First time posting...

I recently purchased the 7000NEX, and it has not arrived yet. Can I bench test this unit for power-up, using a "Battery Tender" trickle charger which is rated at 1.25 amps?

Greg

I recommend against it... at least by itself.  Most trickle chargers have switch-mode power supplies, some not very well filtered.  Your typical 12V battery has no problem dealing with output ripple.  May also have multi-stage voltage output.  Simply put, trickle chargers are not designed to power electronics.

Use a conventional 12V battery.... with or without the trickle charger ...or a bench-set 12V power supply.

I don't have a spare 12V battery and I sold my 12V power supply a long time ago, thinking I'd never need it. 

I have ended up bench testing my head units by running a cigarette lighter plug to my car, which is parked right next to my bench, then running wires from that to alligator clips that I used to power the test units. I also used alligator clips to run the speaker outputs to some random 4ohm speakers I had in my garage. Worked for me, although I'll probably get another 12V power supply someday.  

Thanks...

Scratching the trickle charger idea.

Connecting straight to the battery won't be a problem.

I didn't even think of using the cigarette socket. I also have a cig plug and bunch of alligator to alligator connections.

You can also get a cheap power supply from a hobby store. These are much cheaper than other 12V powers sources made for CB radio, etc. 

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__19680__HobbyKing_350w_25A_Power_Supply_100v_120v_USA_Warehouse_.html

Edit: found this too

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/810825727753794962?q=12v+cb+radio+power+supply&espv=2&biw=1184&bih=550&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.&bvm=bv.86956481,d.eXY&ion=1&tch=1&ech=1&psi=tlTvVIzaA8ihNuP4geAD.1424970934767.5&prds=paur:ClkAsKraX5NB07Zh1nedfkDNO2ARVqZk6pUPDFSZE2g6ubfXRIXraSwSX4gZMYA_c4v4bPiDQje6Mz8xbgkhn975I638te2zdkq_4FDm92VVw9yYFCi0v8hepBIZAFPVH73sn4pSmlcwrjndCEdtZOI_UUFgyQ&ei=vFTvVID0ItP3ggSKiYG4BQ&ved=0CLIBEKYrMAQ