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Trickle charge install help

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Old Sep 23, 2009 | 01:53 PM
  #1  
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Default Trickle charge install help

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??

Thanks
Stewart
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Old Sep 23, 2009 | 02:16 PM
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Waht?, it is too much trouble to open the hood and attach the battery tender alligator clips to the posts of the battery?

Suppose you could leave the alligator clips attached and just run the adaptor cord out the driver-side gill...

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Old Sep 23, 2009 | 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted by MyOtherCar
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.

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Old Sep 23, 2009 | 03:20 PM
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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.........
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Old Sep 23, 2009 | 06:51 PM
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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.

http://batterytender.com/default.php?cPath=11
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Old Sep 23, 2009 | 08:31 PM
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I got a Battery Tender Jr and here's what I did:
Attached Images      
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Old Sep 23, 2009 | 08:32 PM
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paging mojo. ( nevermind).

Last edited by bizaro; Sep 23, 2009 at 08:35 PM.
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Old Sep 23, 2009 | 09:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr Mojo
I got a Battery Tender Jr and here's what I did:
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.
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Old Sep 23, 2009 | 11:35 PM
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Did the same as MrMojo but used these types of terminals
http://cgi.ebay.com/Scosche-GMBP-GM-...3286.m20.l1116

We use the Battery Tender Waterproof 800 since we store it out side.

Last edited by CE1; Sep 24, 2009 at 11:44 PM.
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Old Sep 24, 2009 | 06:44 AM
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Default like it !!

will get those !!
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Old Sep 24, 2009 | 08:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Mr Mojo
I got a Battery Tender Jr and here's what I did:
I copied exactly what Mr Mojo suggested on the forum some time ago. NAPA sells the battery post extensions for a nice clean install.

SAVE THE WAVE
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Old Sep 24, 2009 | 10:52 AM
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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.
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Old Sep 24, 2009 | 11:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Flame Red
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.

Here's what it looks like in action:



Live well,

SJW
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Old Sep 24, 2009 | 02:52 PM
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Great idea. I have seen the "Battery Tender" on "Classic Car" and they look like a quality product.
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Old Sep 24, 2009 | 06:31 PM
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Default Battery Float Charger

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
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Old Sep 24, 2009 | 08:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Vette Jockey
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.

Live well,

SJW
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Old Sep 24, 2009 | 09:40 PM
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Originally Posted by SJW
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.

http://batterytender.com/why_battery...858d7a22c83d24
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.
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Old Sep 26, 2009 | 12:02 PM
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I have been happy with BatteryTender for years but recently switched to BatteryMinder. It has a few features that BatteryTender lacks.

http://www.batteryminders.com/batter...s-the-best.pdf
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Old Sep 26, 2009 | 10:28 PM
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My vote goes to the Batteryminder also.
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Old Sep 26, 2009 | 10:36 PM
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I used a battery tender and the SYS light came on, it killed the battery. Now, I use it to charge the battery but I will no longer leave it connected.
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