Yes most similar in advertising features. Different frequencies used, different wear on the plates, results in different battery life.
I have 2 Cteks, 1 Battery tender, and a have a dozen other charges from 2 amp hr - 40 amp hr for business and when I really need to get a battery back from the dead the Ctek has worked the best for short and long turn charging. I have an old RTE 7 amp/hr charger that works very well with fast recharges on large capacity batteries. I believe CTEK & Battery Tenders would be the safest and most economical for winter storage. You can find either almost anywhere now for under $50. +20 years ago the same technology was $100's of dollars. I think I paid over $400 for the RTE. Don't know if they are even around anymore.

 

I use a Ctek and a Battery Tender. Both are battery Maintainers (which is what you want rather that an trickle charger). No issues whatsoever with the cars stored in an unheated garage.

As other have said, plug it in and forget until spring. Removing the battery is just another unnecessary PITA.

FYI: The Porsche Battery maintainer is the same unit as the Ctek, but with the added "Porsche Tax" applied for the logo.

 

thanks for all the help, I have an 86 Carrera which is a pain in the *** to get the battery in and out, very snug. That's why I asked the question but i have been taking it out the last 2 seasons so it's still in now, will have to do something soon with snow on the ground .

 

Depending on your garages insulation .... if it gets cold enough it will kill the battery. For sure.


I always pull them out and keep it inside the house. It takes 5 minutes. /Or just use the smart charger.


I wouldnt leave it outside on its own.

 

What is the recommendation if it is a heated garage (around 60 degree)? The car will be stored for about 5 months. In the past, I have always disconnected the battery and lost all the info. I don't really want to disconnect the battery this year.

Will the battery die over the winter if I leave it connected?
Is it still best practice to use a battery charger the same as what has been already recommended?
Or is it best to start the car every month or every couple weeks?

Thanks in advance.

 

My garage is semi-heated. By that I mean it's attached to the house but not really heated, which is what I assume most people have unless they have a detached garage. It occasionally get down close to 0 C in there but is usually 5-8 C for most of the winter.
I still use a ctek smart charger. Why not, it only cost around $60 and I actually had it for other uses before I got the Porsche. Plug it in and forget about it for months. The wires are quite thin so you can lie them along the driver's side corner of your frunk and still close the lid all the way.

 

I don't store the car over the winter.
I've always used a battery maintainer (CTEK Multi US 3300), both in my previous address (with uninsulated/unheated garage) and my current address (which has an insulated/heated garage). The CTEK has a winter setting for when garage temps drop below 41 degrees F.

On those rare winter days when its clear and clean, I start the car and drive it for at least an hour. In our last winter (which was 5 1/2 months long!) those days were pretty rare indeed.

 

Guys, it's not rocket science, it's a battery!
Heated, unheated, covered, uncovered, lit or unlit, the process is the same regardless of the garage. Don't disconnect the battery or remove it, just plug it into a smart charger (Ctek, Battery Tender, etc...) and stop worrying about it.
Worse thing to do is remove the battery and store it on a cold floor (it will sulfate). Second worse, storing it anywhere without a battery maintainer as it will eventually lose all or part of it's charge and its lifespan will be affected.
FYI: Car dealers are required to maintain stored batteries or else they can void the coverage from the manufacturer and the replacement costs is all theirs. Inventory vehicles are also required to have some sort of battery maintenance schedule in effect and a battery condition printout is required from the dealer on acceptance of a new vehicle and prior to PDI if they hope to try to claim a defective battery from the OEM down the road. Some of them rotate small solar chargers through their inventory lots. None disconnect the batteries for storage.
So keep it simple and plug a battery maintainer into your car.

 

Not so simple for me, detached unheated garage with no power outlets, had an option of using a friends garage for the winter that is also detached and unheated but does have power outlets.

 

Phil's right. I've been winter storing cars in unheated detached garages for decades running trickle chargers through the cigarette lighter with no issues. Batteries last over 7 years. I do have a dehumidifier though 'cause shoulder season moisture is definitely your enemy. Check your brakes since this iron rusts before anything else.

 

The "cold" does not drain a battery.

A battery that is disconnected will self-discharge all by itself and will in fact do so slower in a cold environment as opposed to a warm environment.

Simply connect something like a CTEK 3300 to the battery in your car. My car is in a cool garage (above 0C) and that is what I do. I also set the CTEK to Motorcycle mode for a reduced 0.8A charge rate...its all you need especially since the unit switches on and off repeatedly.

IF the battery is being stored in freezing temperatures and it is not monitored at all by someone, then take the battery out and store and maintain it in a warm environment. The reason being, should your maintainer fail and the battery discharges due to current drains in the car, the battery will deplete, the acid turns to near water and when it freezes, it could or will split the battery case. Result, a mess and damage to you car.

 

Here's a plan.
Solar charger. Plug it in and hang the panel outside or on a window where it gets the most sun.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/search...attery+charger

 

wow two pages on plugging in a battery ... i thought we were Canadians in the gret white north and figured this stuff out a couple of generations ago.


obviously if you have a detached garage with no plug ins dont leave it out there.

Basement on a piece of wood with a battery tender will be fine. I stored my motorcycle battery from CT in the basement on a piece of wood for over 8 years with no tender. As an experiment i put it on the ctek for two weeks after and it fired my motorcycle right up.

 

I just disconnect the negative terminal and I am done.
Works for me in cars and boats for 20+ years.
Of course if you have a modern spaceship with electronics and such
then a battery maintainer is a good idea.
And... concrete is actually a good thing to store a modern battery on.
More importantly one needs to be concerned with their fuel (add stabilizer)

 

One of my cars is stored in the heated underground parking of an apartment building with no plug. Haven't tried it yet but here's what I'm gonna do...........plug the charger into an Eliminator Power Box 800 and then into the cigarette lighter. Lock the whole thing into the car. What could possibly go wrong?