The battery charger evaluations one usually finds on forums usually always read something like, "I use a Battery Tender and my battery is 3 years old". That is a battery charger evaluation? LOL I guess that is why I don't put much stock in the knowledge on forums.

Well I hope your battery is at least 3 years old because that, in my battery world, is a brand new battery. I get about 10 years out of my seasonal batteries and that is on the short side because I have to admit, I sometimes forget to monitor the battery voltage while in the off season.

The batteries in my car have gone 16 years (car was sold and the last I checked, 18 years with the next owner) and the battery in my present car is in its 14th year. The secret? Spot-on vehicle charging systems as verified by measurements and general periodic maintenance of the battery.

And just because a battery starts a vehicle, does not mean the battery is in great shape. Starting only requires a burst of energy. True battery performance is gauged by a load test and capacity test. The alternator belt failed on a used car that I bought. If I hadn't installed a new battery the month before, I would have never made it home while driving 2 hours on the battery alone; that is where Reserve Capacity comes into play.

Batteries have a finite life that can be extended to the maximum by having a vehicle charging system and a battery charger matched to the type of battery. Battery chargers should have the correct charging algorithm for the type of battery (AGM, Flooded, GEL) and they should have temperature compensation.