Is it safe to hook up a battery charger without disconnecting the battery cables?
- Thread starter Eddie Greenlee
- Start date
Never thought about it 
, I have never disconnected mine. Glade to know now I didn't mess things up 
, I have never disconnected mine. Glade to know now I didn't mess things up 
I keep a trickle charger on my Camaro all winter long. Have been for years
Tray Burge
TJ Addict
Just make sure to unhook it before driving. lol
My daughter came home for a visit, not having her car she jumped into my hot rod truck and took off to the store.
She called me and said she was dragging something behind her, but it finally dropped off in the road.
First of all, I asked her why she was driving my truck?!!
Second, that was my battery tender I had hooked up to keep the battery fully charged while stored!
You think she offered to buy me another battery tender?
My daughter came home for a visit, not having her car she jumped into my hot rod truck and took off to the store.
She called me and said she was dragging something behind her, but it finally dropped off in the road.
First of all, I asked her why she was driving my truck?!!
Second, that was my battery tender I had hooked up to keep the battery fully charged while stored!
You think she offered to buy me another battery tender?
I l
I leave the hood open and trickle charger on my TJ all winter so my daughter won't jump into it.
you're totally good. I've never disconnected the battery to charge it. You're not applying any voltage or current outside the realm of what the electrical system expects. As long as you don't reverse the cables that is.
Also, 0. Cute.
Also, 0. Cute.
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Tray Burge
TJ Addict
I have my battery tender cord stretched across my access to the driver's side door so I won't accidentally drive off with it still attached. Keeping a battery that is seldom used on a battery tender is the way to extend its life out as long as possible. My Jeep batteries are always the more expensive Odyssey/Northstar types so they stay on a tender to insure they don't go dead on me which is what shortens a battery's life. The more times a battery is allowed to go dead the shorter its life.
I have had my jeep on a battery tender/ charger for the last week. Its been cold. Last night was -30 without windchill.
I actually have a battery charger so I set it on 2amps and keeping it there all night till I go out and play in the ice and snow. 
Tray Burge
TJ Addict
Not sure, but I believe there is a difference in the charge?
Mine just plugs into the cigar lighter (they have to be a constant on plug though).
The tenders I have are all different than a standard battery charger in that they have automatic modes which shift into some type of maintenance cycle once the battery is charged to avoid overcharging the battery. That’s what allows you to hook them up and then forget about them. They also do something called desalination?, desaltification? Memory is failing me this morning, but it is a de-somethin-ication. Apparently helps extend the life of the battery.
The least expensive 1.5 amp charger is fine to keep a charged battery charged. I've been using a pair of these 1.5 amp tenders for my trailer and Jeep batteries for years and the batteries are doing great. I leave them connected 100% of the time they're my garage. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000AXTUY/?tag=wranglerorg-20
