Trickle Charger Attachment?

[Libertas]

OK guys. This will be my first winter winterizing my new Mustang. I have a Battery Pro Tender, but the battery in this car seems to have very odd terminals. I have two circle leads that typically get screwed down over terminals, but this battery has like 1cm diameter posts. Where are the screw down leads to this battery?

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[jasonstang]

I thought they are all the same diameter posts on batteries.
Regardless, I find connecting positive to the fuse box and negative to one of the body negative is the best way.

 

[jefffrot]

I did the same. I attached the positive to the top terminal and the ground to the existing ground terminal on the shock tower.

 

[GTP]

Same here. Used a polarized trailer hitch connector. Make sure the exposed connector is the negative for the harness that stays in the car.

 

[tsunami]

I used a tin snips to make a cut on the battery tender ring leads, then gently opened the ring slightly. I loosened the battery terminals just enough to be able to slip the open rings onto the posts and tightened everything down. I just don't feel comfortable sticking 12VDC wires into the fuse box. The tender leads are polarized so I can leave the battery end of the leads, when I remove the tender.

 

[jasonstang]

I used a tin snips to make a cut on the battery tender ring leads, then gently opened the ring slightly. I loosened the battery terminals just enough to be able to slip the open rings onto the posts and tightened everything down. I just don't feel comfortable sticking 12VDC wires into the fuse box. The tender leads are polarized so I can leave the battery end of the leads, when I remove the tender.

The problem doing that is to make sure the terminal on the battery don't accidentally loosen up.

 

[JonS]

Which of the two reds in the fuse box is the positive

There appear to be two red connectors - which is the positive. I think this was asked before, but can not find the answer.

Thanks

 

[Fordever]

My battery tender came with three setups. 1. Alligator clips 2. Ring connectors 3. 12 volt/cigarette adapter.

We can't use the cigarette adapter because the 12 volt power point is switched so you can't back feed the power.

I didn't want to use the alligator clips because I wanted to keep my battery cover on and close the hood.

So I ended up using my fork leads and tucking the forks under the side bolts on the battery terminals. I loosened the side bolts and pushed the forks in and re-tightened the bolts. Then I replaced the battery cover and ran the cable down thru the motor and under the car. I plugged in the cable to the charger from under the car and placed the charger on the floor along side of the car so I can monitor the lights on the charger whenever I want.

So my car is covered up and the battery is being charged whenever required. No worries. All good. :cheers:

 

[JonS]

My barmttery tender came with three setups. 1. Alligator clips 2. Ring connectors 3. 12 volt/cigarette adapter.

We can't use the cigarette adapter because the 12 volt power point is switched so you can't back feed the power.

I didn't want to use the alligator clips because I wanted to keep my battery cover on and close the hood.

So I ended up using my fork leads and tucking the forks under the side bolts on the battery terminals. I loosened the side bolts and pushed the forks in and re-tightened the bolts. Then I replaced the battery cover and ran the cable down thru the motor and under the car. I plugged in the cable to the charger from under the car and placed the charger on the floor along side of the car so I can monitor the lights on the charger whenever I want.

So my car is covered up and the battery is being charged whenever required. No worries. All good. :cheers:

Thanks for this. I was hoping to avoid having to take the battery cover off, but I am sure I can figure it out. It is probably the best solution. I have an older Griot's Garage charger that should do the trick. Instead of forks it has the full circle connectors which should work well. I was wondering about putting the cover on while the trickle charger is working, but I guess that should be OK. I still have my cover in the box. I was not sure about using it since the car will be in the garage all the time over the winter (unless the roads are very clear and the temp is warm),

 

[Fordever]

Thanks for this. I was hoping to avoid having to take the battery cover off, but I am sure I can figure it out. It is probably the best solution. I have an older Griot's Garage charger that should do the trick. Instead of forks it has the full circle connectors which should work well. I was wondering about putting the cover on while the trickle charger is working, but I guess that should be OK. I still have my cover in the box. I was not sure about using it since the car will be in the garage all the time over the winter (unless the roads are very clear and the temp is warm),

Battery cover is easy. only 3, I think, push clips. Be careful taking them out, Easy to drop and hard to find.......Ask me how I know.... :headbonk:

After you lift the battery cover you can hook your rings onto the smaller nuts/bolts on the battery and replace the cover.

I had some concerns with covering the battery again, but my battery tender has been on for a month and no issues so far. Your battery is drawing little current, so heat is a non issue. My battery cover is on, the hood is dropped and I have my car covered....no concerns what-so-ever.

 

[JonS]

Battery cover is easy. only 3, I think, push clips. Be careful taking them out, Easy to drop and hard to find.......Ask me how I know.... :headbonk:

After you lift the battery cover you can hook your rings onto the smaller nuts/bolts on the battery and replace the cover.

I had some concerns with covering the battery again, but my battery tender has been on for a month and no issues so far. Your battery is drawing little current, so heat is a non issue. My battery cover is on, the hood is dropped and I have my car covered....no concerns what-so-ever.

You are right about the push clips, I found that the cover that what connected to to of them was rubber so you could move it out like unbuttoning a shirt. The remaining one I left in and just swiveled it aside. When I looked at the + terminal on my battery, it did not appear to have a very easy way to connect to the terminal. Perhaps the connectors are diff in my car (2017 GT350)?

I also had a hart time finding a place that I could route the power cord through the bottom of the car. They really have these things sealed for aero purposes. Anyway - here is what I did, it seems to be working. I am still not sure about the car cover. I am not worried about heat or fumes from the battery. It is just that each time you drag something across the finish, however careful, there is some risk.

Notice that is used the positive terminal to the left as you are standing on the side of the car. For some reason this seemed like the "right one". I never was sure.
Thanks for the helpl

 

[aham23]

i wired mine up yesterday. used the positve terminal on the fuse box, one most rear, and then same ground above on the strut tower. with a The Battery Tender brand the head unit is the wall plug portion. ran the wire along the fender tucked under the fender a bit at the headlight and closed the hood. no issues. i can actually disconnect it leaving the terminal portion under hood if needed.

 

[JonS]

i wired mine up yesterday. used the positve terminal on the fuse box, one most rear, and then same ground above on the strut tower. with a The Battery Tender brand the head unit is the wall plug portion. ran the wire along the fender tucked under the fender a bit at the headlight and closed the hood. no issues. i can actually disconnect it leaving the terminal portion under hood if needed.

Yup, it may not have been clear by my picture. I used the rearmost positive terminal. The charger thinks thinks are OK, that is charging and no faults. So this seems to work.

I see your point about running it along the fender. That could work too.

All we have to do now, is wait for spring :-)

 

[Fordever]

i wired mine up yesterday. used the positve terminal on the fuse box, one most rear, and then same ground above on the strut tower. with a The Battery Tender brand the head unit is the wall plug portion. ran the wire along the fender tucked under the fender a bit at the headlight and closed the hood. no issues. i can actually disconnect it leaving the terminal portion under hood if needed.

That's what I like about what I have done, I can leave the cable attached to the battery forever more. I just leave the cable under the hood tucked away until it's needed.

Yup, it may not have been clear by my picture. I used the rearmost positive terminal. The charger thinks thinks are OK, that is charging and no faults. So this seems to work.

I see your point about running it along the fender. That could work too.

All we have to do now, is wait for spring :-)

It's gonna be a long wait for me. With all the salt on the roads here and our long winters, it will probably be late April or early May before I can drive my car again. :frusty:

It's been parked for almost 2 months already.:doh:

 

[aham23]

we hit 40 the past week so it was just a quick disconnect and spin then reconnect for the Stang.

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