# Battery Charger or Battery Maintainer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** charger, batteries\ **Created:** [July 14, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-charger-or-battery-maintainer/16708 "2008-07-14T17:03:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gemont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@gemont](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gemont)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-charger-or-battery-maintainer/16708/1 "2008-07-14T17:03:26Z")
I have a car that gets minimal usage (child at college, care at home). The battery keeps dying, as the accessories drain it with no usage. I was looking into buying a battery charger (about $50) and noticed that we could get a “battery maintainer” for about $20. Which should I do? Thanks, George ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-charger-or-battery-maintainer/16708/2 "2008-07-14T17:06:48Z")
A trickle charger a.k.a. a battery maintainer should do the job. If the car is outside, you could even consider a solar-powered unit. However, what kind of time frame are we talking about? A battery in good shape without any excessive parasitic load, should be able to maintain enough charge for at least several weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_G](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dave_g/32/768_2.png) [@Dave\_G](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Dave_G)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-charger-or-battery-maintainer/16708/3 "2008-07-14T17:06:52Z")
A large battery tender (or maintainer as you call it) would be best for your needs and will keep the battery healthy. I recommend them for anyone with a motorcycle or car that is inactive for long periods. I find Deltran brand products to be top notch: [http://www.batterytender.com/](http://www.batterytender.com/) ---
**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-charger-or-battery-maintainer/16708/4 "2008-07-14T17:10:09Z")
The battery maintainer is more suited to your purpose. All you have to do is remember to use it. The charger is more versatile. You can even use it as a maintainer. And if the battery ever runs down for any reason (you left a door open overnight) the charger will get you going in about 30 minutes while the maintainer is of little value to you in this case. Also - your neighbors who have riding mowers would prefer you have a battery charger. ---
**Author:** ![gemont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@gemont](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gemont)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-charger-or-battery-maintainer/16708/5 "2008-07-14T17:23:04Z")
Off and on, it could be a few months at a time. with the battery maintainer, does it need to be plugged-in the whole time? ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-charger-or-battery-maintainer/16708/6 "2008-07-14T17:55:00Z")
If we’re talking months, I’d suggest using gas stabilizer if you aren’t already. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-charger-or-battery-maintainer/16708/7 "2008-07-14T18:02:50Z")
You could hook it after a few weeks, but the problem is remembering to do so! ---
**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-charger-or-battery-maintainer/16708/8 "2008-07-14T18:27:37Z")
In the well-stocked DIY garage it’s always nice to have a battery charger. For the vehicle that sits between drives the battery maintainer will allow you to hop in and go. Mine is a 1979 chevy short stepside with grand total original miles of 69871. For it I use the solar trickle charger that plugs into the lighter socket and sometimes, say six months between drives, it’s not quite enough and I have to get out the charger or jump it. I’ve been wondering about getting something more high tech but have not yet. ---
**Author:** ![gemont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@gemont](https://community.cartalk.com/u/gemont)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 10:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-charger-or-battery-maintainer/16708/9 "2008-07-15T22:20:56Z")
Thanks everyone for your comments. I still can see benefits to both, but am leaning toward getting a charger. ---
**Author:** ![B.L.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/848f3c/32.png) [@B.L.E](https://community.cartalk.com/u/B.L.E)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 3:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-charger-or-battery-maintainer/16708/10 "2008-07-16T03:31:53Z")
A good way to use a battery charger as a battery maintainer is to plug it into a 24 hour light timer. Fifteen minutes a day should keep it fully charged. ---
**Author:** ![Jeremy\_R\_Hoyt](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jeremy_r_hoyt/32/37_2.png) [@Jeremy\_R\_Hoyt](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jeremy_R_Hoyt)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2008, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/battery-charger-or-battery-maintainer/16708/11 "2008-07-16T15:21:50Z")
Yes, it should be plugged in the whole time. Trickle chargers like this are usually pretty smart. They can adjust power to compensate for the battery’s needs.