Multiple battyer tender?

kentnothstine · 10-05-2012, 07:15 PM

What is the best system to charge multiple batteries while still in the bike? I have 4 I want to be able to put on a tender for the winter. What do you guys use, I am looking on the cheap side but I don't want to move the tender. I plan on packing the bikes close together to keep the garage clear... ish.

Thanks
Kent

Reddog* · 10-05-2012, 07:22 PM

Hook the batteries in parallel using jumper wires and use one battery tender.

That said you will need to check that all the batteries when fully charged have the same voltage reading. Other wise the weakest one will draw the rest down to its level, shorting the life on the other three.

In reality using four battery tenders will be easier.

kentnothstine · 10-05-2012, 10:46 PM

Anybody use one of these? More then I want to spend though.

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender...+tender+4+bank

squish · 10-05-2012, 11:36 PM

I just have mine on a retractable cord dangling from the ceiling, with the long cord and pigtail leads on the bikes
I move it from bike to bike after a couple days of being on the charger.
I'm not a fan of super long term battery tender use, I tend to use it for no more then a couple of weeks at a time.

yukonjon · 10-06-2012, 08:09 AM

[QUOTE=kentnothstine;19759252]Anybody use one of these? More then I want to spend though.

I have one and love it. Hasn't let me down yet. Ive seen some reviews that a certain side or bank will stop working but that hasn't happened to me yet (going on a year now). The cords aren't very long so I had to buy some extensions for the further away bikes.

Before I bought this I just had two regular tenders and would swap to different bikes every other week or so. Worked fine if you looking for a cheaper route.

kentnothstine · 10-06-2012, 09:27 AM

I may end up doing this instead, buy 4 of these.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...o_cart_title_1

It ends up being cheaper, but the they wouldn't have the temp compensation, I don't know if that is needed any how.

Kent

Reddog* · 10-06-2012, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kentnothstine

I may end up doing this instead, buy 4 of these.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...o_cart_title_1

It ends up being cheaper, but the they wouldn't have the temp compensation, I don't know if that is needed any how.

Kent

That is what I use all winter in an unheated garage on my Aprilia.

mikesova · 10-07-2012, 05:38 AM

Or, you could charge one of the batteries one day, charge one the next day, charge the other, the day after that, and then the last one, the day after that. Do it again in a month. Preferably out of the bikes, in your basement, since your garage isn't heated.

jules083 · 10-07-2012, 05:48 AM

I have killed a few batteries with battery tenders. I've never heard of this happening to anyone else, ever, so I'm not too sure what went wrong.

Here's the long story of how it happened, if anyone can make sense of what went wrong be my guest. Skip over this if you don't want to read a story:

ZX-14, killed 3 batteries. Road King, killed 2. GSX-R 600, Aprilia Mille, and ATV killed one each. Every one of these instances the batteries were put on a tender at all times, and they didn't last over a year. The ninja was the worst, killed a battery every 6 to 8 months. I used the same tenders as my dad, actually we switched tenders a few times thinking that may be the problem. I quit using tenders and haven't had a battery problem since. He still uses them, and hasn't had a problem.

What I do now, is nothing. When I park the bike for the winter I act like they don't even have batteries. Next spring when it's time to ride I start them and ride away. The ATV gets ridden all winter, the rest of them just sit in the garage waiting for a warm day.

kobudo28 · 10-07-2012, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kentnothstine

Anybody use one of these? More then I want to spend though.

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender...+tender+4+bank

I have seven of them in my QA Dept for charging lead acid batteries. They work well, no problems.

bob393 · 10-07-2012, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kentnothstine

I may end up doing this instead, buy 4 of these.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...o_cart_title_1

It ends up being cheaper, but the they wouldn't have the temp compensation, I don't know if that is needed any how.

Kent

I think most of us use these. I have 4 also one for the tractor, one for each bike, and one for the generator. I also have the next larger model for the truck. Love them!

SnowMule · 10-08-2012, 12:25 PM

My suggestions are already mentioned here...

they make the multiple-output chargers, linked above. $$ though, designed for bigger vehicle batteries.

Or get a handful of the Batt Tender Jr's and a power strip, mount to the wall/ceiling. The cables are plenty long enough.

kobudo28 · 10-08-2012, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob393

I think most of us use these. I have 4 also one for the tractor, one for each bike, and one for the generator. I also have the next larger model for the truck. Love them!

I didn't go with the Jr version, I went with the bigger version of the Battery Tender. One for the bike, one for the Kubota and one for the S2. I've had zero problems.

SnowMule · 10-08-2012, 04:45 PM

I've got the bigger 5-amp charger/tender on my trailer's battery. Works great, but it's about $100.

jon_l · 10-09-2012, 06:02 AM

Was your issue with the genuine Deltran Battery Tender? Or a generic trickle charger?

