Trickle Charger?

[SadRobot]

Looking for suggestions for the best way to keep my battery alive without driving the Jeep for long periods of time.

There seems to be a lot of options for trickle chargers including solar powered. Jeep is kept in the driveway so no easy assess to an outlet although with a long extension cord I could maybe run it around the house and into the garage but it would be a long run.

Another option I guess is to remove the battery completely but I want to avoid that in case I need to move the Jeep in an emergency. Baring an emergency Jeep will be sitting for a few months.

So what brands/type of trickle charger is best? If I could keep it under $50 that would be ideal.

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[CloakedWillys]

This is what I use on my bike and it works great.

https://no.co/genius5

 

[SadRobot]

This is what I use on my bike and it works great.

https://no.co/genius5

Cool I was just looking at that one. I guess the best idea is to just run a cord under the garage door and into the garage. It'll look a bit messy but probably be more dependable.

 

[CloakedWillys]

Cool I was just looking at that one. I guess the best idea is to just run a cord under the garage door and into the garage. It'll look a bit messy but probably be more dependable.

That would get the job done. If you get one of their extension cables you may be able mount the unit in your garage. I have hardwire on the bike that it plugs into.

 

[Cagle]

I use Deltran Battery Tenders. We have four of our rides on them right now. I have used this brand for over 30 years. They have never let me down.

 

[THAW]

I'd opt for the slightly more expensive NOCO 10 over the 5. It'll handle "trickle" charging, but it'll do a better job charging the battery if its state of charge ever gets low for whatever reason.

In the era of smart chargers, the only real justification for buying a dedicated "trickle" charger as your first/only charger is saving a a little money/space.

 

[AndySpill]

Looking for suggestions for the best way to keep my battery alive without driving the Jeep for long periods of time.

There seems to be a lot of options for trickle chargers including solar powered. Jeep is kept in the driveway so no easy assess to an outlet although with a long extension cord I could maybe run it around the house and into the garage but it would be a long run.

Another option I guess is to remove the battery completely but I want to avoid that in case I need to move the Jeep in an emergency. Baring an emergency Jeep will be sitting for a few months.

So what brands/type of trickle charger is best? If I could keep it under $50 that would be ideal.

I agree with the plug in options suggested so far but do want to say that if you opt for some solar arrangement, as you alluded to, do note that plugging it into the console 12V cigarette lighter plug won't provide you access to the vehicle battery/ies when parked (i.e. that's an accessory plug that is not energized when the vehicle is parked.)

You can plug it into the 12V plug, if equipped, in the cargo area, as that plug, by default from the factory is, unlike the one in the console, always energized. (It's accessory/battery status can be controlled by moving a fuse.)

Another place, without popping the hood, to gain accessory to the battery is thru the ODB2 port by your left knee. A solar charger with a male cigarette light plug can be adapted with a cable like this one:

https://a.co/d/8sGJxPX

Of course, keeping the vehicle garaged, as a you seemed to indicate, makes solar a no go, but you did bring up this option so I thought I'd touch upon it.

 

[Maverick909]

I have two of these charger/tender Ive used these on both my jeep and my Motorcycles

 

[SadRobot]

I'd opt for the slightly more expensive NOCO 10 over the 5. It'll handle "trickle" charging, but it'll do a better job charging the battery if its state of charge ever gets low for whatever reason.

In the era of smart chargers, the only real justification for buying a dedicated "trickle" charger as your first/only charger is saving a a little money/space.

Well this just has to last me a few months so I don’t need anything too powerful. Just enough to keep it from draining.

 

[SPPhillips]

I installed a 2 wire waterproof plug from Amazon onto the battery and left it hanging out of the grill a little bit. When I want to charge it, I just undo the waterproof cap and hook it up. Since it's waterproof, I can charge in any weather. I bought some 14AWG wire to make the extension from charger in my garage to the battery. The charger has a desulfator function so it restores your old battery too. I cut the clips off of the charger and installed the waterproof female connector. Wire from battery used male end, extension cord used female side to battery and male side to charger, charger used female end. Clamps I removed used male connector. I remove the extension cord from the charger to charge my other vehicles without having the extension cord hooked up, but I suppose it would work either way. the waterproof cap I made with the left over female connector. I wire loomed and taped everything inside of the engine bay to keep it from chafing. make sure the wire is pure copper, not copper clad aluminum (CCA).

