I have been using a Battery Tender 800 with a Lithium Mode for a few years on a couple of lead acid batteries and a few EarthXs, though the EarthX never really dropped and needed a charge. Most recently though, the barely one year old 12a in my 310 was down to 9.77 volts. The Battery Tender in lithium mode flashed yellow. In lead acid mode yellow light was steady. EarthX said it should work, but never did. Stuck at 9.66 V, so sent it back for EarthX to charge or replace. $12 later they said it arrived at 9.6v, they charged, it held the charge, and returned to me. So, they recommend Optimate and a $179 unit that is exclusive to LI batteries. I noticed TecMate makes a Duo Optimate and now a 2 Duo, both that will charge both lead acid and LI and autosense which it's charging. Says test and charge from 4 volts on the 2 Duo. EarthX says should work for my purposes. I bought the 2 Duo. The Battery Tender may work from 10 volts or higher.... or maybe not. I contacted Deltran on their 5-year warranty. Have not heard back. I can only trust the BT for lead acid after this. The Optimate 2 Duo.
That looks like a nice charger. I also have a few battery maintainers that won't capture a battery below certain voltage. Last year I bought the NOCO Genius1 and it's amazing. I have recovered many abused batteries with that little guy. It has the auto sensing feature for Li vs. the others and no problems in over a year. It's only $30.
Funny, you should mention this, i was just talking to a guy i work with, and he said he was have the same problem charging a car that had been sitting for 3 months. He said the newer charger he just bought didn't recognize, that the battery, needed a charge, cause the voltage was too low. I was like what the hell? I have a battery tender brand pig tailed on my street bike, and i leave plugged in all the time, and it seems fine. But my previous bike, which had a brand new battery, got killed after 1 year. I thought that it was just cause, the battery was a cheap brand to begin with & i wasn't leaving it plug in when just sitting. Now i think i know why, it's the charger.
I don't get mine until tomorrow, the wife wrapped it and put it under the tree! But I did buy a 1963 Ford Futura for myself that is now registered and insured. So that is coming from the shop today!! Pumped up 289/t10 4sp/9" small bearing rear, I am stoked!!
I have to get one , once Christmas is over. Pumped up 289/t10 4sp/9" small bearing rear, I am stoked!! and well you should be
I got most of the stuff sorted then, letting it idle in the yard the gen lite came on! Sunday I will switch it to a one wire setup. Dang! On the Husky front I'm screwing with a ford!!
Turns out these old piles used the gen indicator light as a resistor to start the gen charging. I had changed it to a led, so back to incandescent until I can solder in a resistor. I'm learning! Hahah
Interesting. I don't want to drag this too far off topic, but I seem to remember this issue on my 52 Ford Flathead. And, if that bulb burns out... you don't have any charging. Sort of like the old Bultaco that ran the ignition through the tail light bulb.
