Battery Minder Recommendation..........

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

dkryan

Joined
Apr 11, 2003
Messages
3,051
Location
USA
I need to buy a battery minder for my MIL's 2009 Honda Civic.

Both infrequent driving and short trips has found her dealing with her third battery in the past six years.

The starter and alternator have been checked and they are fine. The battery cables are clean and secure on each post. The mechanic agreed that her infrequent driving is likely causing the problem combined with any trips being of five miles or less when she does drive.

Any recommendations for a good battery minder?
 
I have 4 Battery Minders. The 2012 Battery Minder does desulfation along with temp compensation for both hot and cold temps. Not many do it for both hot and cold. If it says temp compensation, assume it does not do both.

Some type of low current discharge?

Battery temp sensor (if it has one).

Not getting the engine warmed up fully will cause fuel dilution and exhaust system rusting.

The other thing to consider is how will it be used. Doubt your MIL will pop the hood and connect up the maintainer.

Look at the Battery Minder 12151. You mount it permanently with its AC plug sticking out. Then your MIL can just plug it into extension cord.
 
I have the CTEK 4.3. Does the job. Nice quality unit.

I don't think it's desulphation capabilities are much more than marketing. But it does have a recondition mode that people have said works better than the competition.

Check out this member's posts on the subject, especially if you're interested in constant desulphation. The CTEK units only desulphate if they suspect something seriously wrong with the battery. That stage has never lit up for me.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/userposts/id/54824
 
I've been using the Deltran Battery Tender on all my vehicles for over 14 years. I sold my 2005 6.0 Powerstroke Diesel with both original batteries in 2012 and my Mustang has a 9 year old Motorcraft in it. It still load tests fine.

If my vehicles are at home, they are plugged into a Deltran without fail every single time. Car batteries last longest when they are kept as close to 100% charge as possible. An alternator cannot accomplish this. Sulfation is a killer of batteries and sulfation essentially can't happen if batteries are kept at 100% charge.

There is no need to desulfate a battery if it is kept fully charged.

The Deltran website has a bunch of technical information and you can call and speak with the guy who designed the chargers to get technical questions answered.

By the way, my mother killed batteries every 12 months by driving 1.0 miles to the store once a week. A Deltran fixed the problem.
 
Last edited:
Go to WalMart where they are $20. Been using them for years on motorcycles, mowers and cars.
 
Originally Posted By: Brybo86
Or tell her to take the long way home a couple times a week...? Wouldn't hurt in winter getting temp up either


Winter's the best time to drive a few extra miles to save a battery while greatly increasing the chance of an accident on snowy/icy roads. You should know, you're in Chicago!
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: loneryder
Go to WalMart where they are $20. Been using them for years on motorcycles, mowers and cars.


$20 battery float chargers aren't worth $1.99. Deltrans and CTEKs actually work as advertised.
 
Originally Posted By: SonicMustang
Originally Posted By: Brybo86
Or tell her to take the long way home a couple times a week...? Wouldn't hurt in winter getting temp up either


Winter's the best time to drive a few extra miles to save a battery while greatly increasing the chance of an accident on snowy/icy roads. You should know, you're in Chicago!


How does driving an extra ~mile/5 minutes GREATLY increase the chance of an accident? Did I miss the part where the OP said their MIL was a terrible driver at baseline? If so, sorry.

Back on topic i have a couple of the battery tender brand, the little tiny bricks, I would not recommend them.
 
Last edited:
I use the Solar brand Model 1002 in my Ford F-150. It's almost the perfect solution if you have the room, and it really doesn't require a lot of room. It's usually around $30 to $50 depending upon location and sales/gouging. It was worth every penny.
 
Do you expect your MIL to hook it up every time she parks the vehicle?

Let me see if I get this correct:

- $50 for the BM
- Once car is inside the garage, open the hood and hook up the BM
- When she wants to go, take off the BM, close the hood
- Do this every time because one never knows how long the car
might be sitting


Or pay $100 every two year for a new battery.

I know what *I* would choose!
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Vikas
Do you expect your MIL to hook it up every time she parks the vehicle?

Let me see if I get this correct:

- $50 for the BM
- Once car is inside the garage, open the hood and hook up the BM
- When she wants to go, take off the BM, close the hood
- Do this every time because one never knows how long the car
might be sitting


Or pay $100 every two year for a new battery.

I know what *I* would choose!


Very valid point, Vikas. And one that I am considering before I make any purchase..

And thanks to everyone for your recommendations.
 
I hooked up the little plug to the battery where it sticks out of the grill of my old truck. No need to open and close the hood. Could also set it up so if she forgot to unplug the plugs they would just pop off.

Still a little bit of a pain. But not as much as opening the hood.
 
Originally Posted By: Donald
I have 4 Battery Minders. The 2012 Battery Minder does desulfation along with temp compensation for both hot and cold temps. Not many do it for both hot and cold. If it says temp compensation, assume it does not do both.

+1 for Battery Minder 2012. It works well, and the light indicators are informative.
 
Originally Posted By: Vikas
Do you expect your MIL to hook it up every time she parks the vehicle?

Would it suffice if she only did it once a week or once every two weeks?
 
Noco G750 is only $30 on Amazon. They are for charging up to 30 amp hour batteries but can maintain anything bigger. The G1100 is good for up to 40 amp hour batteries and also will maintain much larger batteries, it's a $50 charger.

The bigger ones are the G3500 which is my top pick for more versatility with charging and maintaining and features such as recovering sulfated batteries... Will easily charge up to 150 amp hour batteries and maintain anything bigger. Only $60 on Amazon, a lot of features for the money.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

C
Stabilitrak and Traction Control Warning? Change Battery
Replies
2
Views
147
CapitalTruck
F
Dying Batteries - Dealer Cut a Wire To Fix - 2020 Armada
Replies
16
Views
8K
Barb112
S
Milkshake Oil - Extreme short trips
2 3 4
Replies
78
Views
8K
nicholas
Corneileous
Duracell car batteries
Replies
18
Views
6K
meep
Corneileous
Looking for a good battery for my 2018 Ram 1500 Limited
3 4 5
Replies
87
Views
5K
f355spider
Back
Top Bottom