MUYI 14AWG Electrical Connectors Kits, 3 Sets 2 Pin Way Wire Harness Connectors Weatherpack Connector Kit

14 Gauge Marine Wire 14 AWG Duplex Marine Grade Wire,50ft Tinned Copper Heavy Duty Sheathed Electrical Cable for Boat/Automotive/RV/Camper/Trailer

YONHAN Battery Charger 10-Amp 12V and 24V Fully-Automatic Smart Car Battery Charger, Battery Maintainer

 

[SadRobot]

I installed a 2 wire waterproof plug from Amazon onto the battery and left it hanging out of the grill a little bit. When I want to charge it, I just undo the waterproof cap and hook it up. Since it's waterproof, I can charge in any weather. I bought some 14AWG wire to make the extension from charger in my garage to the battery. The charger has a desulfator function so it restores your old battery too. I cut the clips off of the charger and installed the waterproof female connector. Wire from battery used male end, extension cord used female side to battery and male side to charger, charger used female end. Clamps I removed used male connector. I remove the extension cord from the charger to charge my other vehicles without having the extension cord hooked up, but I suppose it would work either way. the waterproof cap I made with the left over female connector. I wire loomed and taped everything inside of the engine bay to keep it from chafing. make sure the wire is pure copper, not copper clad aluminum (CCA).

MUYI 14AWG Electrical Connectors Kits, 3 Sets 2 Pin Way Wire Harness Connectors Weatherpack Connector Kit

14 Gauge Marine Wire 14 AWG Duplex Marine Grade Wire,50ft Tinned Copper Heavy Duty Sheathed Electrical Cable for Boat/Automotive/RV/Camper/Trailer

YONHAN Battery Charger 10-Amp 12V and 24V Fully-hAutomatic Smart Car Battery Charger, Battery Maintainer

Ha well that's the opposite of the simple 3 month temporary solution I'm looking for but I do appreciate your ingenuity.

@Terrymo has kindly offered to lend me his Noco 5 for a few months so I'll be hooking that up and running a 50ft extension cord to the nearest outlet inside the garage.

 

[SPPhillips]

I charge my battery every week. So far my battery is 6 years old and still going strong with my little setup. Maybe it will be useful to other folks that don't drive their vehicles weeks at a time like me.

 

[Rubrunner]

I’ve used the 1A Wal-mart EverStart tender for the last five years. It’s inexpensive and charges slowly (which I like). I throw it on every few weeks in the winter months because the Jeep sits for long stretches. It may not work for a fully depleted battery, but it works well for how I use it.

 

[Terrymo]

Ha well that's the opposite of the simple 3 month temporary solution I'm looking for but I do appreciate your ingenuity.

@Terrymo has kindly offered to lend me his Noco 5 for a few months so I'll be hooking that up and running a 50ft extension cord to the nearest outlet inside the garage.

The first 12 months rent is free…then penalties and hidden fees in the fine print start to accrue It’s yours as long as you need it.

 

[Bayrat]

Looking for suggestions for the best way to keep my battery alive without driving the Jeep for long periods of time.

There seems to be a lot of options for trickle chargers including solar powered. Jeep is kept in the driveway so no easy assess to an outlet although with a long extension cord I could maybe run it around the house and into the garage but it would be a long run.

Another option I guess is to remove the battery completely but I want to avoid that in case I need to move the Jeep in an emergency. Baring an emergency Jeep will be sitting for a few months.

So what brands/type of trickle charger is best? If I could keep it under $50 that would be ideal.

It takes a few seconds to remove the negative cable, that's what I do. Reconnect is just as quick.

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