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For those of you that use a battery tender on your c3, how do you run the clamps to the battery terminals and where do you keep the body of the tender? I may use one on my 1973 coupe but not sure about the best and safest way to hook it up.
Clamps are ok, but my tender has a quick disconnect SAE connector at end of wire. It lets you use a clamp on end wire OR a version that bolts directly to the terminals.
my motorcycle has it bolted to battery and the SAE plug sitting right by the seat. Easy plug and play. When I get a new battery I’m going to get the type with side terminals and top terminals so I can attach tender wire to top. I’d look for the kind with the SAE quick disconnects. My jeeps I use clamps, the corvette and motorcycle have the bolt in versions. All use the same charger.
I used those clamps for years, ran the tender wire in the window and left it on the floor. This year I I installed one of those blade type disconnects on the negative terminal and hard wired a tender extension wire with loop connectors, it's long enough to come out the window when it's almost all the way up... I was a little concerned those clamps would fall off of those little terminal bolts..
I always figured a guy could leave a Tender extension cable hooked up to the batt terminals permanently. Then coil it up and leave it in the batt compartment with door closed all summer anyway.
But that would require finding a round tuit.
So, for now, compartment door open all winter, alligator clips, cable across to passenger window, down a smidge, over to wall outlet with timer.
EBay sells cable extensions for Deltran in 24" or 36" lengths. Has female / male connectors at both ends of the cable, inexpensive.
Planning, all depends on where your wall outlet is in the garage.
I also tag the steering wheel with a "Warning: Batt Charger Plugged In"
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; Jan 15, 2025 at 08:28 AM.
I installed a weather proof conector in the wiper tray. The connector is from a rv store and is the same as the battery tender connector. It is fused and hardwired into the car electrical system under the hood.
I installed a weather proof conector in the wiper tray. The connector is from a rv store and is the same as the battery tender connector. It is fused and hardwired into the car electrical system under the hood.
buy a 15 dollar battery disconnect . I have the blade type one .. put a charge on it about once a month in extreme cold weather .. no need to put on a charger all winter . Waste of electricity
For those of you that use a battery tender on your c3, how do you run the clamps to the battery terminals and where do you keep the body of the tender? I may use one on my 1973 coupe but not sure about the best and safest way to hook it up.
Going on 10 years with this hookup. It works just fine.
Going on 10 years with this hookup. It works just fine.
same thing I do with my 72 WBY coupe. Probably 20 years now. One tender died after a power spike in a storm, otherwise clamp, plug it in, and check it once in a while.
I put the clamps on the battery terminals, body of charger outside drivers door, cord bottom rear corner of door, close the door. Been doing it that way for 15 years.
2025 c3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I changed my side mount bolts with this, connected the battery tender terminal mounts to this adapter and use the battery tender quick connect SAE. I then run the charge cable between the window and weatherstrip.
I removed the wire clips from the Battery Tender cable and installed two crimp on round wire terminal lugs which I bolted directly to the battery terminals.
I purchased an optional 6’ extension cable from Battery Tender.
I plug the extension cable directly into the Battery tender cable.
When I drive the car, I simply disconnect the two cables, wind the extension cable up and lay it in the battery box and hit the road.
When I get home, I simply connect the cable from the Battery Tender to the extension cable and I’m done.
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
A similar query came up a little while ago. At that time I said the first 15 years of its life with me, our 1978 was kept in a "lock-up" garage in the UK (a rented garage in a block), which had no power, light etc. As there was no opportunity to use a battery tender type charger, I bought a "Savety Switch" blade-type disconnect and disconnected the battery when the car was in the garage (and even if it was parked for a full day at a show for example).
When we moved here to France the car was finally able to come home, and is now in the basement here. That meant I was able to use a battery tender, which I did successfully for almost 20 years, although I still disconnected the battery. I connected it with the supplied "crocodile clips". I ran the cable through the open drivers window and the battery tender itself was on the floor beside the car. That worked fine for 19 years.
But last year a few power cuts and "spikes" here apparently killed the charger and, it took a year old battery with it!
When I fitted the replacement battery I decided to go back to the simple solution of just disconnecting the battery.
The reality is that I actually did not notice any difference in battery performance when using a charger or not. Back in thge Lock-up the car would start fine after a month or so, just as it did here when the charger was being used. And the battery life seemed unaffected, all my batteries lasting about 9 years. What I would say is that I always try and take the car out for a run at least once a month, even during the winter, assuming the roads are clear and dry and, I always do at least 50 miles or so each time, so the battery does get a bit of a boost. In the summer we use the car more, so I know it gets a nice charge of course.
Call me crazy but I won't use a battery charger of any type (car/tool) if I'm not present while it is being used. I don't mean present as in standing over the battery, I mean that I'm at the location.
My cars "winter over" in a garage at the lake about 70 miles away. I simply disconnect the batteries for the time they are parked. I'm fortunate to be at the lake at least one day each week and will check the batteries with a meter and put them on a charger for the day as needed. I do the same with boat and jet skies.
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by 2TONE82
Call me crazy but I won't use a battery charger of any type (car/tool) if I'm not present while it is being used. I don't mean present as in standing over the battery, I mean that I'm at the location.
I won't either after a well known car collector here in Omaha lost most of his collection from a fire started by a defective tender several years ago...
I have been using this setup on my 72 for ever with no issues. Being a convertible helps. I slide the cord through my cover; then under the rear of the detached soft top. I lay a towel down on top of the rear deck lid, to avoid any scratches.
If you are worried about a tender shorting out:
All the more reason to plug the tender into a timer.
As stated earlier, they don't need to be activated 24 / 7.
30 mins a day is plenty for a stored car.
That leaves 23.5 hrs its less likely for something to go wrong.
I am starting to see a pattern here that I found interesting over the years about battery life.
Numerous posters repeatedly said that a battery last about five yrs.
Numerous posters repeatedly said they don't use a tender.
See the connection? Pun intended.
I take care of my batteries.
I don't do compression test without a charger on it.
I don't leave the doors open (dome light) all day long.
I do trickle charge 30 min a day.
I wonder if that's why my batteries go 12 yrs and then some?
(And that's in a cold garage)
Battery Tender Hookup
