I use a Deltran Battery Tender Plus. I used it last winter and have started using it recently again after parking the car for winter. I am very happy with it and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

 

which version do you use? there is many different variants and prices.

 

Battery Tender® Plus

 

Ok time for me to decide, as I just went out to crank mine @ 1 am EST, low 30's FH & it struggled mightily lol. I'm liking the Battery Tender plus model linked above, but the Jaguar branded CTEK is just sexy, albeit hard to find lol decisions,decisions.


Edit :
Plus I'll be using mine on the posts under the hood as I have extra gear in trunk that hinders constant battery access.

 

The nice thing about the Deltran is that it comes with a pigtail you can connect to the battery terminals. Leave the connector above the floor panel so you don't have to physically access the battery. The plug has a rubber cover for when you're not using it. I looped mine up around the little hook on the back of the tail light so it's easy to access.

 

Yes, but the Noco G1100 is less expensive, has more features, and a lot more flashing lights.

https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-G1100-Ul.../dp/B004LX3AXQ

 

Appricate the feedback, just have to choose between the Noco, Battery Tender Plus, and the Ctek.

 

How long since you drove it?

 

I drive it approximately 2x a week, about 2,000 miles annually, I try to crank it & let it run every 2nd day of sitting.

AAA & myself are well acquainted over my course of X308 ownership lol.

 

I can't think of a worse thing to do to a car. Never start an engine unless you're going to drive the car until everything is fully warmed up.

 

The car is always ran until proper operating temp. nowhere in my statement did I say I was driving it cold.

 

Sitting idling in your drive?

Worst operating condition.

 

Same routine for every x308 me & my family's owned, so far no major mechanical issues , only inadvertent crashes & hurricanes have claimed their lives lol.

Edit :

Well after the laborious start the other night, I found my battery dead today. It being less than a year old I went back to the shop & got a replacement. Researching chargers I stumbled upon the CTEK CTX Battery Sense Bluetooth Device that has an app that lets you track your battery's charge level via your device. That & a tender will be my likely combo, still deciding between the Noco Genius & The Battery Tender brand.

CTEK CTX Battery Sense Bluetooth Device : https://www.amazon.com/CTEK-Battery-.../dp/B01976BXYE

 

I use a 20 year old battery tender on my XJR. It brings the battery back up to full charge, and then just keeps it there. Flashing red LED tells me its charging, green means it's just holding it there. Car lives on it until it goes out, which is about once a month. It has been looking after the battery beautifully for 2 years now. Car starts instantaneously every time.

Before I got the XJR, and when I had my '50 Mk5, and '56 Bentley I used the same one (I had/have 2) on them, as they only went out occasionally.

Can't recommend them highly enough.

Lyndon
Down Under, and on the run to Santa's visit.

 

I must say w/ a fresh cell, my car is much more pleasurable not that it was a bad scenario before.

 

What charger do you use?

 

Here's the latest review (Nov 2016) I could find... Battery Tender Plus Review, 2016 | Top Ten Reviews ...this is on the same units I have.
This one doesn't have a date of the test... BatteryWeb.com - Battery Charger/Maintainer, Which is the best? ...nor do I know the other products, but it at least gives you a comparison.

 

I will start by telling you to ALWAYS DISCONNECT THE BATTERY when working on your car. Accidentally shorting out a component can be very damaging to the sensitive electronics in our cars.

FWIW, I use CTEK 5.0 chargers on all my "fun" cars that may sit undriven for a month or more. That means it has 5 amps of charging ability.

MXS 5.0

The 5.0 has the "renewal" or desulphation mode and I run that about every six months or so. You can also charge AGM batteries with it and they have a "winter" mode too.

CTEK's are smart chargers that will not burn up your battery. They are supplied by Ferrari and Jag as OEM, at very high prices! You can buy one for about $75 from the 'bay or Amazon though.

The wall mount and comfort extensions are nice to have too, they sell a package with all accessories included. I have the panel mount connector installed on most of my cars too.

Asking your alternator to charge a nearly dead battery is asking a lot of that system. If your battery is near 100% when you begin each day i is a lot easier on the charging system. The car will also start quicker and run better with a fully charged battery and your battery will last longer too.

Everyone also needs an old fashioned quick charger/starter unit that can charge a dead battery at 10+ amps and also supply 25 amps for short periods to start a car with a dead or dying battery. It is going to be difficult and time consuming to charge a dead battery with only or 5 amps coming from the charger.

I also have the CTEK 7.0 which has 7 amps and a "supply" mode which puts out 12V continuously, I use the supply mode to test components on the bench, off the car.

Tag pic below, was a tag that was installed in new Ford cars in the '60's.
Alden

 

Wow, who would have thought a "battery tender" thread would be as fun as an "oil" or "spark plug" thread!

 

Yup. There's an old saying somewhere about 'the simpler the subject, the easier it is to turn it into rocket surgery'. Or something like that.