Can I leave a trickle charger hooked to a car for 2 weeks unattended?

It depends on whether or not it senses that the battery is fully-charged and then shuts off. If it does not, then you're risking damage. The instruction manual should tell you if you have the right one.

What Newt said. Mine will allow me to and I've had it plugged in for more than 2 weeks at a time.

Depends on whether it's an "on all the time" trickle charger, or a smart charger (like a Deltran Battery Tender) that only kicks itself on when battery drops below a certain voltage.

With the latter, it's no issue. With the former, it's not the best thing for the battery. Will it destroy the battery? Probably not unless it's an old weak battery. It could lessen the life of the battery a little though. Could it negatively affect electronic components in the car? That I couldn't answer.

I'm considering connecting the Battery Tender to a timer. Apply power to the BT every Mon&Tues (for example) then off the rest of the week.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...ilpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

quote:

Originally posted by italia:
...a smart charger...

That's the term I was trying to remember when I was writing my response. Here's one from Sears Automotive:
http://www.sears.com/diehard-s...ockNo=5&blockType=G5

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
I'm considering connecting the Battery Tender to a timer. Apply power to the BT every Mon&Tues (for example) then off the rest of the week.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...ilpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have six Deltran Battery Tender Plus units connected to a power strip which is plugged into a 7-day timer. It runs for 18 hours every Tuesday. Been working well for me for several years that way.

Cool. Good to know.

Wow, 6.....?

Probably, but I wouldn't.

Is there really a battery that is so sensitive that it can't take 2wks of sitting?

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Cool. Good to know.

Wow, 6.....?

Well, yeah. I have a thing about motorcycles.

My Dad keeps a battery tender plugged into his Lexus convertible all winter with no issues

I leave mine on all winter for the yard tractor and motorcycle and snow blower all summer with no issues. All of those batteries are gel type batteries with a chip in them for added protection.

Jim

A "battery tender" brand battery maintainer won't hurt anything. I leave a vehicle on one for months at a stretch.

I leave a battery tender connected to my mustang and boat batteries whenever they are not being used, which means all winter long and 90% of the rest of the year. No issues.

I had a Battery Tender and I think they can over charge the battery and reduce the battery life.
I just take my batteries out of the vehicle, clean them up of any acid residue on the case, and charge them once a month.

When they get weak for vehicle use, I use them on my lawn tractors since the starting current required is a lot less.

Battery tender does wonders for my atv that really only gets used to plow in the winter. The $100 battery it requires used to only last 6 months but now it's going on 2 years and good as new.

Battery Tender. My last bike battery lasted three years, which is good for a BMW.

My Corvette is on a Battery Tender whenever it isn't being driven. 6+ months over Winter.

I use a battery tender in the winter on my M3.

I keep one on my Ferrari 24X7 (except of course when I drive it further than my extension cord

won't hurt it at all