Battery Tender
03-14-2018, 02:54 PM
#1
Battery Tender
I'm thinking about connecting the permanent cable for a battery tender. At the back of the alternator. One to ground, & the other to the heavy red post.
Any other ideas ?
Any other ideas ?
03-14-2018, 02:57 PM
#2
Re: Battery Tender
You could install a set of these too.
https://m.ebay.com/itm/SET-OF-2-STIN...QAAOSwPgxVPI-W
https://m.ebay.com/itm/SET-OF-2-STIN...QAAOSwPgxVPI-W
03-14-2018, 03:36 PM
#5
Re: Battery Tender
Gotta watch out on the battery bolts. Some of them aren't long enough to clear the rubber insulator on the OE cables, so they tear into the rubber when you snug them down.
Depending on the thirdgen, there are plenty of places to connect a battery maintainer. 6cyls and TBI cars have a positive battery junction block near the battery on the radiator support. TPI cars usually have a heavy branch off the positive battery cable that splits off to the alternator, or to feed the electric fans, etc.
Last one I installed was on my Formula. Used the ground for the headlights on the radiator support, and ran the positive to the battery post on the alternator. The quick disconnect chills out above the front turn signal where its' easy to access. When I take the car out, I just tuck it into the bumper cover. The provided harness that came with the Battery Tender was way too short to make this possible. Since I have 4 of the stupid things, I just clipped apart one of the spare alligator clip harnesses and spliced in new wire. With all the connections soldered and covered in weather proof heatshrink tubing, and high temp split loom, most people would never notice it under the hood, and it's as safe as the factory wiring.
BTW, the Battery Tender JR is great, for awhile. They like to fail after a couple years, the light will blink red, green, red, green, forever. What happens is the single capacitor on the circuit board inside the wall-wart fails. Replacement resistors can be had dirt cheap, I got 10 of them on Ebay for $5 shipped. Takes a few minutes to heat up the solder and switch out the cap. Fixed 3 of them one afternoon.
Depending on the thirdgen, there are plenty of places to connect a battery maintainer. 6cyls and TBI cars have a positive battery junction block near the battery on the radiator support. TPI cars usually have a heavy branch off the positive battery cable that splits off to the alternator, or to feed the electric fans, etc.
Last one I installed was on my Formula. Used the ground for the headlights on the radiator support, and ran the positive to the battery post on the alternator. The quick disconnect chills out above the front turn signal where its' easy to access. When I take the car out, I just tuck it into the bumper cover. The provided harness that came with the Battery Tender was way too short to make this possible. Since I have 4 of the stupid things, I just clipped apart one of the spare alligator clip harnesses and spliced in new wire. With all the connections soldered and covered in weather proof heatshrink tubing, and high temp split loom, most people would never notice it under the hood, and it's as safe as the factory wiring.
BTW, the Battery Tender JR is great, for awhile. They like to fail after a couple years, the light will blink red, green, red, green, forever. What happens is the single capacitor on the circuit board inside the wall-wart fails. Replacement resistors can be had dirt cheap, I got 10 of them on Ebay for $5 shipped. Takes a few minutes to heat up the solder and switch out the cap. Fixed 3 of them one afternoon.
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