Battery Tender hook-up
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Santa Barbara California
Battery Tender hook-up
I just got my first battery tender and have a question about the ground lead. I have had battery chargers before and have always connected pos to pos and neg to neg on the battery with the battery installed on the car. The instructions say hook up ground lead to a good ground and don't mention the ground post of the battery. Since it is a 1980 the battery is of course behind the seat. Can't I just hook it up to the negative post of battery? Thanks for any help.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Yes by all means you can use the negative battery post.
I have an Optima that has the dual post setup. My top posts are for the harness and main 12V and ground cables. I have my stereo and battery tender on the side posts below.
When I put the car away for the winter I disconnect the main cables which detaches the battery from the car. The only thing left connected is the stereo which has a memory and a clock.
They both create just enough of a draw to keep the tender coming on from time to time to keep it tended over the winter and perfectly healthy.
I have an Optima that has the dual post setup. My top posts are for the harness and main 12V and ground cables. I have my stereo and battery tender on the side posts below.
When I put the car away for the winter I disconnect the main cables which detaches the battery from the car. The only thing left connected is the stereo which has a memory and a clock.
They both create just enough of a draw to keep the tender coming on from time to time to keep it tended over the winter and perfectly healthy.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
If you look around, you can usually find it a bit cheaper...well worth the money though.
http://batterytender.com/product_info.php?products_id=2
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 7,831
Likes: 5
From: Austin TX
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
I have an 88' Chevy Pickup (bought new) that I use 2 or 3 times a year (maybe 50 miles). I have had one of these $15 Battery Butlers hooked up to it for almost 4 years continuously and it always starts right up. Use them on the Vettes too.
http://www.lectriclimited.com/mainpage.htm
http://www.lectriclimited.com/mainpage.htm
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Santa Barbara California
Yes by all means you can use the negative battery post.
I have an Optima that has the dual post setup. My top posts are for the harness and main 12V and ground cables. I have my stereo and battery tender on the side posts below.
When I put the car away for the winter I disconnect the main cables which detaches the battery from the car. The only thing left connected is the stereo which has a memory and a clock.
They both create just enough of a draw to keep the tender coming on from time to time to keep it tended over the winter and perfectly healthy.
I have an Optima that has the dual post setup. My top posts are for the harness and main 12V and ground cables. I have my stereo and battery tender on the side posts below.
When I put the car away for the winter I disconnect the main cables which detaches the battery from the car. The only thing left connected is the stereo which has a memory and a clock.
They both create just enough of a draw to keep the tender coming on from time to time to keep it tended over the winter and perfectly healthy.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I have an 88' Chevy Pickup (bought new) that I use 2 or 3 times a year (maybe 50 miles). I have had one of these $15 Battery Butlers hooked up to it for almost 4 years continuously and it always starts right up. Use them on the Vettes too.
http://www.lectriclimited.com/mainpage.htm
http://www.lectriclimited.com/mainpage.htm
Yeah I have a few of those too. Cheap, and they do work. I keep one on my shop battery. However, I had one go up in smoke and I have had one swell a battery. Being just a float charger it's a little bit different, yet still effective in some cases.
Yeah that'll work fine.
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