At what point do you need a battery tender?

Girl on Fire · Post by **Girl on Fire** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 12:42 am

I live in the Los Angeles Area and won't be riding my 170 for at least 6 weeks.
How long can it sit without the battery dying?

If I do need a tender for 6 weeks, is it better to put it on a timer or just let it go? I'm not sure if the tenders are smart or just keep charging.

KrispyKreme · Post by **KrispyKreme** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 1:24 am

Keeping them on a trickle charge is good. You will have periods where you do not need it. You can tell when it starts up. If it is having a hard time, plug it in.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 1:42 am

The Battery Tender Jr (best option out there for a Buddy) is a "smart" charger, so just plug it in and it'll keep the battery in optimal condition.

KrispyKreme · Post by **KrispyKreme** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 1:44 am

TVB wrote:The Battery Tender Jr (best option out there for a Buddy) is a "smart" charger, so just plug it in and it'll keep the battery in optimal condition.

Do not need to use them constantly.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 1:47 am

Since she was asking about the period when she wasn't going to be riding it, I thought that was clear.

KrispyKreme · Post by **KrispyKreme** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 1:50 am

TVB wrote:Since she was asking about the period when she wasn't going to be riding it, I thought that was clear.

issue31 · Post by **issue31** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 2:01 am

Girl on Fire wrote:I live in the Los Angeles Area and won't be riding my 170 for at least 6 weeks.
How long can it sit without the battery dying?

If I do need a tender for 6 weeks, is it better to put it on a timer or just let it go? I'm not sure if the tenders are smart or just keep charging.

I live in MN. I take my battery's out in Nov. and put them back in in March I put the battery tender on once a month for a whole day , Then switch to the other battery for a day. Then off for a month. going on 3 years no problems. Buddy 170 and Buddy 50cc. Battery's set on a wood shelf side by side so it is easy to switch.

KrispyKreme · Post by **KrispyKreme** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 2:08 am

issue31 wrote:
Girl on Fire wrote:I live in the Los Angeles Area and won't be riding my 170 for at least 6 weeks.
How long can it sit without the battery dying?

If I do need a tender for 6 weeks, is it better to put it on a timer or just let it go? I'm not sure if the tenders are smart or just keep charging.
I live in MN.

Girl on Fire, keep digging. It's always there.

I used to live in L.A. Great place

DaBinChe · Post by **DaBinChe** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 5:46 am

for 6weeks in LA I wouldn't worry about it, just make sure that it is fully charged by riding it for a couple hours before it sits for 6weeks and it will be fine. Once you get back on it in 6weeks ride around for a couple of hours to recharge it fully.

scootERIK · Post by **scootERIK** » Sun Oct 12, 2014 9:49 pm

I would just disconnect the battery.

Tazio · Post by **Tazio** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 2:51 am

I live in LA and I use my Battery Tender Jrs. on all my batteries any time I'm not using my scoots. My Vespa battery is going on 8 years and still passes the load test with flying colors. My first Buddy battery lasted 2 years without the tender, its replacement is going on 5 years with the Tender.

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 1:54 pm

The whole point of the Battery Tender and other 'smart' chargers is that it's safe to leave them connected whenever the scoot's parked. Unlike even cheap 'trickle' chargers, they will take the charging current down to zero and stop charging when the battery is completely charged, then restart a charge if needed (big temperature drop, or a compromised battery that won't hold its charge as well, etc.)

I have a Gorilla alarm with a wireless remote, so there is a constant 7-10mA drain on the battery to power the radio receiver. It's not much, but do the math: even this tiny drain will exhaust the battery after a couple of weeks of inactivity. So some form of charging is a must for me.

The nice thing about the Jr. version is that it's safe to charge the Buddy battery through the 12v accessory jack if you buy the proper 12v plug adapter for your BTJr. It has a maximum forward charge current of 0.75A, which won't blow the little 1A fuse on that socket. Using the socket rather than the supplied "traditional" pigtail connector or alligator clips means I don't have to bend down under the scooter for the pigtail, or open up the battery box, all I need to do is plug the BTJr.'s charging cable into the 12v socket. It's so easy that I'll remember and be willing to do it whenever I park the bike.

A BTJr can be had for $20-25 bucks, plus maybe another $8 for the 12v plug accessory, far less than the price of a decent replacement battery. It's cheap insurance. Why would you not?

Girl on Fire · Post by **Girl on Fire** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 6:28 pm

PeteH, is this the part you recommend?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Battery-Tender- ... ls&vxp=mtr

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 6:38 pm

GOF - yes, that's exactly the one. It takes the place of the bolt-on pigtail or the alligator clips provided with the BT, and plugs into the 12v socket on the Buddy, which is itself wired (through a fuse) directly to the battery.

I'm old and tired and sick and stupid, so I'd much rather stand upright and plug the Buddy into the BTJr this way than crouch down and futz with pigtails or alligator clips.

And let me reiterate: only use this approach with the Battery Tender JUNIOR, not the full-sized 'normal' BT. The big boy may blow your 1A fuse the first time it needs to do a 'basic' charge.

Edit: And yes, you can keep a BT or BTJr connected to your scoot all the time, no need for timers (or calendars). Set-and-forget. I keep mine plugged in all winter - scoot outside under a cover in the snow and ice

(except for Jan 1 Polar Bear Ride Day!!)

Girl on Fire · Post by **Girl on Fire** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 7:07 pm

Thanks for the input. I will feel more at ease knowing I won't come home to a dead scoot if I use the tender jr.

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 9:01 pm

Good call. The thing is, if you were ever going to get a Battery Tender, this was the moment to do it. It wouldn't have made sense to wait to another time to buy one.

I liked my Battery Tender Jr so much that I got one of the waterproof models for my wife's (seldom used) car. If it saves me from buying one battery ever, then it's paid for itself three times over.

Tazio · Post by **Tazio** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 10:32 pm

For those people who like to do their own thing and save money, you can buy just the 12v plug and wire it up with one of the other connectors that come with the Batt Tend. Just make sure the polarity is right. The Tender will let you know if its wrong and no harm done.

jrsjr · Post by **jrsjr** » Wed Oct 15, 2014 1:47 am

Happiness is a solid green light.

Modern Buddy

At what point do you need a battery tender?

At what point do you need a battery tender?

Re: At what point do you need a battery tender?

Re: At what point do you need a battery tender?