SMGT3

After a long wait, I'm taking a delivery of a 1963 356B. I'm very new to the 356 and classic car care. What does everyone use for a battery maintainer? I use a CETEK battery maintainer for my GT3. I doubt I can use that one. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

points

I don't like using a battery maintainer on my car due to proximity of 15 gallons of gas near the charger. Buy a red top optima. Its never been an issue for me....course I drive my car all the time anyway.

n8kruger

The 6 volt battery tender by Deltran is excellent. I got mine from Amazon prime of all places. I would support points in voting for a gell cell battery or something that won't lead to corrosion like an Optima. I actually think they are worse in terms of tolerance of disuse than conventional lead acid batteries. That being said, for long-term storage I take the battery out and charge it on the tender on the ground. I'm not worried about the gas tank since the electronics in the battery tenders are fairly sophisticated and should not ever produce a spark

eichlerman

I use a Porsche maintainer that plugs into the lighter plug.

jcnesq

6v or 12v? If your 356 is 12v, CTEK should work just fine. If you have a 6v or just want a separate charger, this is the one I have: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Combination-...791736&vxp=mtr

Seller is a really good guy, I have met him at Porsche swap meets and highly recommend him.

ColoradoGT3

I use a battery tender on my '60 B 12 volt.
Every Porsche in existence has a battery near a fuel tank....
Knock on wood... mine is still in one piece.

points

True except for one very crucial difference....the gas cap on 356 T5 and earlier bodies is under the bonnet. From T6 on, the filler is on the outside. Would you charge your battery in the garage if it sat next to 3 five gallon cans of gas?

If I had to charge I would at least do it with bonnet up.

dandyw

I use a battery tender with the bonnet up in my garage. So far so good...

Domer911

I sometimes go a few months without using my 356 or my 914. Neither has been a problem. There's zero drain (or at least minimal) on those batteries. 997.2 is another story, and I swear by CTEK.