Batteries die suddenly sometimes. It happened to me a couple of times over the years. Push the button, click, dead. You could hear it snap.

I've been using one of the new LiFe batteries since January. Every start is strong. Time will tell how long it lasts and how suddenly it fails.

 

Call me paranoid, but I have my tenders on a power strip connected to a 7 day timer. kicks on Wed. night for a few hours, and Sunday afternoon for the same.

 

You won't get the full benefit of a tender that way. They don't just trickle charge. If left on, they go through a regular maintenance cycle as well, discharging and recharging. Intended to extend battery life by reducing the 'memory' effect.

I suppose there might even be a chance you turn off the supply at the point it completes the discharge phase! Unlikely though.

 

Since my last post in August, I too have changed to lithium. My battery tender died, and I had been traveling for work all of August. Man, that tender had been rock solid since like ‘0&.
Lithium batt has a bit more starting power