NightRider Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 This is going to be a rather..."interesting" question so bare with me. How do battery tenders work? I've seen some where you can connect them to a wall outlet, and then to the battery of the bike? I could be wrong, but i thought i saw something where you need to connect something to an outlet of the bike? This is for an 84. I doubt there are any outlets on it. I've also heard of floaters? Again no idea. The battery is weak, and i've jump started it with a car a couple times. But...i'd like to bypass and just be able to start the bike the 1st damn time. Any idea's or suggestions? Or explain how these work, and how much of a noob i am. Bike is 84 Honda Sabre 700 btw. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ansky Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 http://www.batterytender.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magley64 Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 it's a little battery charger that plugs into the wall, and to an outlet you install on your bike (via the battery)it keeps the battery fully charged at all times...personally, I don't like them. They mask battery problems just as well as they prevent them. If i have a problem with my battery, or a drain on it, I'd rather find out about it in my own garage at home when trying to start it at the beginning of a ride, NOT at a stop during a ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 it's a little battery charger that plugs into the wall, and to an outlet you install on your bike (via the battery)it keeps the battery fully charged at all times...personally, I don't like them. They mask battery problems just as well as they prevent them. If i have a problem with my battery, or a drain on it, I'd rather find out about it in my own garage at home when trying to start it at the beginning of a ride, NOT at a stop during a ride.It sounds like your battery is weak. Battery tenders are great for when the bike will be sitting for a long period of time. For regular use, I don't recommend them. My bike both sat over the winter without a battery tender and are fine.Ask ReconRat about the battery dying while out on a ride.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC51 John Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 +1I've used my Tender Jr. during the last 5 winters with no issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|SnOmAn| Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 I had to pick up a new battery because mine was weak from sitting over winter. Sounds like a new battery would get you going.As far as the plug on the bike, there is some hook ups that you connect to the battery so you don't have to keep gettin the battery out or whatever and it has a connector that you can just plug the charger into if it has sat for a while. A good battery should last a while unlike my old one. It was crap from the time I bought the bike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReconRat Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 ...Ask ReconRat about the battery dying while out on a ride....shup, I left the key on. I'm still using the same battery. It still works...edit: I only use the battery tender over the Winter, inside the house. Best not to try to hard freeze a battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightRider Posted March 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 it's a little battery charger that plugs into the wall, and to an outlet you install on your bike (via the battery)it keeps the battery fully charged at all times...personally, I don't like them. They mask battery problems just as well as they prevent them. If i have a problem with my battery, or a drain on it, I'd rather find out about it in my own garage at home when trying to start it at the beginning of a ride, NOT at a stop during a ride.How hard is it to install the outlet? I appreciate the reply's. I did a search on battery tenders and it took me to batterytender.com Everything just kinda seemed like rocket science. lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC51 John Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 The tender come with 2 type of battery connection types.Both of these connections have a jack that attaches the Tender to the connections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightRider Posted March 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 I think i see what your saying now. I can connect the clamp connection to the tender, and then the clamps to the bike right? Thanks John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC51 John Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 No prob. I used the ring connectors so I don't have to remove the battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightRider Posted March 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 One last question. The ring connectors are usually big enough to fit on or around the negative/positive posts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC51 John Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 Nope you place the rings on the bolts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marca Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 Leaving a lead-acid battery (the kind in a car or motorcycle) in a discharged state for a long time will hasten its failure. That's why it's a good idea to put a charger on the battery over the winter if you aren't going to be riding. A battery that has been allowed to totally discharge over a long period of time will usually need to be replaced. The "trickle" or "float" chargers will maintain the battery's charge without overcharging it like a normal charger will do.Also, a fully charged battery is more able to withstand cold temperatures without damage than a discharged one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightRider Posted March 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 I just picked it (the bike) a few days ago. It runs well when it starts. But obviously during the winter, the battery wasn't properly maintained. I'm also pretty sure the radiator fan is draining the battery. I'm just curious as to how long a new battery would last. Where as, i was hoping the tender...could just keep the current battery charged. Does that make sense? Thanks again to everyone for the info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC51 John Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 I would just replace the battery and keep the new on well maintained. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightRider Posted March 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 So, what do you think? Buy a new battery and a tender? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC51 John Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 I would say that is the best think to do.My tender jr is only used over the winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NightRider Posted March 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 I would say that is the best think to do.My tender jr is only used over the winter.Yeah. Probably the best way to go. Think i'll start looking around. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC51 John Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 No prob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 Make sure the battery has enough water in it also. If it needs some, use distilled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DGTL GRL Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 yay you got a bike again!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meanie Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 Walmart has a cheaper version of the battery tender. Does exactly the same thing for about $10 - $15 cheaper. I've been using one for the last 3 years. Only use it during the winter months. I took it off last Tuesday and won't get it back out again until end of riding season.Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jporter12 Posted March 22, 2010 Report Share Posted March 22, 2010 shup, I left the key on. I'm still using the same battery. It still works...edit: I only use the battery tender over the Winter, inside the house. Best not to try to hard freeze a battery.Ah, I was thinking that battery was weak anyway, and leaving the key on was the final straw. Our Ninja has what appears to be the original battery in it, the bike had less than 2400 miles when I got it last April, and I highly doubt it had been maintained properly, in fact, the bike was out in the cold when I went to look at it, and buy it. I'm hoping that it has a while left in it, too! It's s sealed AGM battery, so maybe someone did change it out.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gump Posted March 22, 2010 Report Share Posted March 22, 2010 Those solar battery tenders work well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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