Trickle charger suggestions/help

Everyone,

I've been informed my car is NOT happy with my being gone, and has refused to start at least twice since. Once it was jumped by a local 928er, and this week as the wife was trying to take it to the store it was again resistant to moving out of the garage.

I noticed that the battery had been going off prior to leaving, but I figured that it would be OK with my wife driving it regularly (once a week or so). Turns out I shouldn't have been lazy and just bought a damn charger.

So, does anyone have any suggestions to possibly get the car happier with a battery charger until I can get home? I'd like something that can be temporary for now, and that I can add semi-permanently to the car possibly in the future. I've got a neighbor who is a great wrench, but is NOT a 928 guy. Hopefully something would be easy that either him or even the wife to just plug in and forget about? I'd like it to be like a Battery Tender, and turn itself on and off when necessary.

Jon B.;10880 wrote: ....... I'd like it to be like a Battery Tender, and turn itself on and off when necessary.

That's the exact one I think most would recommend Jon. I just had to replace my 2+ yr old battery in my '85 last month. The lack of my regular driving it & the summer heat killed it. That shark has been kicked out of the garage since the end of last year so it stays covered on the driveway & the Fla sun can be brutal, even with a cover on the car.

Thanks for the recommendation, I appreciate it!

Well now here's the other question. If I were to go with the Battery Tender, which should it be? I'm thinking that the $65 "Plus" would be better in the long run than the cheaper "Junior".

Right now I think I'm leaning towards the "Plus" and it should be more than enough to get the car happy enough to go grocery shopping every week or so. I'm going to have to check the charging system out once I return obviously, but I really think it's just the battery getting old. Plus I can use it on the "others" if they need to sit for a spell. I'm going to be dividing my time between my Lightning and the 928 once I'm home.

I'm already allotting a good couple grand for "return maintenance", plus new exhaust, so what's another $65?

You'll have to keep us posted on how you like the Plus model, I've considered getting that one myself. The difference in the cost is nominal. I believe they make the Battery Tender brand not too far from me, just west of Daytona in Deland. I've driven past their facility many times.

If your shark sits outside like my '85, it might be the heat doing yours in, as with mine. Then you might consider a battery cut off switch once you have it good and charged up. That should eliminate the need for keeping it on the Battery Tender as any potential drain would be negated.

Jon,

I think you have seen my set ups for several of the sharks. I use the Schumacher battery tenders that you can get at WalMart and then put the pigtail out the back of the battery box (actually I think it is out the bottom of the box) and hide that tail up in the rear bumper cover when not in use. They work GREAT!

Well it doesn't sit outside, but the temperature in NC this summer has been really REALLY high. Really high humidity as well. So, I wouldn't doubt that is one of the issues. Honestly, I never had an issue until it started getting HOT. I never noticed one anyway. I can't play my drums in my garage without having the door open to the backyard, and the garage door open, so it does get pretty damn hot in the garage regardless.

I'll make sure to keep everyone posted. Hell, once I'm home and I connect the smaller leads maybe I'll make up a bit of a "walk-through". I honestly believe that nothing is wrong with the charging system. But the heat on a battery that was installed in CO vs NC could possibly be rearing it's head. I can't remember how old the battery is off the top of my head either.