Battery charger, maintainer and propper use

[ourjeeps]

Second on ShadowsPapa recommendation for the USA based BatteryMinder charger maintainer (5 year mgf/defect warranty) for lead acid batteries.

ALL [as in every-single-vehicle] including '17 JKUR Recon, '24 JTRX, and '73 CJ-5 (and Diesel RVs/ tractors/ gas & diesel vehicles/ boat/ motorcycles/ ATVs/ gas golf cart/ etc.) in our garage or enclosed shop are ALL connected to Battery Minder Plus trickle charger/maintainers (via quick connect/release two prong SAE connecters) 24/7/365 when not operating.

We have used the Battery Minder Plus 1A Model# 12117TC for several decades, and it is reliable our preferred product. The only one that "failed," was one that was we accidentally ran over - not a product fault...

Our experience is our lead acid batteries last at least 2x 3x longer than folks that park their vehicles/ equipment out in the heat and cold, w/o maintainer/desulfators. Heat and cold, along with deep discharges and sulfation, reduces starting battery life).

If you're in a drive-in, back out, parking configuration, should you accidently forget to disconnect the 12v DC charger/maintainer --- an in grill/hood edge exposed SAE connector will self-disconnect when tensioned (when you back out).

The unique feature of the Battery Minder Plus is it uses a high frequency desulfation pulse technology derived from WWII aircraft battery chargers, that extended the life of those batteries through both charge maintenance and desulfation functions. So recommend looking for this high frequency pulse desulfation feature/technology in whatever brand charger/maintainer you chose to purchase and use.

Tip: the reduced price Battery Minder Plus Model# 12117TC is specifically is sold only through NorthernTool.com, storefront or online. Other newer/fancier Battery Minder models are widely available at both Northern Tool and other vendors. The Model# 12117TC is regularly priced at $49.99, but is often on sale for $29.99 (so WAIT for the sales). [Note: other than being customer/users, we have no affiliation with, and receive no compensation from Battery Minder/VDC Electronics, Huntington NY]

Safe Jeeping to all!

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[kb5zcr]

I do the same as ShadowPapa, I plug my battery tender into the 7 pin connector probably once a month just to keep it topped off. Works great.

 

[nanook12]

I know both the battery minder/tender works in the cold, I can’t say that for the Noco…I’ve heard stories of them shutting down below zero(F). Refusing to charge at cold temps, kind of defeats the purpose. No first hand experience though, buy at your own risk.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I know both the battery minder/tender works in the cold, I can’t say that for the Noco…I’ve heard stories of them shutting down below zero(F). Refusing to charge at cold temps, kind of defeats the purpose. No first hand experience though, buy at your own risk.

I can't speak for other brands, but my garage isn't heated at all, gets bloody cold out there. The only thing that sits in climate controlled space is my 73 Javelin (and that's in part because the garage is packed, totally full).
I know the BatteryMinder works perfectly fine in all weather.
That's all I can speak to or comment on - it's all I have first-hand experience with. It does have a temp sensor and if it does what it should, it would increase the charging voltage in extreme cold like the stock automotive charging system has done for decades. Even back in the 1960s, voltage regulators such as Motorola fully electronic systems used a thermistor to sense ambient temperatures and upped the charging voltage according to a pre-defined scale in cold temps.
(that's the only thing I haven't gotten figured out in my home-brew electronic voltage regulator circuit for classic cars - temperature compensation)

 

[Lost1wing]

I can't speak for other brands, but my garage isn't heated at all, gets bloody cold out there. The only thing that sits in climate controlled space is my 73 Javelin (and that's in part because the garage is packed, totally full).
I know the BatteryMinder works perfectly fine in all weather.
That's all I can speak to or comment on - it's all I have first-hand experience with. It does have a temp sensor and if it does what it should, it would increase the charging voltage in extreme cold like the stock automotive charging system has done for decades. Even back in the 1960s, voltage regulators such as Motorola fully electronic systems used a thermistor to sense ambient temperatures and upped the charging voltage according to a pre-defined scale in cold temps.
(that's the only thing I haven't gotten figured out in my home-brew electronic voltage regulator circuit for classic cars - temperature compensation)

I use my battery minders in the polebarn for the atvs, mower and the tractor. They don't have temperature compensation like the battery tender does. Thinking about that now, battery minders don't have an indication for temperature compensation. Maybe they do . We hardly see below freezing in south Georgia and these things are over 15 years old. Now that I'm 250 miles further north, I will expect cooler weather than I have been used to. The new battery tenders that I have are only used in a climate controlled building

 

[legacy_etu]

I know both the battery minder/tender works in the cold, I can’t say that for the Noco…I’ve heard stories of them shutting down below zero(F). Refusing to charge at cold temps, kind of defeats the purpose. No first hand experience though, buy at your own risk.

