I'm going to be gone for a few weeks without anyone to drive the car. Which battery charger is better? I was on Suncoast's website and saw these...

Porsche Battery Maintainer @ $54.95
Dual-Mode Battery Charger @ $114.95

Also, should i bother with the optional clamps at $15 extra? Looks like they are only useful if i need to jump the battery. I'll probably use this charger to save some time just letting the car run in the winter.

TIA.

 

I use the Porsche one under the guise that if it screws up I deliver it to the dealer with the warranty and tell them I don’t care who they bill just as long as its fixed and I don’t pay. The Porsche one I have pugs into the cigarette lighter.
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On a separate note I think you are Ok for just a couple of week especially this time of year

 

I agree. You definitely do not want to get any charger that is not considered a maintainer or "tender". Otherwise you may want to make sure all of your insurance is payed up. If you get a maintainer or tender, you can travel with comfort knowing that your car and home are safe.

 

Get the Porsche one that plugs into the cigarette lighter. I've used mine during the winter for extended periods for a couple of years now. It's computer controlled so no problems and way more convenient than the clip type.

 

definitely go with a tender... worry free turns on and off as needed
and with all the electronics on the car you'll need it.

 

The dual mode battery charger can also maintain your battery for long periods of time. It will turn on and off as needed.

The maintainer for $54 is just a small trickle charger, which will never turn on or off.

 

I have used the battery maintainer for years with my P cars and my battery has never failed.

The LED light goes on when the charge is needed. Most of the time it stays off.

Its a must to have in my opinion.

Cab

 

CTek US 3300

http://www.ctek.com/EN-US/Buy-US-Charger.aspx

 

thanks cabman4007, I'll have to pick one of those up sometime.

 

thanks for all the input. I'll just spend the extra $60 on the dual-mode one.

 

Are the chargers compatible with keeping the car covered? I have the Porsche cycling one. I'll be away for two weeks and the car unfortunately cannot be garaged (expanding to make room for more!). It will stay in an open-ended stall and I'd like to keep it covered.
Perhaps two weeks in warm weather is nothing to worry about and I don't even need the charger?

 

I use a Battery Tender with my covered Ford GT with no problems. It's an excellent device with a microprocessor to monitor the state of the battery. I would buy that one before I payed Porsche for theirs. But I recently purchased the Braille batter charger when I bought their battery. It is very impressive with more LED indicators to show the state of the battery, indicate a polarity problem (where it shuts down it if senses it), and charge rate based on need. Very nice.
Though the Tender comes with an optional cigarette lighter socket, both come with permanent mounts which I have installed, enabling you to plug the unit in under the hood (or protrucing slightly from the grill) making it all much easier.