How/Can use this?

[Norris W.]

Re: How/Can use this?

why a tender?
i've never had battery problems with my '56 vette!..................

Here's the reason: I use the Battery Tender Plus, which I guess is their most expensive SINGLE BATTERY unit. I have about 30 of 'em on lawnmowers, boats, SeaDoo, Motorcycles, 4 wheelers, and all of my old cars that run. I don't buy batteries anymore, or at least almost never. My '96 Dodge Viper has recently turned over to 4K miles if that's any indication of how much it gets driven. I changed out the first battery ever back in the fall (2010). 14 years on a battery in a car with computer current drain. I've got 2 in Big Block Chevy powered boats that are over 10 yrs old and still fine. One in one of the '69 Corvettes was installed in '92. The cars that we drive every day, which never get put on a tender get 4 yrs at most from the batteries. I'm a huge fan. Just don't let 'em get wet.

[Peter J.]

Re: How/Can use this?

It was like designed but I'm going to try to modify it and get it to fit the positive terminal. I like your idea.

[Richard M.]

Re: How/Can use this?

Pete,

If you ream out or file the opening in the disconnect terminal that should work to get it on the battery. The green knob type terminals are bronze I recall, so don't spread it out with a bar as it could break.

My concern is the smaller diameter of the male lug on the disconnect, where the + battery cable spring ring attaches. It's tapered so it may fit. If too small you may not get a solid connection. You also need to make sure it's not close to any "grounds". If the '66 uses a top-mounted battery shield this could be a problem.

Rich

[Alan D.]

Re: How/Can use this?

And yet another thing to consider. When a battery is left alone, say in a warm storage area, it will reverse charge from what I'm been told. The current will flow backwards - just a VERY little amount. Over time that builds up a cover on the plates which one can charge through however requires a higher voltage and when the current starts to flow turn back to 12V before it melts up. If battery is left too long by itself then even the high voltage trick will not work. Had a new die hard setting for 2 years and became junk that way, only used once.

Now this is what I've been told and I have never researched the problem, I just put the tender on it.

[John H.]

Re: How/Can use this?

Both types of battery disconnects are designed to be installed on the (smaller) negative post for a reason. In that manner, there is ZERO ground potential anwhere in the car with the disconnect open, so it's impossible to create a direct short; you could take a wrench with one end on the battery positive post and scrape the other end anywhere on the chassis or engine and not even get a spark. Don't try that with the disconnect on the positive terminal (like when you drop that wrench).