Weird. The NOCO website claims temperature compensation for charging purposes down to -4F which also implies it being functional in general down to that temp.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Weird. The NOCO website claims temperature compensation for charging purposes down to -4F which also implies it being functional in general down to that temp.

Then both the BatteryMinder and the NOCO have temperature compensation.
They'd almost have to in order to actually charge a cold battery.
The BatteryMinder I know has it. It states in the documentation and elsewhere.
It's a given, science, fact, cold batteries take more voltage to charge.
My Motorola regulator service specs and other books show the compensation rate - nominal 13.2 volts at 80 degrees and 14.8 at minus 32 degrees (F) with the chart showing voltages at other temperatures in between.
I didn't want to speak for the NOCO, not owning or having used one, but it was hard to imagine they'd be able to sell something without that simple, decades-old feature.

 

[ourjeeps]

I use my battery minders in the polebarn for the atvs, mower and the tractor. They don't have temperature compensation like the battery tender does. Thinking about that now, battery minders don't have an indication for temperature compensation. Maybe they do . We hardly see below freezing in south Georgia and these things are over 15 years old. Now that I'm 250 miles further north, I will expect cooler weather than I have been used to. The new battery tenders that I have are only used in a climate controlled building

Lost1Wing: The Battery Minder Plus Model# 12117TC does have a port for a temp compensation sensor, however we've never used/needed that function as our temps are moderate all year...

Manual says "Temperature Compensation Range 14°F - 122°F (-10°C - 50°C)
In float and maintenance stages the minimum voltage will be 13.0V ±0.15

Link to manual https://www.batteryminders.com/content/manuals/2024/702-000510-01-R VDC 12117TC-MANUAL-20190228.pdf

 

[legacy_etu]

Then both the BatteryMinder and the NOCO have temperature compensation.
They'd almost have to in order to actually charge a cold battery.
The BatteryMinder I know has it. It states in the documentation and elsewhere.
It's a given, science, fact, cold batteries take more voltage to charge.
My Motorola regulator service specs and other books show the compensation rate - nominal 13.2 volts at 80 degrees and 14.8 at minus 32 degrees (F) with the chart showing voltages at other temperatures in between.
I didn't want to speak for the NOCO, not owning or having used one, but it was hard to imagine they'd be able to sell something without that simple, decades-old feature.

Yeah, I' have both the NOCO and Battery Tender brands. I like both although the NOCO is weather resistant (moisture) and the battery Tender is not (open vent ports on the housing). Funny, I tried attaching a picture from NOCO' website with no joy. Must be Monday......

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yeah, I' have both the NOCO and Battery Tender brands. I like both although the NOCO is weather resistant (moisture) and the battery Tender is not (open vent ports on the housing). Funny, I tried attaching a picture from NOCO' website with no joy. Must be Monday......

Mine are BatteryMinder. I believe the Battery Tender is a different brand.

 

[legacy_etu]

Mine are BatteryMinder. I believe the Battery Tender is a different brand.

You're right. My mind was thinking Battery Tender when I was reading Battery Minder.

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

Reviving this thread: @ShadowsPapa can you please share a link for the 7-pin connector/pigtail that you have connected to your battery minder?

 

[Lost1wing]

You can use just about any 7 blade adapter plug. You are only connecting it to the 12vdc and ground terminals. You can spend a few more bucks on a pigtail, but that would be a waste in my opinion.

The second picture is what I think you are looking for. Not sure if you can take it apart for repair. Edit, I just looked again, it does come apart!

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

You can use just about any 7 blade adapter plug. You are only connecting it to the 12vdc and ground terminals. You can spend a few more bucks on a pigtail, but that would be a waste in my opinion.

The second picture is what I think you are looking for. Not sure if you can take it apart for repair. Edit, I just looked again, it does come apart!

cool. Northern tool actually had the minder on sale and the cigarette lighter adapter too so all I need is the 7-pin plug now

 

[nanook12]

I’ve got a few of the lithium LiPo4 batteries and charge them with the Battery Tender. You would not want to use a battery minder on them. Also the NOCO chargers have a cold temp cutoff! Doesn’t do me much good in Alaska.

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