Winter Battery Storage Question

[mik3y]

Hey everyone.. Hope every1 had an awsome Jetski season! I put 39 hours on my new 2009 RXT-X 255 this year!! We went riding almost every weekend. My question is this:

I just winterized my ski and I had the mechanic take the battery out. I am storing my battery indoors/warm heated room.

Should I keep the battery connected to the Battery Tender ALL the time?

OR

Should I just connect my battery to the battery tender every 2-3 months to give it a 4-5 hour charge and then disconnect the battery tender.

I have been receiving conflicting advice on this issue and I would just like to settle the debate once and for all..

Any input will be appriciated.

thanks again,
Mike

 

[b15philly]

I have the same question... I am leaning more towards putting it on the charger every couple of months but I don't know for sure.

 

[dave_hd]

I have a Battery Tender on my Harley, used it religiously (always connected when not in use) ... battery lasted 3 years. Went to occasional use, have been with that one 4 years and counting. Tender issue? Can't be sure, but I'd connect and disconnect occasionally all the same.

 

[mik3y]

thanks for the input.
Its interesting how the battery tender website advertises that you should ALWAYS keep ur battery tender on the battery when its not in use.

Is there any other company that makes "battery tenders" or battery chargers??

 

[JPX]

I used the Original Battery Tender religiously the first 4 years of life with the factory battery in 1996. The battery outlived the Battery Tender as it eventually conked out for some reason. The battery proceeded to die the next season.

I left it on almost all the time (disconnected from the ski). And took it off to either use the ski or to rearrange the trailer in the garage.

These days I use the Battery Tender Jr. And while I don't leave it on the battery for months on end, I do leave it on for several weeks in a row. Still using the same battery 3 years running so far.

 

[AllDodge]

A battery tender will make your batteries last a long time, but it must also be a good tender. Get a name band, I've had a guest model on my zero turn mower and seadoo for several years, no problems so far.

 

[JJinSC]

I don't have a battery tender, but I have been having good results with battery life by just putting my trickle charger on about once a month during the off season. A note of warning with keeping a battery tender on all the time, keep an eye on the battery water level. Once the water level runs too dry, the battery life will deteriorate rapidly.