Battery tender hook up

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Jun 3, 2010 | 12:15 PM

rwlc5

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Burning Brakes

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From: Bel Air MD

Battery tender hook up

Can you hook up the lead wires with the ring terminal ends to the positive post at the fuse box and the ground screw under the battery compartment cover. Will that still charge the battery?

Jun 3, 2010 | 02:21 PM

hotwheels57

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From: Not on either liberal coast.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwlc5

Can you hook up the lead wires with the ring terminal ends to the positive post at the fuse box and the ground screw under the battery compartment cover. Will that still charge the battery?

Yes, you can hook it up in that manner. Many use the alligator clips. I preferred a more permanent secure hookup directly to the battery terminals using slightly larger ring terminals.

Is it a BATTERY TENDER (by DELTRON CORP), or some other manufacturer?

BATTERY TENDER chargers offer a variety of power levels: 7.5, 15, 70, 300 & 600 watts, maximum charge currents: 0.75, 1.25, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 15 & 20 amps, and nominal battery voltages: 6, 12, 24, 36 & 48 volts.

The BATTERY TENDER JR. is .75amp and the BATTERY TENDER PLUS is 1.25amp. Those are the two most common BATTERY TENDER products.

Jun 3, 2010 | 02:25 PM

rwlc5

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Burning Brakes

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From: Bel Air MD

It is the regular Battery Tender. When you hooked up to the battery terminals, did you place the larger ring terminal between the battery and the battery cable, or did you remove the screw from the cable and place the ring terminal between the screw and the cable?

Jun 3, 2010 | 02:42 PM

hotwheels57

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From: Not on either liberal coast.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwlc5

I have an '04 and OPTIMA battery. On mine, the battery terminals are under the red/black plastic covers. I use the top mounts.

I replaced the smaller ring terminals and attached them to the fasteners that secure the clamps to the + and - terminals of the battery.

Another option is to find the extended side mount bolts and connect your ring terminals to those. This is from DELCITY, but any automotive stereo shop with STINGER products, auto supply (maybe even WALMART) should have similar...

http://www.delcity.net/store/Side-Te...ion/p_1038.a_1

Last edited by hotwheels57; Jun 3, 2010 at 02:58 PM.

Jun 3, 2010 | 02:44 PM

rwlc5

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Burning Brakes

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From: Bel Air MD

I have a 99 with the side terminals.

Jun 3, 2010 | 02:51 PM

hotwheels57

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From: Not on either liberal coast.

Your best bet might be to use the extended battery connections as shown in the DELCITY link above. It replaces the oem bolt. The nut will secure the ring terminals of your BATTERY TENDER.

Use keywords "side terminal battery accessory power connection" with a GOOGLE search. There are several styles offered by different sources.

Here's an image of one different style...

Last edited by hotwheels57; Jun 3, 2010 at 02:57 PM.

Jun 3, 2010 | 03:41 PM

rwlc5

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Burning Brakes

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From: Bel Air MD

Thanks, i didn't know those type of connections were available.

Jun 4, 2010 | 10:52 AM

rboineau

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From: Columbia SC

Best way is to use those special battery terminal bolts. Autozone in my area has nice gold-plated(to resist corrosion) ones, 'tho I forget the brand (can get it for you if you want--let me know). Only down side on the bolts I got was that I had to slightly alter the black and red sleeves to accept the new bolts, and once installed there was precious little hex on the new bolts sticking out of the sleeves, making tightening a bit hard. Other similar bolts are available, some fit without alteration but it is hard to judge in advance if you have not done the job before.
I ran the plug end of the Battery Tender ring terminal harness up through a existing small hole in the bodywork so it is accessible with the hood only "popped". That way I can plug in the charger without raising the hood.