
Three of them have failed (over 10 years).
I no longer buy that brand.!
 

emac

Member

Equipment
L3600, ZD1211, ZG20, ZD331, KX-057-4, MX6000
Sep 13, 2021
34
14
8
SC
I have had a total of six of the 1.25 amp Battery Tender units.
Three of them have failed (over 10 years).
I no longer buy that brand.!

Dang, that sucks. Maybe they aren't made like they used to be. Most of mine are pretty old, but one of more newer ones is made a little different. I hate when companies with a good reputation sell out.
 

lmichael

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota G2160
Apr 23, 2021
609
265
63
Rockford IL area
I tried a couple from Hazard Fraught and both failed right after their 90 day "warranty". Both cost me more than the Battery Tender I got on sale at Costco. Which has so far been working perfectly back there. Like I indicated before. My only regret was not buying 2 at the price I got them at. They were crazy cheap
 

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,847
5,070
113
Eastham, Ma
Dang, that sucks. Maybe they aren't made like they used to be. Most of mine are pretty old, but one of more newer ones is made a little different. I hate when companies with a good reputation sell out.
I strongly suspect that the Battery Tender (brand) has been, and is being, manufactured in China (maybe "assembled" in USA.... like Kubota tractors?)
My originals mostly lasted a bit beyond the ten year warranty period before they died.
As they fail, I have been replacing them with Battery Minders.

The Battery Minder brand claims to have desulfating capability, which my Battery Tenders do not.
Right now though: The NOCO genius 1 amp (Amazon) is the best bang for the buck.
It claims desulfating, and it also charges both 6V and 12V batteries.
 
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jyoutz

Well-known member

Equipment
MX6000 HST open station, FEL, 6’ cutter, forks, 8’ rear blade, 7’ cultivator
Jan 14, 2019
3,031
2,083
113
Edgewood, New Mexico
I Strongly suspect that the Battery Tender (brand) has been, and is being, manufactured in China (maybe "assembled" in USA.... like Kubota tractors?)
My originals mostly lasted a bit beyond the ten year warranty period before they died.
As they fail, I have been replacing them with Battery Minders.

The Battery Minder brand claims to have desulfating capability, which my Battery Tenders do not.
Right now though: The NOCO genius 1 amp (Amazon) is the best bang for the buck.
It claims desulfating, and it also charges both 6V and 12V batteries.
I doubt there’s any battery tenders that aren’t made in China. Our choices are low end or higher end Chinese products.
 

lmichael

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota G2160
Apr 23, 2021
609
265
63
Rockford IL area
Yeah show me any electronic product NOT made in China or some other 3rd world country. Hell, even the US military is buying electronics made in China!
 

L35

Well-known member

Equipment
L35/TL720/BT900/York rake/Valby chipper
Jun 13, 2010
520
423
63
CT
I have a couple of these and use them on my tractor and truck. There’s times they just don’t get used often and I believe this has helped keep the battery going for a lot longer than if I hadn’t used them.

 

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,847
5,070
113
Eastham, Ma
I have a couple of these and use them on my tractor and truck. There’s times they just don’t get used often and I believe this has helped keep the battery going for a lot longer than if I hadn’t used them.

I certainly hope that NO ONE is foolish enough to buy that 1.25 amp Battery Tender, at the ABSOLUTELY CRAZY advertised price of $76.95!
 
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GreensvilleJay

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
11,671
5,049
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
no worse than the 1 amp job for $60 CDN....
if one reads the datasheet ,the 1A job is ONLY good for a 30AH battery, and 'recharges a 1/2 dead battery in 22 hours.....' course that'll be at 'room temperature' of course....probably 70*F not the normal 62 here.

reminds me of the 100Watt speakers powered by a PC USB port......
 

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,847
5,070
113
Eastham, Ma
no worse than the 1 amp job for $60 CDN....
if one reads the datasheet ,the 1A job is ONLY good for a 30AH battery, and 'recharges a 1/2 dead battery in 22 hours.....' course that'll be at 'room temperature' of course....probably 70*F not the normal 62 here.

reminds me of the 100Watt speakers powered by a PC USB port......
Not sure what "data sheet" you are reading, but the .75 amp Battery tenders will keep a standard 12V car battery topped off, even though they are sold as motorcycle battery maintainers.


"recharges a 1/2 dead battery in 22 hours"....... is NOT the design purpose of any MAINTENANCE charger!

That $60 Canadian, would be $67.80 with HST in most provinces.
$67.80 CDN = $50.85 USD (in no tax states)
Still bad !
 
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L35

Well-known member

Equipment
L35/TL720/BT900/York rake/Valby chipper
Jun 13, 2010
520
423
63
CT
I certainly hope that NO ONE is foolish enough to buy that 1.25 amp Battery Tender, at the ABSOLUTELY CRAZY advertised price of $76.95!
I believe they were around 55 bucks back when I purchased mine.
 

GreensvilleJay

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
11,671
5,049
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
Might have been the NOCO units, Crappy tire's 'search engine' leaves a lot to be desired...
Ironically I cleaned up the garage attic a bit, brought down 2 boxes full of my PSUs with battery backup for the energy control systems I designed back in mid 80s.. Every 22 minutes they did an actual 'load test' and reported their status.
 

fried1765

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,847
5,070
113
Eastham, Ma
I believe they were around 55 bucks back when I purchased mine.
The highly rated NOCO Genius 1 amp. will do a better job (more functions) @today's price of $29.47!
 
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GreensvilleJay

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
11,671
5,049
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
yeah... $39 to $78 CDN depending on the website you buy from..and of course shipping, handling and 13% for the guvs....
 

lmichael

Well-known member

Equipment
Kubota G2160
Apr 23, 2021
609
265
63
Rockford IL area
I had never heard of NOCO. Looked it up. So I noticed a "mode" button. Do they make you select a mode or are they smart enough to sense the type of battery and set accordingly (as is the Battery Tender and some others). Having to constantly "check" it would be a royal PIA. Every time power blinked or surged what have you then you have to run out to the shed and reset the device.