How to Tell if Battery Tender Is Charging? Here’s How!

A battery Tender is a companion every car owner should plan to have. Any car owner who has encountered a dead battery at one point can explain the agony one goes through as one figures out how to resurrect the battery to ignite the engine. It's only at such times that one realizes the critical roles played by the car battery and the battery Tender.

Car battery charging highlights

• Critical voltage:lower than 12 volts
• Target voltage:12.5 volts
• Charging voltage:14 - 14.7 volts
• Charging time:defined by tender
• Risks:battery death
• DIY solution:yes
• Tools needed:charger, power socket
• Price:$1

What is a car battery?

The car battery is simply an electrical power bank that supplies the initial electrical energy that cranks your engine to a start. When you turn the ignition key or press the "push start" button, an electrical process drawing electric power from the battery is ignited to kick the engine to life, start the computer system, and all other components like the stereo system, lighting, and mirrors that use electric current.

Battery Discharge, how does it happen?

When the battery's power goes below a certain voltage level, it cannot perform the stated functions, the main one being that your car cannot start. The battery can lose power or become discharged/drained if, when the car is off, some electric functions like lights or relays are left on (parasitic drain), or your car's charging system is defective.

Extreme weather conditions, when you leave your car unused for a prolonged period, or when your battery has outlived its stated lifespan may also drain your battery power.

A majority of motorists have yet to learn how a car battery operates. Essentially, when your car is running, the alternator continuously recharges the battery, thus eliminating the need to recharge the battery manually every other time. However, as we know, with all car components and functionalities, there is no guarantee that it will not fail from time to time.

Battery Tender

A battery Tender is an intelligent charger that maintains a continuous, controlled supply of actual voltage to your car battery to keep it fully charged for long periods, even when your vehicle is in hibernation mode.

Manufactured by Deltran, the battery Tender uses micro-processors that intelligently determine the voltage that flows between them and the car battery or car terminals. The microprocessor technology enables the battery Tender to safely perform sophisticated battery charging functions that guarantee a full charge to the battery and a prolonged life.

Unlike other ordinary chargers whose function is to re-fill a drained battery, the battery Tender is a plug-in device that uses hi-tech spark-free technology to charge your battery and has sensors that shut off when the battery is fully charged.

The sensors can also detect a fault in the battery and refrain from charging such batteries to prevent accidents or further damage to the battery.

How it functions

To operate the battery Tender, put it in the off mode and connect it to your car battery terminals appropriately. After ensuring that all connections are tight and all required safety precautions have been met, plug the Tender into an AC outlet and switch it on. Ensure that the Tender is placed furthest from the battery as the connection cables permit.

The battery Tender uses green and red indicator/status lights to let you decode its functions.

Once switched on, the Tender begins by performing several initial mandatory checks on your battery for safety before it can begin charging properly. This is called the initialization mode and is usually indicated by a flashing red light.

If the flashing red light lingers continually, it may indicate very low battery power, usually below 5 volts, or there might be some loose connections of the cables/clips between the car battery and the Tender.

Is the Battery Tender charging? Here is how to tell!

After the mandatory checks and confirmation that the car battery is okay, the Tender begins to charge the battery at a fairly constant rate called the bulk charge mode. This is the most critical stage (for the car owner) and is indicated by a steady red light. This process is maintained until the battery is fully charged (or until the voltage reaches a level pre-determined by the owner). The Tender then maintains a constant battery voltage at the attained level.

As the charging process continues, you may realize that with the red light still on, a green light begins to flash. This tells you that your car battery has attained a voltage charge above 80%. You may then opt to use the battery at that point.

However, experts advise charging the battery until it is 100% charged. This improves the performance as well as the lifespan of your car battery. When the battery becomes fully charged, the green light will steady up, and the battery Tender automatically stops charging the battery.

At this point, you can disconnect your Tender and use the battery. However, if you are not using your car soon, you should leave the Tender connected to your car battery. The Tender automatically switches to the maintenance/float mode, keeping the battery voltage at that level while allowing the current amplitude to reduce gradually over time.

This state, called the absorption charge mode, is designed to let the battery settle down. When the charge drops to a pre-determined level, the Tender automatically switches on and begins the charging cycle again. This guarantees you a car battery that will fire your car engine to life at every instance.

Remember, the battery Tender can safely be left connected to your car battery for as long as you may want, thus assuring yourself that the engine will kick to life the next time you turn the ignition after a long non-use.