I have never heard of issues with the genuine article. To have 4 issues in one garage is bizarre.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jules083

I have killed a few batteries with battery tenders. I've never heard of this happening to anyone else, ever, so I'm not too sure what went wrong.

Here's the long story of how it happened, if anyone can make sense of what went wrong be my guest. Skip over this if you don't want to read a story:

ZX-14, killed 3 batteries. Road King, killed 2. GSX-R 600, Aprilia Mille, and ATV killed one each. Every one of these instances the batteries were put on a tender at all times, and they didn't last over a year. The ninja was the worst, killed a battery every 6 to 8 months. I used the same tenders as my dad, actually we switched tenders a few times thinking that may be the problem. I quit using tenders and haven't had a battery problem since. He still uses them, and hasn't had a problem.

What I do now, is nothing. When I park the bike for the winter I act like they don't even have batteries. Next spring when it's time to ride I start them and ride away. The ATV gets ridden all winter, the rest of them just sit in the garage waiting for a warm day.

10-05-2012, 11:36 PM	#4
squish Out of the office. Joined: Dec 2003 Location: Where the Ghetto meets the sea. Oddometer: 4,948	I just have mine on a retractable cord dangling from the ceiling, with the long cord and pigtail leads on the bikes I move it from bike to bike after a couple days of being on the charger. I'm not a fan of super long term battery tender use, I tend to use it for no more then a couple of weeks at a time. __________________ *On vacation for a spell*

10-07-2012, 05:38 AM	#8
mikesova Beastly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2009 Location: Gladwin, Mi Oddometer: 1,376	Or, you could charge one of the batteries one day, charge one the next day, charge the other, the day after that, and then the last one, the day after that. Do it again in a month. Preferably out of the bikes, in your basement, since your garage isn't heated. __________________ 2009 Kawasaki KLX250S 2001 Yamaha TTR125 (Wife's bike) 2005 Yamaha FZ6

10-07-2012, 05:48 AM	#9
jules083 Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2011 Location: Richmond, Ohio Oddometer: 1,085	I have killed a few batteries with battery tenders. I've never heard of this happening to anyone else, ever, so I'm not too sure what went wrong. Here's the long story of how it happened, if anyone can make sense of what went wrong be my guest. Skip over this if you don't want to read a story: ZX-14, killed 3 batteries. Road King, killed 2. GSX-R 600, Aprilia Mille, and ATV killed one each. Every one of these instances the batteries were put on a tender at all times, and they didn't last over a year. The ninja was the worst, killed a battery every 6 to 8 months. I used the same tenders as my dad, actually we switched tenders a few times thinking that may be the problem. I quit using tenders and haven't had a battery problem since. He still uses them, and hasn't had a problem. What I do now, is nothing. When I park the bike for the winter I act like they don't even have batteries. Next spring when it's time to ride I start them and ride away. The ATV gets ridden all winter, the rest of them just sit in the garage waiting for a warm day. __________________ Ninja 250 for sale cheap: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=854880

10-08-2012, 12:25 PM	#12
SnowMule nope.gif Joined: Jul 2009 Location: I LIVE IN A GIANT BUCKET Oddometer: 16,043	My suggestions are already mentioned here... they make the multiple-output chargers, linked above. $$ though, designed for bigger vehicle batteries. Or get a handful of the Batt Tender Jr's and a power strip, mount to the wall/ceiling. The cables are plenty long enough. __________________ Spewer of the poignant non sequitur

10-08-2012, 04:45 PM	#14
SnowMule nope.gif Joined: Jul 2009 Location: I LIVE IN A GIANT BUCKET Oddometer: 16,043	I've got the bigger 5-amp charger/tender on my trailer's battery. Works great, but it's about $100. __________________ Spewer of the poignant non sequitur

10-05-2012, 07:22 PM	#2
Reddog* Others Joined: Nov 2007 Location: Mi Oddometer: 2,177	Hook the batteries in parallel using jumper wires and use one battery tender. That said you will need to check that all the batteries when fully charged have the same voltage reading. Other wise the weakest one will draw the rest down to its level, shorting the life on the other three. In reality using four battery tenders will be easier.

10-06-2012, 08:09 AM	#5
yukonjon Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2011 Location: Pacific Northwet, Tacoma Oddometer: 126	[QUOTE=kentnothstine;19759252]Anybody use one of these? More then I want to spend though. I have one and love it. Hasn't let me down yet. Ive seen some reviews that a certain side or bank will stop working but that hasn't happened to me yet (going on a year now). The cords aren't very long so I had to buy some extensions for the further away bikes. Before I bought this I just had two regular tenders and would swap to different bikes every other week or so. Worked fine if you looking for a cheaper route.

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