Keeping Your Car Battery Fresh

Imagine this: you excitedly hop in your car for a weekend getaway, only to find a dead battery. Frustrating, right? Enter the battery tender, a car care hero that prevents such scenarios by maintaining your battery’s charge during storage. But how exactly does it work, and is it right for your car?

Understanding Battery Drain

Car batteries, like all batteries, lose charge over time. This is due to a phenomenon called self-discharge, an internal process where chemical reactions slowly sap the battery’s energy. Additionally, modern vehicles often have tiny parasitic loads – small currents drawn by electronic components like clocks or alarms that can further drain the battery. Leaving your car unused for extended periods, especially during cold weather, accelerates this discharge. A weak battery struggles to crank the engine, leading to a dead battery and a jump-start hassle.

The Magic of the Battery Tender

A battery tender is a small electronic device that connects to your car’s battery using alligator clips. Unlike a battery charger, which delivers a strong burst of current to revive a dead battery, a tender provides a low, steady current. This is enough to counteract self-discharge and parasitic drain, essentially maintaining the battery’s ideal charge level.

Most tenders are fully automatic. Once plugged in, they intelligently monitor the battery’s voltage and automatically adjust the current flow. This prevents overcharging, a condition that can damage the battery.

Tender Loving Care for Your Battery

Battery tenders are not just for long-term storage. They’re beneficial for any vehicle that’s not driven daily, especially classics, seasonal vehicles, or motorcycles. Here’s why:

• Extended Battery Life: By preventing deep discharges, tenders reduce stress on the battery, leading to a longer lifespan.
• Corrosion Prevention: Regular charging helps prevent corrosion at the battery terminals, saving you money on replacements.
• Convenience: No more worrying about a dead battery before a trip. Your car will always be ready to go.

However, tenders aren’t a magic bullet. They can’t revive a completely dead battery, and they won’t work on faulty batteries. If your car struggles to start even with a tender connected, it’s time for a battery replacement.

Choosing the Right Tender

Battery tenders come in various amperage ratings. Higher amperage chargers can handle larger batteries or those in frequently driven vehicles. Consider your car’s battery size and usage patterns when choosing a tender.

With a modest investment in a battery tender, you can ensure your car’s battery stays healthy and starts reliably. So ditch the jump-start anxiety and keep your car happy with the gentle care of a battery tender.

If a battery tender is in your future, you can visit your nearest AAA South Jersey office. We stock quality battery tenders at member discounted pricing.