Paul Parkanzky wrote:
>
> Now that I'm hearing the testimonials here, I wish
> I'd have ordered the BatteryMinder. Live and learn.
Oh, there is nothing wrong with the Battery Tender - in fact that's seems to
be the favorite among "car guys", but I suspect that it's because it was the
first "maintainer". The BatteryMinder just has the extra feature of the
de-sulfating mode. They both charge and maintain batteries just fine. It's
just that the BatteryMinder can SOMETIMES "restore" a battery. If you use
either one whenever the car will set for a while without being used, the
battery will last a long time.
By the way, as for not restoring AGM batteries, it appears that the secret
to "restoring" them is to charge them for a very long time at a very low
rate (about 1 amp). This was a lesson learned by "the Miata Guys" quite a
while ago (Miatas come from the factory with an AGM battery in the trunk).
Many people would charge their battery for a day or two with a "regular
charger", or even get a jump start and drive for a while to charge the
battery, only to have it be "dead" the next time they tried to start the
car. But if left on a slow charge for a few days, the battery would be back
up to near full capacity. Apparently AGM batteries like to be deep charged
at a very slow rate.
Tim Mullen
Chantilly, VA
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