This issue came up on another car message board I frequent, and is something I have never really considered. For those whose Cougars may sit around for days and/or just operate on short trips around town, do you keep your car on a battery tender? If so, which model? Thx
Billy
Battery Tender Plus 12V charger and maintainer- the bigger one with the metal housing. I also get the 25 ft cord extenders (Amazon carries them) so I can keep the units “Away” from the cars on a shelf and not having them sit on floor next to car. Keep all batteries on them - don’t know the last time I had to replace a garden tractor battery…
Depending on how many vehicles, Battery Tender also has a 4 port unit.
I second the recommendation of Battery Tender brand. I have six cars and my car trailer all hooked up to them. After going through batteries too quickly, I started religiously plugging each one into a trickle charger if it’s going to sit for more than 3 or 4 days. Since starting that regimen, I get about 10 years out of a battery with some lasting even longer. My since sold 2005 Expedition still had the factory installed battery until 2018.
Thx for the info. The Battery Tender website mostly references motorcycles and sports vehicles. I’m a bit curious about that.
Also, do you know where the chargers are made? I couldn’t find anything on the website. Thx.
For winter i disconnect my fully charged battery. Having been thru one electrical fire, I’d rather not leave it powered. 
I’ve been using the Battery Butler tenders from Lectric Limited for years. They work great.
https://www.lectriclimited.com/battery-butler-products/
Has anyone found a battery tender made in the USA? or, not made in China? Thx
I have the 4-port unit and also the 25’ extensions. I connect all four cars to it every November and keep them on until April. I don’t remember what I paid but I know it was less than this:
I also agree that it really extends the life of the batteries. The one in the Hero is 12 years old, my Delta 88 Coups is 9, my wife’s Vert is at least 7 or 8, and I just replaced the battery in my 88 T-Bird that was (no lie) over 20 years old. It was still just fine and I only changed it because Jr. was using the car, and for peace of mind.
Ditto on the large metal Battery Tender Plus metal housing unit. Not rated high enough current output for charging auto batteries, but has plenty of power to maintain them. I disconnect the pos battery cable from the battery to solenoid, and connect up my Battery Tender Plus when leaving the car unattended (for the reasons Mike noted earlier).
I have one of the smaller Battery Tender units. I haven’t had an issue with it.
I use a battery tender but put them (nattery and tender) out in the shed.
Talking with firefighters tenders/chargers are a fairly common cause of fires. I guy just lost his house last week here and he said in the interview he thinks it was the charger he hooked up a few hours before the house/garage went up in flames.
There is no power draw on mine. Even in the cold temps here it fires up.
Of course I back it into the garage just in case