Trickle charger recommendation for winter storage.

[erocker]

So with the lousy winters I get up here, my car will be in storage for about 4 months out of the year. Any recommendations for a trickle charger?

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[Skye]

https://accessories.ford.com/products/ford-performance-5-0-smart-battery-charger-maintainer

I have this one installed. CTEK is very popular. The Ford unit looks exactly like CTEK's and I believe is made by them. Works well. No hassles.

The unit has a connectorised plug with two pig tails. One has traditional clips to attach to the battery. I'm using the connector with the eyelets; it's hard-wired in.

Another popular brand is "Battery Tender", the green units.

 

[erocker]

Oh nice! Had no idea Ford sold one, thank you very much!

 

[Skye]

My Winter Storage Routine...

- Full detailing
- Full tank of gas
- Stabil
- Tire pressure set to 40 psi / 2.75 bar
- Car in neutral
- Wheels chocked
- Parking brake NOT set
- Cover car
- Battery tender attached
- * Varmint deterrents
- ** Oil change

* Some live in areas with mice and other varmints. Heavily-scented items, dryer sheets, moth balls, peppermint and traps. Whatever might be in your area, plan ahead and set whatever works for you.

- Never keep any sources of food in the garage; you're just inviting them
- Perform a check under the car and hood once in a while, no matter what
- People keep a lot of stuff in their garage. Beat the bushes, shake things up now and again, to help ensure something hasn't taken up residence

** With the Gen 3, the Oil Life Monitor decreases oil life by 1.92% a week, even if sitting. If oil life will expire during storage, consider changing oil just as going into storage. Others like to change the oil anyway. Some wait until first light, when coming out of storage. Whatever works for you.

 

[Skye]

Had no idea Ford sold one

One Member had a good idea: he bought his car, which awarded him so many Ford points; he used those to get his tender.

 

[erocker]

One Member had a good idea: he bought his car, which awarded him so many Ford points; he used those to get his tender.

I have no idea how these points work, but I'll definitely look into that before going out and buying one. Thanks much!

 

[timd38]

I have of these in each vehicle I store during the winter. I have pigtails on them so I don’t have to have the hood open. On my S550 and Corvette they are by the wipers on my others they are in the grill.

 

[Ryunker]

Who thinks this will even be an issue this year? Likely we won't even see these cars until 2024. A bit pre-mature

 

[erocker]

Who thinks this will even be an issue this year? Likely we won't even see these cars until 2024. A bit pre-mature

A lot of our cars are in production now. So, yeah I'll need one this year.

 

[MyloTcat]

My 2024 GT coupe arrived last Saturday September 2nd. Ordered it in April. It replaces a 2007 C6 Corvette which I had on a ctek tender. I bought a new ctek not knowing Ford sold one. I connected directly to the battery with the ring terminals but the supplied pigtail is too short to fit up thru the back of the hood. So I bought a ctek extension cord on Amazon and then tie wrapped everything inside the engine compartment. Now I can connect to the ctek without having to open the hood. The connector that pokes out the back of the hood has a plug to keep out the weather. When driving I also tuck that connector inside the hood just far enough so that it doesn't blow around.

 

[Instant Action]

C-Tek definitely

 

[Pyroguy]

https://accessories.ford.com/products/ford-performance-5-0-smart-battery-charger-maintainer

I have this one installed. CTEK is very popular. The Ford unit looks exactly like CTEK's and I believe is made by them. Works well. No hassles.

The unit has a connectorised plug with two pig tails. One has traditional clips to attach to the battery. I'm using the connector with the eyelets; it's hard-wired in.

Another popular brand is "Battery Tender", the green units.

I want to hook up the quick disconnect for the trickle charger like shown on this S550.

The S650 looks really different. I'm 99% sure I hook it up to these points. Just need a little help verifying this. I don't want to F anything up.

 

[Skye]

I'm 99% sure I hook it up to these points.

For an S650, that would appear to be correct.

Edit: I also noticed from the S650 Owner's Manual, those are the two tie points to jump start the car.

Conceptually, this is what you're striving for (from the Ford Performance tender install manual):

Once you are wired in, the battery re-connected and the tender connected, it can take some time before the tender is fully "up". For example, the initial stages of battery conditioning take close to an hour to complete (with my car). But the final stages can take as long as 24-hours. The initial one or two steps will tell you things are connected correctly and the tender is beginning its task/s. The ultimate and last stage on the FP unit can take as long as one week before it illuminates.

 

[Pyroguy]

For an S650, that would appear to be correct.

Edit: I also noticed from the S650 Owner's Manual, those are the two tie points to jump start the car.

Conceptually, this is what you're striving for (from the Ford Performance tender install manual):

Once you are wired in, the battery re-connected and the tender connected, it can take some time before the tender is fully "up". For example, the initial stages of battery conditioning take close to an hour to complete (with my car). But the final stages can take as long as 24-hours. The initial one or two steps will tell you things are connected correctly and the tender is beginning its task/s. The ultimate and last stage on the FP unit can take as long as one week before it illuminates.

Thanks Skye. You always have the helpful answers. I'm putting it away for the winter tomorrow

 

[dusman59]

After reading many reviews on almost all these chargers manufactured today it seems that the quality has gone south. Many quit working or cook the battery. Its all the brands that one would think reliable. I have an old school Craftsman one that has a maintain settting of .035ma that I have used storing cars during winter time when I lived in upstate NY. It is for only lead acid and wont work for the battery that comes in the My24 stang. Anyone has a good recomended one let us all know. I hate that these companies let the consumer be the QC at our expense.

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