Best Trickle Charger for Mojave/Gladiator with ESS and Dual battery system?

[ShadowsPapa]

Hello everyone,
I am finally getting my commuter vehicle running again, so my Machete Mama will be sitting during my work week, possibly weeks at a time. I have heard about the need to maintain the battery due to the advanced techy crap they come with. (I will be glad to get back into my 2010 Mazdaspeed3 even though I do like some of the techy features.) I digress.

I realize I need to purchase said battery maintainer. I have read most of the posts here and understand most of them? ( Shadowspapa and lost1wing get a little technical and I get overwhelmed so I stop reading and move on.) Sorry guys ‍

I just want to know the easiest, most simple product to use, and way to connect said product.
I had a motorcycle on which I used a Battery Tender Jr, connected the rings to the battery and had the “plug & play” connection. (I did the work all by myself ! ) It was super easy to use and when I sold the bike I gave the guy the tender also.
I would like a reliable, similar to use product. I won’t be doing anything like connecting to the hitch plug or whatever. I will be keeping it simple.

OH!! I nearly forgot to mention I park outside (no shade) in the Sacramento Valley area, we get up to 110 (air temp) degrees in summer, (vehicle gets much hotter) so I need something that won’t malfunction in the heat and can be kept outdoors, or the best way to set up for outdoor storage.

Ok go! Recommendations please!

OK - I'll leave out the tech stuff and go by charger reputation, and my own experiences -

For "trickle", or maintaining - BatteryMinder is great

If you want more than just a trickle, maybe a bit more but not a full-on 20 amp charger, the CTEK is well-liked, good reviews and I really like mine.

I have multiple chargers - I have multiple BatteryMinders because I have classic cars that sit all winter and a lawn tractor. But I have also used it on my Jeeps, too.
Sometimes a bit more "push" is needed, so I have the CTEK, too.
And for big jobs - I do have a 20 amp, over $100 charger - but you won't need that one.

Those are my suggestions based on my experiences with them, especially the BatteryMinders - I've used those for many years - and - what others on the internet say, reviews (the CTEK especially)

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[joeym7]

Hi All, since this post I made back in July just popped up again, I'm happy to say, after 2 NOCOS, and 2 towertops, tricle charges could not fully charge mo Mojave, the CTEC I purchase shorty after various rec's where made by you guys, has been working flawlessly...My way of connecting it up has always been the same across all 3 brands, se we will forever have a mystery as to why NOCO and Tower Top, didn't work, and CTEC did....The Tower Top has found a second life being the charger for my STS and indeed charges it up (only one battery, not 2), the NOCO remain a big disappointment (but I am glad other had success with them).

-Joseph

 

[Lost1wing]

You pick the AGM charger. 2amp or better if connecting directly onto the battery. If charging through the trailer 7 pin connector, find yourself an AGM charger that puts out more than 2 amps.

Just plug the adapter into the 7 pin connector and plug your charger into the adapter. No battery terminals to mess with.

Worse case scenario is you drive away with it plugged in if you forget about it.

This is simple.

 

[Gatorized]

I use the NOCO Genius 5 with the trailer connector. Still on the OEM factory installed battery from 2019.
my one caution is what ever method and charger you use, ensure you have it set up so you do not drive off with it still connected. If it is connected under the hood, leave the hood up.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I use the NOCO Genius 5 with the trailer connector. Still on the OEM factory installed battery from 2019.
my one caution is what ever method and charger you use, ensure you have it set up so you do not drive off with it still connected. If it is connected under the hood, leave the hood up.

My trailer plug setup uses a 12v outlet adapter and the charger has an end that slips into that - so it can just pull out.
However - I put a folded up piece of plastic in the door handle to jog my memory in case it gets stuck for some reason.

 

[Gatorized]

My trailer plug setup uses a 12v outlet adapter and the charger has an end that slips into that - so it can just pull out.
However - I put a folded up piece of plastic in the door handle to jog my memory in case it gets stuck for some reason.

In hindsight I should have gone that route too, but went with the wired adaptor as pictures in post 48. i left a note on the dash to remind me but ended up driving out without disconnecting. No damage done, but I now leave the diamond back tonneau cover open when it is connected so I have to close it before taking off.

 

[cuteangel1007]

OK - I'll leave out the tech stuff and go by charger reputation, and my own experiences - Thanks! Lol



I have a jump starter. I needed it when the Mazdaspeed3 started having issues with a short/battery drain/leak somewhere in the passenger door wiring harness (i think). The would be dead after sitting while I was at work, or any time it was sitting longer than 4 hours. I eventually started disconnecting the positive cable from the battery anytime I parked it.
Recently someone told me all I needed was to disconnect the negative cable instead. Is that true? When I get the Momzduh back I will probably still have the short/battery drain issue. I didn’t ask the shop to check it out. The service dept at the dealership said that all the electrical components in the doors are all in one harness, so it all gets changed. Does that make sense?

The little door open light is always on in the instrument cluster, maybe the thing that senses when the door is closed is broken? idk again.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions! I value all y’alls opinion, knowledge, and experience. (And thanks for keeping it simple for me. )

 

[Lost1wing]

My trailer plug setup uses a 12v outlet adapter and the charger has an end that slips into that - so it can just pull out.
However - I put a folded up piece of plastic in the door handle to jog my memory in case it gets stuck for some reason.

Every connection will still overcome the gravity holding the charger on the bench or wherever you place your charger. Definitely add a reminder tool. The door is probably best. Post-it notes fall off. Under the wiper blade works well if you start out going forward, not so much if you have to back out.

Some aircraft have a device to hold the power cord plugged into the port. When it all new, the grip is pretty good. After years of service, it relied on these devices. We have the opposite problem. We need it to unplug when our brains fail to function. We want it to be convenient too, so we add ports to plug it into wall. For most of my life I have just left the hood open. That was a pretty good reminder.

Sometimes I wonder how lazy we can be. Opening the hood every now and then is probably a good thing. I checked the oil and water a lot more before adding a port to plug into.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This simple reminder works for me - I see it, grab it and walk back to disconnect the charger, and put it in a slot in the wall next to the charger and outlet.

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