Battery Tender

[Capt John]

Hello All, we have a 2019 XLT, we bought it as a pleasure vehicle so it only gets driven on weekends IF it gets driven. I try to drive it every week but sometimes it doesn’t happen. Every once in a while the app will tell me the battery is starting to get low. Is there any issue with hooking up a battery tender? I can’t imagine there would be but with the bazillion electrical systems sucking power I wasn’t sure if there’s some sensitivity, I don’t want to screw anything up.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Hello All, we have a 2019 XLT, we bought it as a pleasure vehicle so it only gets driven on weekends IF it gets driven. I try to drive it every week but sometimes it doesn’t happen. Every once in a while the app will tell me the battery is starting to get low. Is there any issue with hooking up a battery tender? I can’t imagine there would be but with the bazillion electrical systems sucking power I wasn’t sure if there’s some sensitivity, I don’t want to screw anything up.

I haves used a battery tender on my Corvette, and other vehicles, for years - with no problems.

I always took the box for the unit and put it on the dash, above the steering wheel, so I didn’t inadvertently enter the vehicle, start it and begin to drive away with the unit still connected.

 

[Donn Brink]

No issues using one...Use a 1 or 2 amp charger with a "storage" mode that will insure proper charging. I have been running the Yuasa brand for 20 years...I have an sae battery lead installed and routed to the front grill area so I can simply unplug the charger and drive away.

 

[scottdm]

I just got the same warning yesterday on my Fordpass app, so I hooked up my battery tender. Make sure you get one that works with AGM batteries. I have been pleased with this Bosch unit: https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-SCPLUS-SmartCharge-Battery-Maintainer/dp/B01N6SSIS4

 

[2018ExpyPlatinum]

This is a good question. I had my Expy in for service and they tested the battery. Said low charge, battery good and they charged the battery.

I have an Battery Tender that's probably 15+ years old. Bought it for my 2002 Corvette back in the day. Is that one too old? Is it time for a new charger?

 

[Uturn]

I just got the same warning yesterday on my Fordpass app, so I hooked up my battery tender. Make sure you get one that works with AGM batteries. I have been pleased with this Bosch unit: https://www.amazon.com/Bosch-SCPLUS-SmartCharge-Battery-Maintainer/dp/B01N6SSIS4

I got the same message with a notation to drive the vehicle to charge the battery. I do not think it is a warning but a general notice to drive the vehicle every once in a while to maintain battery charge. Sort of like the tire pressure reminder e-mail you get from Discount. The reason I believe it is a notice instead of a warning is that my wife was driving it at the time and the battery monitor system on ours is disabled to prevent the auto start/stop from functioning. That being said, the current draw is pretty high on these vehicles and is does not hurt to use a maintainer or charge the battery with a battery charger occasionally.

 

[m3bs]

I think we all must have received that message. Mine had been driven within the last week, so I don’t think it was low. I put my ancient battery tender on it, and it was charged overnight.

At least it wasn’t the message saying “Your Expedition has gone into “Deep Sleep” mode to preserve battery life.”

 

[Artie]

I got the same message on my lincoln app. I think it was more of a reminder and not a warning that your actual battery was low.

anyway, I have used the Optima digital 400 and it has been great for me. It will do AGM, lead, and small engine batteries.

 

[Plati]

Would be interesting to measure the voltage of the battery ... under various conditions (like fully charged) over a period of time and compare to "when the warning comes on". Although - battery voltage doesn't tell the full story of the health of the battery. There are other characteristics too such as cold cranking amps. I think battery voltage is a pretty good indicator of the health of the whole system (battery, charging). Seems like there's some possibility that warning is trying to tell you something. Then again, the others say it's normal so don't worry about it?

I drive my 2014EL at least an hour every 2 weeks ... and battery maintains at 12.3V or so until it gets (years) older and starts fading. In this VirAss thing, thats the only driving it gets. What a BUMMER.

 

[carymccarr]

Why on earth would a brand new vehicle need a tender unless it’s sitting for weeks and weeks?

