HELP!! BatteryMinder question

[David Beale]

He bought a "Battery Minder", not a Battery Tender.

You can buy the diode from Radio Shack or online from Digikey, among others. You put it in series with the +ve lead, such that it looks like this: batt. minder ->|- car (the bar or ring on the diode goes to the car, or the "arrow" symbol on the diode points to the car). Get a diode capable of handling at least 3 Amps for a Battery Minder. If you can't find one that big you'd probably be fine with a 1 Amp diode. The Battery Minder and Battery Tender both put out small charge currents.

MAKE SURE any exposed metal on the +ve lead is covered securely in insulation! Heat shrink tubing can be used for this. Tape won't stay in an automotive environment. The heat/cool cycle will make the stickum fail unless you know how to apply it properly.

[edmcm2000]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I thought sure the Battery tenders had a diode to prevent reverse current. Is your a battery tender model or some kind of inexpensive knock off?
Radio shack should have diodes big enough, I think most battery tenders are around 2 amps max.

It's the real thing, I even called the company using the 800 number in the manual. It's the batteryminder plus, model # (from my memory, might be wrong) is 12112. Book says that if 120 power is off, b-minder will discharge battery. Edmcm (OP)

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by David Beale

He bought a "Battery Minder", not a Battery Tender.

I think David's right. I think "battery minder" is a knock off copy, and as knock offs go, not as good as the original product. probably cheaper though.

[edmcm2000]

Actually, I paid a bit more for the Minder than I could have paid for the Tender, had I known about the things and the discharge situation. Right now the Prius is at home in Az with the Minder hooked up, I'm in Maui for about 5 weeks keeping my fingers crossed that There's no power failure at my house. When I return I'll fix up a diode in the circuit. Ed

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I think David's right. I think "battery minder" is a knock off copy, and as knock offs go, not as good as the original product. probably cheaper though.

[jayman]

I've used Battery Minder's, from VDC Electronics, for years now, in equipment ranging from personal vehicles to heavy construction equipment.

Unless the power is off for a week or so, there shouldn't be any concern. I've hooked up a Fluke DMM in series with the Battery Minder, to monitor the charge cycle and desulfation cycle

Unplug the Battery Minder from the wall, and the current drain is around 7 mA. That is less than the standby current drain of many vehicles

I once hooked up a Battery Minder to a tractor parked in my shop. Took off for a couple of weeks, and upon return discovered I had forgot to plug it in. The battery was still 12.5 vdc

If there are frequent power bumps or glitches, the Battery Minder will automatically restart, monitor battery voltage, put a float charge back on the battery, then do a desulfation.

To protect the Battery Minder from power glitches, a surge arrestor power strip is probably a good idea

[edmcm2000]

Originally Posted by jayman

I've used Battery Minder's, from VDC Electronics, for years now, in equipment ranging from personal vehicles to heavy construction equipment.

Unless the power is off for a week or so, there shouldn't be any concern. I've hooked up a Fluke DMM in series with the Battery Minder, to monitor the charge cycle and desulfation cycle

Unplug the Battery Minder from the wall, and the current drain is around 7 mA. That is less than the standby current drain of many vehicles

I once hooked up a Battery Minder to a tractor parked in my shop. Took off for a couple of weeks, and upon return discovered I had forgot to plug it in. The battery was still 12.5 vdc

If there are frequent power bumps or glitches, the Battery Minder will automatically restart, monitor battery voltage, put a float charge back on the battery, then do a desulfation.

To protect the Battery Minder from power glitches, a surge arrestor power strip is probably a good idea

THANK YOU!!! That's the information I was looking for, and now I won't have to be concerned about it at all. Much appreciated, Ed