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I want to permanently install by trickle charger. Seems like there is not enough room around the battery to install it.
Does anyone have any ideas and/or pics of their intalll??
Suppose you could leave the alligator clips attached and just run the adaptor cord out the driver-side gill...
You are going to have to plug it in anyway...
Don't permanently "install" the charger itself into the car. Fab up wires with a plug on the end that you can leave in the car and run out the side panel.
Something like this, except use permanent connectors instead of the clips.
It was just much easier to atttach the battery tender to the side of the battery in the Porsche and then just plug and go. Guess I will have to use the alligator clips here, no big deal.
That is such a small space near the battery.........
Might want to look into a brand named "Battery Tender".
They have the pigtail that attaches to your battery, and then uses a quick disconnect to plug the tender in too. No need for alligator clips.
They have several different models and applications.
That is exactly what I was talking about... what does it matter if the charger is in the car or not? You have to plug it in either way. Why would you rig something under the hood that is most likely going to look like crap when there is a simple, clean looking solution that works perfectly fine.
Option B. is to drive it more and forget the tender. Sorry, couldn't resist taking a shot at the waxers in the crowd.
I really liked what I did. I found a cigarette lighter extension and cut off the end and soldered the leads from the Battery Tender. Now I just plug the battery Tender into the cig lighter socket when I park it. Very simple and easy to do. Plus to plus and minus to minus.
We can do that since the cig lighter is not ignition switched. Been using it this way for years with great effectiveness.
I really liked what I did. I found a cigarette lighter extension and cut off the end and soldered the leads from the Battery Tender. Now I just plug the battery Tender into the cig lighter socket when I park it. Very simple and easy to do. Plus to plus and minus to minus.
We can do that since the cig lighter is not ignition switched. Been using it this way for years with great effectiveness.
I've done the same with mine, and it's worked great for years. I just set the float charger on the center console with a towel under it, plug it into the lighter socket, and run the A/C power cord to the wall in my garage. Couldn't be simpler to connect or disconnect, and nothing's permanently attached to the car. This only works well for a car that's garaged, of course, because the window needs to be open at least a half-inch to allow the power cord to enter the car.
An excellent choice for a true "float" charger is made by Soneil. It is a sophisticated "smart" charger that can be plugged into the cigarette lighter receptacle and left there for the winter. I am using two on my motorcycles, and had a 24v one for my armoured car. The batteries are always topped off at full charge, but never overcharged. Take a look at their products: http://soneil.com/12_volt.html
as well as the technology: http://soneil.com/features.html
Great idea. I have seen the "Battery Tender" on "Classic Car" and they look like a quality product.
You definitely want a "float" charger, and not an ordinary charger or trickle charger. A float charger monitors the voltage across the battery's terminals, and shuts itself off when the battery is fully charged, restarting itself only when the battery's voltage drops below a pre-set threshold. An ordinary charger, or even a trickle charger, will run all the time and will overcharge and damage a battery if left connected too long.
I use this one, made by Schumacher and sold at AutoZone and other parts stores:
I've built up these units with cigarette lighter plugs for friends, and they've been very pleased with how well they work, and how easily they can be used.
You definitely want a "float" charger, and not an ordinary charger or trickle charger. A float charger monitors the voltage across the battery's terminals, and shuts itself off when the battery is fully charged, restarting itself only when the battery's voltage drops below a pre-set threshold.
SJW
And the Battery Tender brand does exactly the same.
Fully Automatic: At the end of the regular charger cycle, every Battery Tender battery charger automatically switches its output voltage to a safe, storage or float level that eliminates the need to constantly check on the conditions of the battery.