 

[bushpilot]

Why on earth would a brand new vehicle need a tender unless it’s sitting for weeks and weeks?

I think you answered your own question.

 

[bushpilot]

Would be interesting to measure the voltage of the battery ... under various conditions (like fully charged) over a period of time and compare to "when the warning comes on". Although - battery voltage doesn't tell the full story of the health of the battery. There are other characteristics too such as cold cranking amps. I think battery voltage is a pretty good indicator of the health of the whole system (battery, charging). Seems like there's some possibility that warning is trying to tell you something. Then again, the others say it's normal so don't worry about it?

I drive my 2014EL at least an hour every 2 weeks ... and battery maintains at 12.3V or so until it gets (years) older and starts fading. In this VirAss thing, thats the only driving it gets. What a BUMMER.

you can very easily monitor the battery voltage and alternator voltage CHARGE level - with something like this... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Z7NWY2Z

w/out the engine running the display will show the battery voltage.
WITH the engine running you'll see the alternator / voltage charge output.

the battery will ALWAYS go low on initial start, you'll see the alternator voltage output go high until the battery is recovered (from the engine start)...from there the alternator charge output will fall off a bit.

Adding more load, headlights, heated seats, climate control fan/blower - should show some increased alternator voltage charge output.

 

[Zig10]

I think you answered your own question.

Drove ours for the first time since lock-down (4 weeks ago) and the auto-stop function was disabled for charging purposes for around 40 minutes of the drive. So many parasitic electrical draws on cars these days it really wasn't a surprise, but I'll throw the tender on it now from time to time just to keep it topped off.

 

[Wayne Decker]

I agree it was just a general reminder since they expect a lot of vehicles to be idle during the shut down.

I drive mine every day and I got the message.

 

[Capt John]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I think Wayne Deckers reply above is pretty definitive. I’m going to put a tender on it just for peace of mind. I did get the message one time where it said it was disabling certain features to save battery life. That one’s gotta be a “live” message.

 

[Plati]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I think Wayne Deckers reply above is pretty definitive. I’m going to put a tender on it just for peace of mind. I did get the message one time where it said it was disabling certain features to save battery life. That one’s gotta be a “live” message.

I use one of these on my 2003XLT & 2014EL & my Cub Cadet. Seems perfect.
Says it's good for all types of batteries including AGM.
I like to maintain the battery at full voltage and this seems to do that.
I go on 6 week trips with this connected and when I get home battery is good!
I fastened the pigtail to the battery posts on my 2003XLT so its a plug in not a clamp on.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Battery-...MI37nlw87b6AIV9P_jBx1JLQEWEAQYAyABEgJDj_D_BwE

or? they got this one. i dunno why its better, maybe it is ... but how/why?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Battery-...-038-1715f7c115c702&athancid=null&athena=true

 

[bushpilot]

Ive been using BatteryMinders (they desulfate too) for years....even on periodically driven motorcycles, cars or motor coach - I can easily get 7 years out of a conventional wet/lead acid battery.

one BatteryMinder can support up to 3 batteries (aka diesel pickup truck w/ 2 batteries, motor coach w/ 2 banks of 3 batteries each)

I like to back our vehicles into the driveway and garages - I run a connection point to the rear bumper (to avoid cables & wires running all over the garage floor or driveway) - Ive already installed a charge line on the expy...I dont always plug in, but if I know its gonna sit for several days ill plug in...and if I know its gonna sit for weeks i plug 'em in.

 

[Oklahoma Jim]

I use this one.

 

[Deadman]

Just hardwire it to a plug that can peek thru the grill or somewhere, so you don't have to rip the hood open every time and hook everything up. just plug n play after initial wiring... I do this to my ATV's and stuff that has a hidden battery and gets parked for periods of time.

 

[Fozzy]

My Expy has been driven once a week for the last 2 months minus one dune trip of 200 miles round trip. Today the Auto stop wound not activate. I have been telling people that the AGM batteries are hard to charge. Just took a voltage reading of 12.4. Sulfation starts at 12.4-12.3. If you don’t drive it every day or often for long trips you need a tender.




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