Just my 2 cents here...
In all my vehicles, I run multiple batteries in parallel. To them I keep a Shumacher trickle charger installed in the vehicle, attached to both batteries. Here is the charger:
http://store.schumachermart.com/se-1-12s.html
It works very well and can be run for extended periods. I often just use it in winter to warm up the batteries before starting. It works well.
Now I own one of those Battery Tender Plus's that everyone here is talking about. I keep it attached to my Harley over the winter months and sometimes in between rides during the riding season. My stock battery is now 8+ years old and you'd swear it was new by the way it checks out. I also use it on my larger vehicle batteries when their charge is down, or to refresh the insides of my batteries. I have Dual Optimas in all my vehicles and the oldest set is 7 years old and is fresh as a new set. Then again, I will routinely throw the Battery Tender on a battery every so often wish excellent results. I couldn't ask for a better combination.
However, a Battery Tender will not charge a completely dead battery. I once had a small drain that I didn't notice on a single battery application with an Optima, and it went dead. None of the electronic chargers I had would touch it saying it was damaged beyond repair and needed replacing. So I snapped on an older solid state charger I had until it had a small amount of charge in it. Then the Battery Tender Plus went on it for a weekend and it was charged, but I let it go for a week. Then I disconnected the chargers and let the battery sit. A few days later it still tested well. So, I am sold on those Battery Tenders for refreshing the innards of the batteries I use.
But for everyday use I like my Schumachers installed in the engine compartment connected to both batteries in parallel. It works for me, and that's all I'm saying.
In all my vehicles, I run multiple batteries in parallel. To them I keep a Shumacher trickle charger installed in the vehicle, attached to both batteries. Here is the charger:
http://store.schumachermart.com/se-1-12s.html
It works very well and can be run for extended periods. I often just use it in winter to warm up the batteries before starting. It works well.
Now I own one of those Battery Tender Plus's that everyone here is talking about. I keep it attached to my Harley over the winter months and sometimes in between rides during the riding season. My stock battery is now 8+ years old and you'd swear it was new by the way it checks out. I also use it on my larger vehicle batteries when their charge is down, or to refresh the insides of my batteries. I have Dual Optimas in all my vehicles and the oldest set is 7 years old and is fresh as a new set. Then again, I will routinely throw the Battery Tender on a battery every so often wish excellent results. I couldn't ask for a better combination.
However, a Battery Tender will not charge a completely dead battery. I once had a small drain that I didn't notice on a single battery application with an Optima, and it went dead. None of the electronic chargers I had would touch it saying it was damaged beyond repair and needed replacing. So I snapped on an older solid state charger I had until it had a small amount of charge in it. Then the Battery Tender Plus went on it for a weekend and it was charged, but I let it go for a week. Then I disconnected the chargers and let the battery sit. A few days later it still tested well. So, I am sold on those Battery Tenders for refreshing the innards of the batteries I use.
But for everyday use I like my Schumachers installed in the engine compartment connected to both batteries in parallel. It works for me, and that's all I'm saying.
