How/Can use this?

[Peter J.]

Not exactly an NCRS question, but how do I make this type of Battery Tender
connection when using original type spring ring battery cables?

[Alan D.]

Re: How/Can use this?

Cut the leads and put on alligator clips

[Peter J.]

Re: How/Can use this?

I have been using the alligator clips but it is a much cleaner and easier application without them. With the bolt on app it is just that much easier to plug in. I did my John Deere tractor that way and its nice not having to open the hood and use the clips every time you park it.

[Richard M.]

Re: How/Can use this?

At the horn relay battery connection?

[David A.]

Re: How/Can use this?

why a tender?
i've never had battery problems with my '56 vette!
my WWII jeeps yes, but not the vette!
but......if i did,
i'd see if i had a short somewhere.
this is very easy
a. turn off all switches
b. clean grd post n grd to frame area
c. disconnect grd wire from neg post
d. reconnect with 6v bulb:
no lite => no shorts!!
dim => small short
bright or burns up bulb => big short
if no shorts, one shouldn't need a tender!
my vette has sat many months thru the winter
and i have plenty of cranking power.
if you have a short, it needs to be run down
and this is NOT always easy!!!
my humble iowa boy 2 cents
iowa

[Dick W.]

Re: How/Can use this?

Peter, I would guess that this is going on your mid year? If so, what about the B+ terminal on the horn relay? It is hot all the time and being so, would charge your battery connected there.

[Alan D.]

Re: How/Can use this?

A battery tender typically outputs a very small amount of current as long as everything is OK, ie no shorts.
So way not convert into a cigarette lighter & just insert it when needed?

Is there a built in limit in your tender?

[Peter J.]

Re: How/Can use this?

Dick & Richard,
I'll take a look at the horn relay circuit and see if I can come up with a convenient way to get at it.
David it is obvious your car doesn't set as long unattended as mine has in the last couple of years, hopefully that is about to change but you never know about health or family issues
Thanks guys,
Pete

[David A.]

Re: How/Can use this?

pete
your right
i guess the bottom line would be
how long a non shorted battery will hold it's charge
you'd better drive it once in a while!
dave

[Richard M.]

Re: How/Can use this?

I just had another idea that you may want to consider.....It appears you do not have a battery disconnect..........

If you add 2 disconnects, one for + and one for -, you can tie the terminals of the tender to the disconnect clamp bolts. This way you can continue a trickle on the battery, and have it disconnected from the cars electrical system for those long idle times.

Regardless, IMO it's really a good idea to use a disconnect.

Rich

edit......The pic below is on a '67 I just worked on with the added disconnect on the negative. You could do the same for the positive also.

[Ronald L.]

Re: How/Can use this?

Rich,
Do you use the same disconnect on the positive?

I like that idea since with the usual negative placement, the car is still hot in many locations when you are working on them.

[Richard M.]

Re: How/Can use this?

When the negative is disconnected at the battery, the positive is still connected but is never hot throughout the vehicle's electrical circuits. You really only need one. Using an additional one on the positive was my idea only to allow the battery tender hookup with spring-ring cables.

The disconnects are made for the smaller negative terminal diameter, but you could likely file the terminal ID to get it a bit bigger to fit over the battery positive post. The only other issue is if the larger positive spring ring would properly fit over the smaller disconnect post securely.

Rich

Knob Type Knife Type

[Chuck G.]

Re: How/Can use this?

I have "WIRTHCO" knife style cut off switches on both my 63 and 69.

I have the cut off mounted on the POS terminal of the 63 because it's easier to get to.

The switch mounts with a bolt/nut. I have the + loop connector of the Battery Tender wired to that bolt/nut.

I have the - wired to the engine block.

The pigtail squeezes down between the battery and the battery hold down. Come out on the bottom and hangs there.

When I want to connect the charger, I pop it in there.

The 69 is a similar installation, except the - goes to the frame.

Chuck

[Peter J.]

Re: How/Can use this?

Thanks Guys, I have the magic green knob cut off, I just hadn't got to the point of finding it or I would have thought of hooking up to it as you guys have suggested. I guess I'm getting to the point in life where you can't see the forest for the trees.
I was thinking of hooking it up to the starter and the block ground for the battery and making the connection through one of the side vents in the fender but I will just attach it to the cut off bolt and a block ground.
Thanks again,
Pete

[Richard M.]

Re: How/Can use this?

Pete, is your cutoff on the plus or minus?

Rich