308 PIGTAILS | FerrariChat

308 PIGTAILS

Discussion in '308/328' started by rcraig, Dec 18, 2006.

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  1. rcraig

    rcraig F1 Rookie

    Dec 7, 2005
    2,946
    Maryland
    Full Name:
    Bob Craig
    OK guys, I bought a battery tender from Daniel (Ricambi) for my 79 308 and want to figure out how to permanently hook pigtails up. I don't want to run them outside the tray that holds the spare tire, but the door that is overtop of the battery bolts on and there is no way to run them through without drilling hole in the sheet metal plate over battery. I was thinking of drilling 3/4 inch or so hole and putting rubber grommet to make edges safe for wire. Anybody have any better ideas or reasons other than "not original" for not drilling hole?
     
  2. tvine

    tvine Formula Junior

    Jul 19, 2006
    270
    Cadillac, Michigan
    Full Name:
    Tom Vine
    I ran mine outside the spare tire tub and tie wrapped it to the radiator hose.
     
  3. rolindsay

    rolindsay Formula 3

    Jul 14, 2006
    1,022
    Houston, TX
    Full Name:
    Rick Lindsay
    I have considered all of these options but I recommend that you include an in-line fuse on the (+) wire, located right at the battery terminal. That way, if you short the wire (or tender) to earth you won't provide an unfused short circuit directly from the battery (+) to earth!!!

    Fuse size shouldn't matter too much as long as it is about twice the maximum current supplied by the battery tender.

    -rick
     
  4. nautique

    nautique Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    20
    Los angelas, CA
    Full Name:
    Craig Tempelton
    I put a cigarette lighter connector on my Battery Tender. I plug it into the cigarette lighter port on my center consol. This has worked well on my 79 308 for over 5 years.
     
  5. Paul_308

    Paul_308 Formula 3

    Mar 12, 2004
    2,345
    My wiring is connected to pos terminal with 10A ATO fuse AND to the neg terminal of the battery. Being hardwired to the neg as opposed to using ground, allows charging/metering the battery while it is disconnected from the car using the large Molex connector at the left headlight well.

    The routing is over the battery and underneath the spare wheel plastic tray, forward and to the side, ty-wrapped to be available at the top front of the wheel tray.

    I used 2 pin Molex connectors as I have several hundred devices already using them...2-way radios, batteries, meters, chargers, etc.

    Right/left consideration is convenience of your charger. Mine is right as I set my charger at that corner.
     
  6. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Aug 3, 2002
    6,081
    Southeast USA
    Full Name:
    Mike Charness
    Cigarette lighter plug is DEFINITELY the way to go for hooking a battery tender on a 308/328!
     
  7. carlrose

    carlrose Formula Junior

    Nov 25, 2003
    321
    Bob, drop me an email at [email protected] and I'll email you a "How-To" article on hardwiring for a 328 (very similar to your 308).

    Best,

    Carl
     
  8. jimpo1

    jimpo1 Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jul 30, 2001
    24,510
    Dallas, TX
    Full Name:
    Jim E
    +1
     
  9. Dino2010

    Dino2010 F1 Rookie
    BANNED

    Nov 20, 2006
    4,852
    Belgium
    +1!
     

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