Battery tender install onto car ?
- Thread starter PoorOwner
- Start date
CadillacJack
Banned
nehog
Well-known member
I just installed one in the RV. Put in a cabinet that had an outlet already installed. I'm waiting for my RV partner to let me know if he had any problems with it (he has the RV for two months...)
HOTFR8
Banned
Depending on the brand of tender there are many hard wire kits you can use and often many ways to conceal the plug.
"Powerlet" is real popular with motorcyclists (if you want something more than just the cord hanging)
http://www.amazon.com/Powerlet/b/re...98815011&field-lbr_brands_browse-bin=Powerlet
http://www.amazon.com/Powerlet/b/re...98815011&field-lbr_brands_browse-bin=Powerlet
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92GreenYJ
Well-known member
I've got mine tucked up inside the fender on the Jeep. Easy enough access. Can buy all that stuff on Amazon. On the Charger I use a solar panel and solar charge controller since its parked too far away from power. Just ran the plug up inside under the dash. Plug the solar panel in and pop it on the dashboard. Unplug it and throw it in the back seat when I drive it.
nadogail
Well-known member
My van has had a Solar Panel battery tender resting on the dash and plugged into the 12 volt socket for several years.
matt_i
Well-known member
If you use the Battery Minder brand, the more expensive version (model 2012) comes with all the hardware you need. Ring terminals and the 2-pole "bullet" quick connector. (plus the standard large 30A alligator clips)
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
As mentioned by matt_i
BatteryMINDer
http://www.batteryminders.com/
Products
http://www.batteryminders.com/products/
Accessories
http://www.batteryminders.com/all-accessories/
I've run the hard wires on both our vehicles with the plug coming out of the grill work and also on the majority of the tractors. The plug in comes with the Schumacher trickle chargers ( about $20. ) and I just had to splice in add'l wire to the batteries.
I built small shelves adjacent to the garage doors so the chargers are always ready to plug into the vehicles in the winter months.
I suspect I now have at least a dozen trickle chargers.
I built small shelves adjacent to the garage doors so the chargers are always ready to plug into the vehicles in the winter months.
I suspect I now have at least a dozen trickle chargers.
rshadd
Well-known member
I bought an extension cable and the ring eyelets from the BatteryTender site. I just lift the hood and make the connection.
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Do you happen to remember the manufacturer you used for the solar parts. This is what I'd like to set up for a couple of my occasional drivers that live outside. I just didn't want to spend a couple hundred each to do it.
Thanks, Cam.
HOTFR8
Banned
If you use the solar panel type charger go with the biggest panel you can and make sure they do not draw power from from the battery at night as they need to have a diode to stop the panel drawing power when there is no sunlight.
fourjeepin
Well-known member
Not sure if there is any reason not to do this, but I put a cigarette style plug on the end of mine. Super quick and easy to pop in. It's been that way for at least a year and seems to be working out very well.
HOTFR8
Banned
For the best results all hard wire kits should go to the battery terminals.
92GreenYJ
Well-known member
Not off hand. Spent some time on Amazon. I actually originally got the set up to keep a 12v lawnmower battery mounted on my trailer charged up out in the desert to power some strobes on my flagpole for marking camp at night and charge my phone in the tent. It worked so well I ordered the same stuff for the Charger. IIRC I used a 7watt amorphous panel and a charge controller I found as well. Whole set up cost me less than 100 bucks including the wiring I bought.
I bought an extension cable and the ring eyelets from the BatteryTender site. I just lift the hood and make the connection.
This is exactly what I do with my Ford diesel.
redmondjp
Well-known member
Yes, so long as your car has the accessory power ports powered when the ignition key is in the 'off' position. Hondas cut power to all of the ports with the key off, so you can't use this method.
I have an on-board battery maintainer on several vehicles. I cut the plug off of the AC power cord (typically 6" long) and splice a longer cord (surplus PC power supply cords work great) to it, with the male end hanging out of the grille a few inches. And yes, if you forget to unplug it when you back out of the driveway, it will unplug itself!
BellyUpFish
Well-known member
Everything I own has one.. I love them..
66HertzClone
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I attached a 1/4 headphone socket to the grill support bracket in my Mustang, put the male jack on the cables of the maintainer. Without opening the hood I can connect it up and there are no cables visible under the hood so it looks clean.
BellyUpFish
Well-known member
That's a great idea...
66HertzClone
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Especially when you have to deal with hood pins.
I did put one of those two prong connectors on the cable from the maintainer so I could use the clip on or other connectors when I need to.
Colin Len
Well-known member
My dad has used cigarette lighter adapters for his motorcycles and that seems to work very well. A few years back I stumbled on something I thought was pretty slick and have since installed one on my track car (which just sits in the garage all the time). It's a magnetic quick disconnect, I first saw it on Bentley or Maybach or something. I love it because it's slick, discrete, and if you forget to disconnect it before moving the car there's no need to be concerned about damage or shorting. When I first found it it took me forever to find info on it but it looks like the cat is out of the bag - upon searching right now it appears others are doing the same.
http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...onary-method-to-hook-up-a-battery-tender.html
http://www.rosenberger.com/0_documents/de/catalogs/ba_automotive/MagCode_Flyer_2010.pdf
I was doing an engine swap at the time so I completely tore apart and re-wired my front end. In that process I integrated my charger wiring and wired it directly to the fuse box with it's own fuse. The magnetic connector is mounted in a hidden location in my front bumper grill.
Disconnected
Connected (wires were not hooked up to the connector yet as this was while I was fitting and installing. I simply wired a standard battery tender to this connector)
Here's the backside of the connector complete with another connector which can be disconnected to remove the bumper.
http://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...onary-method-to-hook-up-a-battery-tender.html
http://www.rosenberger.com/0_documents/de/catalogs/ba_automotive/MagCode_Flyer_2010.pdf
I was doing an engine swap at the time so I completely tore apart and re-wired my front end. In that process I integrated my charger wiring and wired it directly to the fuse box with it's own fuse. The magnetic connector is mounted in a hidden location in my front bumper grill.
Disconnected
Connected (wires were not hooked up to the connector yet as this was while I was fitting and installing. I simply wired a standard battery tender to this connector)
Here's the backside of the connector complete with another connector which can be disconnected to remove the bumper.
TLCObsession
Well-known member
I need a charge controller for my solar panel charger. I think it was cooking the batteries as a trickle charge instead of a float charge. Any sources for a lower price unit that deals with lower wattage? Most of the controllers I have seen are for full size panels and are more sophisticated than I need for my Cruiser.
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