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Buell Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through February 04, 2008 » Cheap Trickle Charger? « Previous Next »

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Beebbop
Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2008 - 06:46 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Greetings Peeps...I just ordered a cheapo ($18) Platinum series 12 volt, 1 amp trickle charger for my xb9s. Anyone have experience w/this unit or cheap chargers in general? thanks!
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Brumbear
Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2008 - 09:23 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

no I went to walmart and bought a 1-3 amp trickel charger for around 20 bucks and a summer cover for the machine for another 20 so the prce you paid sounds right as long as you are not paying shipping
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Pwnzor
Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2008 - 09:27 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)



Battery Tender Jr. kept my battery fresh for 10 months while I was away. Came home, unplugged it and fired it right up, first crank.

$19.99 everywhere.
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Cixyx_pilot
Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2008 - 10:14 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Battery Tender JR
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Rah7777777
Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2008 - 10:28 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I got a duracell brand one for $20 from target. works just fine (well the one time I used it, bike never sits more then a couple days on average)
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Brad_buell
Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2008 - 10:44 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have a Battery Tender JR, as well.

Works GREAT!
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Badlionsfan
Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2008 - 10:50 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

+1 on the tender jr.
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Old_man
Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2008 - 10:51 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

One more thumbs up for the Battery Tender Jr.
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Lost_in_ohio
Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2008 - 07:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

There is a big difference between a trickle charger and what the Battery tender does.

A trickle charger will boil your battery if left on long enough. I ruined a trolling motor battery on an autozone trickle charger over a winter. I will never do that again.

Of course to each his own.

I have a tender Jr on mine.
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Reepicheep
Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2008 - 08:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I agree there is a difference, but never heard a clear description of what the battery tender does... anybody know? There is something more then smoke and mirrors there, they really are different devices.
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Panhead_dan
Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2008 - 08:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

There are battery chargers, Booster- chargers, trickle chargers, battery tenders and automatic battery chargers. It's confusing.
I've been using a 10/2 automatic shumacher (sp) for ten years and have left it on a bike for a week with no problems.
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Old_man
Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2008 - 10:12 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I keep the battery tender on my bike at all times.

Never a problem.
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Stuntmanryan
Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2008 - 10:12 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

the tender will charge the battery up to full voltage and then monitor it and when it gets down to a certain voltage it will charge it back up again, thus never over or under charging... I have the bigger version because I am usually charging 4 batteries at once and it has more amps then the JR but does the same thing.
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Henry_the_8th
Posted on Monday, February 04, 2008 - 02:06 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Quick question-
Where are you guys finding the Battery Tender Jr for $19.99?
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Midknyte
Posted on Monday, February 04, 2008 - 02:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I picked up my BT Junior at my dealer for 20$
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Henry_the_8th
Posted on Monday, February 04, 2008 - 02:37 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

All the locals here are selling them for $39.99, Cycle Gear had them on sale before Christmas for $29.99
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Badlionsfan
Posted on Monday, February 04, 2008 - 02:46 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

i got mine at iron pony dot com for $25
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Beebbop
Posted on Monday, February 04, 2008 - 06:53 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Did some searching and found the battery tender jr at $28 not including shipping..I ordered the platinum already, this one was $20 including shipping..hope it doesnt fry my battery! lol
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Court
Posted on Monday, February 04, 2008 - 07:11 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Keep an eye on Competition Accessories. Last year they had a "2 for 1" deal and I picked up a couple spares. All things considered, not a bad way to go.

I generally, given the accumulated crud I tend to run, put the bikes on the charger when I get home.
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Ratbuell
Posted on Monday, February 04, 2008 - 10:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Another +1 on the tender jr, just for the monitoring / anti-cook feature. Although I'm getting ready to go super-cheap for my lawn tractor - harbor freight has a $20 solar trickle charger. I figure since the mower is in a barn with no electric... Dunno if it'll get used on a bike. May try the wife's XL1200 just for kicks, since it seems to have taken up residence in the same barn...
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Ft_bstrd
Posted on Monday, February 04, 2008 - 10:37 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I think I bought mine at the Buell dealer for $19 or so.

I keep mine on it all the time.
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Jandj_davis
Posted on Monday, February 04, 2008 - 01:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I use a $7 float charger from Harbor Freight. I've used it for 6 years on 3+ batteries, and have never had to replace a battery. It looks like they are on sale for $5 right now. My only complaint is that it does not come with both types of leads (clamp on and permanent).

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem. taf?Itemnumber=42292
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Reepicheep
Posted on Monday, February 04, 2008 - 01:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Harbor Freight had a "battery tender" for $6 or something over the holidays. I got one because I was there, and because I figured even if I did not use it on the bike it would be useful for hardware hacking.

To be honest, I hoped to be able to use it to charge a 12V rechargable drill I have... the drill is good and I have two good battery packs, but the charger burned up. And replacement chargers cost more then new drills : (

It didn't work for that, and I am not really sure why. But that tells me its not just a dumb trickle charger or something.

I suspect it's perhaps a constant current source or something, regulated such that the current will never go high enough to do any damage to the battery.

Havent tried it on either bike yet.... The Buell doesn't seem to need it, but that KLR 250 is pretty hard on batteries...
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99cyclone
Posted on Monday, February 04, 2008 - 07:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I've also had good luck with the Harbor Freight chargers (as low as $5 on sale). In fact I have them on 4 bikes right now.

I've only had one problem...you don't ever want the leads to touch when the charger is plugged in. The fragile (cheap) electronics will fry. Keep that tip in mind and the cheap float chargers will last a long time.
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