Do you all use battery chargers?

[Doobie1]

For those people that dont use there MM as a daily driver, do you use any type of charger?

Is it even worth buyin one if you let you car sit 1-2 weeks then only drive it 2-3 days then let it sit again 1-2 weeks?

[Mike Poore]

For those people that dont use there MM as a daily driver, do you use any type of charger?

Is it even worth buyin one if you let you car sit 1-2 weeks then only drive it 2-3 days then let it sit again 1-2 weeks?
I left mine sit all winter, inside and warm, (3 months) and it started right up. I use fuel stabalizer and have the tank topped off to avoid condensation. :coffee:

[O's Fan Rich]

My Dad uses the battery tenders for his cars when he and Mom head south for the winter.
But for 1-2 weeks, I would not bother.

[RF Overlord]

But for 1-2 weeks, I would not bother.^^^what he said^^^

My MM sat for weeks at a time this past winter, with no ill effects.

[grampaws]

Disconnect the battery if it is longer than a month..

No charger...pickup sits three months at a time and
will still start first time...no charger..:)

[SergntMac]

I'm going to be the oddball here, but I'm used to that.

BTW, long post warning too.

I'm going to get into some L/M stuff.

This post is just my opinion, your results may vary.

However, y'all have been warned. Turn back now?

Yes, I use a battery charger, a nine dollar trickle charger from Pep Boys called a "Mighty-Mite." I added my own special wiring harness to expedite the hook up, and that added two dollars to the investment.

I don't know when I'll use my MM again, could be in an hour, could be next week. While waiting for mods and updates, it's sat quiet a month or longer too. So, when I don't know precisely when I will drive my MM again, I hook up my Mighty-Mite battery thingy, take less than 30 seconds to pop the hood and plug it in.

I still have my OEM battery, which is at least 4 years old, or, better today.

It should have died a long time ago, but it's holding on. I expect "dead forever" any day now, and I'll get to make that sweet Interstate purchase I've been putting off almost a year. Until then, my Mighy-Mite gets plugged in maybe twice a week, because my work schedule, my MM play time, and my MM battery, are all presently unpredictable.

IMHO, the 130 amp MM altenator is too underpowered for this job. It's the stock spec 130 amp altenator that comes with all standard Gran Marqs and Crown Vics bought by old folks everywhere in the free world. Yet, we don't drive our 4V MMs like they do, so, I'm not surprised by any of this.

IMHO, L/M (and Ford) dropped their towing package option from '03 and up Panther frames because they didn't want us to tow more that 1500 pounds with their passenger sedans anymore. They wanted us to consider the SUV of their choice, but the side affect of this decision is that the 165 amp altenator once part and parcel of a towing package option, wasn't an option to MM buyers.

So, we're stuck with the 130 amp, and when it's a hot and rainy day, and you have your stereo on, headlights on, (maybe fog lamps too), wipers on, AC on, and you're at a stop light, in drive, with your foot on the brake and brake lights glowing, while also charging your cell phone, or, maybe providing extra power by demand from your 12gazillion watt aftermarket audio system, you're in the amp/volt hole, yes?

The 130 amp altenator that is supposed to be resupplying us with 13.5 or better volts, delivers a mere 10.5, maybe 11.0v output at best under the conditions I outlined above. Simple math says that if you drive around long enough like this, you'll have a dead battery a lot sooner than you expect.

Been there, done that. During my last trip to the drag strip, I used my on-board fans and pumps to cool water temps between runsm but ran the battery dead anyway. Zack and I drove my MM to the drag strip, a 80 mile drive. When we travel like this, the AC is off, the music is off, the car sees a lot of high RMP and WOT blasts, and the altenator does not shut off under WOT. Windows are open and the "chat room" stuff is face to face.

Therefore, what I'm describing, is that my MM's charging system should be operating at it's peak over this 90 some mile drive to the race track. Yet, at one point in our last race day, I needed a jump, because 20 minutes of fan and pump operation exhausted my battery. Therefore, I use a battery charger on a regular basis, because...IMHO...The OEM battery and our on-board recharging system, is not up to snuff when the owner is active and competition minded...And uses his MM as I do.

There is a 200 amp police/taxi altenator available in the aftermarket, and with a chrome/polished housing too. I'm not ready for all that bling just yet, it's pricey too, and I would rather spend my mod bucks on bling y'all can see, like Coddington wheels and 60 foot times. But, once my "single wire" altenator dies, I'm not going back to the OEM replacement. That may work for oil filters, but it's not working for me, and my on-board electricity.

[Gagfish]

I put in a deep cycle battery which can sit for 12 months. I drive mine every day but will help with the load from my stereo. I also bought the 200 amp alternator but it does not actually fit the marauder so I am stuck with the stock one. I use a battery charger if I have the key on for extended periods of time (stereo tuning). If I were gonna let the car sit for more than a month with the stock battery I would use a charger for a few hours before I started it again. Other than that who cares if the battery dies if it is in storage.

[jgc61sr2002]

I agree that a charger is not required for a one to two week period. But lack of use does take it's toll on the Battery. Mine was replaced after one year under warranty.

[CRUZTAKER]

I use this faithfully through the Ohio winters.

Always have. ;)

[rumble]

For those people that dont use there MM as a daily driver, do you use any type of charger?

Is it even worth buyin one if you let you car sit 1-2 weeks then only drive it 2-3 days then let it sit again 1-2 weeks?

Here ya go,http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?&SKU=77655
used one for years now. It's NOT a charger but is the ticket for an idle
battery.

[Gagfish]

True, a regular battery can only take so much charging and draining before it gives up.

[Merc-O-matic]

Battery Tender Plus 12V (1.25 amp)
keeps battery charged at all times....no trickle charge.
Only charges when needed...floats when not needed.
Pick one up off E-bay $40-50. Retail $55.00

Gotta Love It!