Battery Tender problem
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 49
Likes: 29
From: Bronx, NY
Battery Tender problem
I purchased a new Battery Tender Power Tender Plus High Efficiency 12V5A with a 12V power plug to insert into the charger port in the trunk of my Vette..
The charger would only blink the yellow light after being hooked up and never change. The manual says that is due to an incorrect hook up.
I contacted Delran, the manufacturer of the charger. They told me the charger has to be directly connected to the battery.
I haven't tried this yet.This doesn't seem logical.
Has anyone had a similar problem?
The charger would only blink the yellow light after being hooked up and never change. The manual says that is due to an incorrect hook up.
I contacted Delran, the manufacturer of the charger. They told me the charger has to be directly connected to the battery.
I haven't tried this yet.This doesn't seem logical.
Has anyone had a similar problem?
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 4,980
Likes: 3,826
From: Bainbridge Island WA
Try pushing the plug into the socket in a more firm manner. The connection is a little flaky and requires a solid push. Just happened to me last week. I noticed the yellow light, shoved the plug in, and it all started working again.
Last edited by mschuyler; Aug 14, 2020 at 03:11 PM.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 662
Likes: 111
From: Carmel, NY & Bradenton, FL
If that doesn't do it, there’s a fuse in the Battery Tender 12V plug. Check that. Then try connecting directly to the battery. If that works, look for a blown fuse in the circuit going to the car’s charging port.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 30
Likes: 7
From: Madison, Al
As Globeman said, check the fuse in the 12V adapter. The black tip of the adapter, where the metal spring loaded tip is, just unscrews and there is a 3A fuse inside. The problem is that the battery tender is 5A. I had the same problem, replaced the fuse and went back to using it with my 1.25 Amp tender. Moved the 5A tender to one of my other cars so I could connect directly to the battery.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 626
From: Baton Rouge LA
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,948
Likes: 6,750
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
"Connected the charger cables directly to the battery. Works fine." If you do as suggested here it should still work at the rear-plug. 
(btw, I used the things for years and it didn't matter where I connected them)
(btw, I used the things for years and it didn't matter where I connected them)
Last edited by Avanti; Aug 17, 2020 at 08:29 PM.
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From: Ventura Co Ca
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St. Jude Donor '13, '20-'21
Very strange! I connect mine in the socket when I come back from a trip without a problem. I would also check the fuze.
Last edited by Vette Jockey; Aug 29, 2020 at 02:00 PM.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 418
Likes: 131
From: San Francisco
I've hooked up a Battery Tender (I've got 6 of them; one's a dual mode for my F250) to my MB ML350 via the hot jumper post in the engine compartment and just grounded it to a bolt and it works fine.
However, I just bought my C7 and few days ago and have already installed a quick disconnect pigtail on the battery in the trunk and it chraged up fine and is in the green as we speak. So, a direct connect can be easily installed in your C7.
Last edited by sgt1372; Sep 4, 2020 at 02:56 PM.
Tech Contributor
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Bill
Racer
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 418
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From: San Francisco
So what did you do? Cut off the power plug so you could add clips to fasten to the battery terminals? The plug in the cargo compartment is connected directly to the battery. The wires go directly from the plug to the battery. With the low level current used to maintain the battery the small wires going from the plug receptacle to the battery don't cause a problem applying a charging force to the battery.
Bill
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,461
Likes: 161
From: Las Vegas Nevada
St. Jude Donor '08
I purchased a new Battery Tender Power Tender Plus High Efficiency 12V5A with a 12V power plug to insert into the charger port in the trunk of my Vette..
The charger would only blink the yellow light after being hooked up and never change. The manual says that is due to an incorrect hook up.
I contacted Delran, the manufacturer of the charger. They told me the charger has to be directly connected to the battery.
I haven't tried this yet.This doesn't seem logical.
Has anyone had a similar problem?
The charger would only blink the yellow light after being hooked up and never change. The manual says that is due to an incorrect hook up.
I contacted Delran, the manufacturer of the charger. They told me the charger has to be directly connected to the battery.
I haven't tried this yet.This doesn't seem logical.
Has anyone had a similar problem?
But that’s me!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,004
Likes: 2,706
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
The socket in the trunk of our 2017 is also pretty chintzy. Dealer replaced the GM charger once under warranty because it kept losing connection in the socket, but the problem is really in the car and not the charger.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 663
Likes: 172
From: Oklahoma
No, and it isn't necessary. If their claim is true why do they sell a lighter adapter? I used my very old Deltran BT+ with the lighter adapter on my first C7 for two years and never had a problem. My current GS came with the Ctek maintainer and I've been using it now for >3 years. It had a problem early on with connectivity and I sent it to Ctek for warranty service, whence they replaced the male connector. That worked fine for a while but I still have sporadic connectivity issues which is always rectified by Mschuyler's suggestion to just push on it a bit harder.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 626
From: Baton Rouge LA
I connected one ring lead to the positive post on the fuse box under the hood and grounded the other lead. I routed the cable out the front grill. Allowed enough lead to store behind the grill when driving the car. When I pull into the garage I fish out the wire and plug into the tender. Battery charges just fine and I am not connected directly to the battery. Did the same to my C5 and C6 Z06 Corvettes. Never had to open the trunk and the battery is always charged.
But for the C7 just popping the trunk lid and inserting the connector was too easy to pass up. As I stated earlier I used my old Deltran BT+ with the lighter adapter for my first C7 and never had a problem, but the Ctek that came with my current GS occasionally loses its connection. This doesn't happen often enough for me to go to another procedure, however, and works well enough. My garage is secured and I just open the hatch lid, insert the connector, and lower the lid without fully closing it after every drive. In 15 min. or so the system goes to sleep and the security system will not enable while the lid is ajar.
I rigged my truck up the way you did, running the cable to the grill, and the old BT+ still has a mission after 15 years. It's been used on three Harleys, a C2, C6, and one C7. My ZTR mower is connected to a 5w Deltran BT Solar, as it's housed where there is no AC power.
Last edited by iclick; Sep 10, 2020 at 10:24 PM.