2010 Cali tender crapped out, need help with options please..... | FerrariChat

2010 Cali tender crapped out, need help with options please.....

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by FrancisK, Jan 4, 2022.

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  1. FrancisK

    FrancisK Formula 3
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    Oct 22, 2021
    1,108
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    Alright, I know a lot of this stuff has been discussed to death and I've gone through the threads but I'm having a hard time pinpointing what I need here exactly From researching I've decided to go with this unit:

    https://www.batterysaver.com/store/p78/2365-lcd.html

    Does anyone have any input on that? Does someone suggest a different unit? I've been shying away from CTEK simply because this stock one was a CTEK and it crapped out on me plus this one was highly recommended from what I researched.

    Regardless where I'm stuck is the connector I need for it, I would like to use the stock input in the trunk. I saw the thread outlining making your own but to be completely honest that probably wouldn't be a good option for me as I don't have any soldering experience and I don't want to take chances with my Ferrari. Can anyone point me in the right direction as to what I should be looking for?

    Thank you!
     
  2. flash32

    flash32 F1 Veteran

    Aug 22, 2008
    5,563
    Central NJ
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    Dominick
    eBay has them ..or juicemyride

    Don't know which off hand you have

    Not cheap

    Sent from my moto g power using Tapatalk
     
  3. Ray Smith

    Ray Smith Formula Junior
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    May 17, 2020
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    Raymond Smith
    Go with the CTEK MUS 4.3 test and charge. I use them on all my cars. Won't overcharge. You can buy extension cables to to get the wires out of your way.

    Ray
     
  4. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    33,736
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    Brian Crall
    Best product out there in my opinion. I know the guy that makes them a little. In electronics manufacturing and has a car and motorcycle collection so made them because he thought all the others were cheap.

    I have a bunch of them and unlike every other one out there have never had one fail. Some are over 10 years old.
     
  5. FrancisK

    FrancisK Formula 3
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    Oct 22, 2021
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    Thank you guys, what should I be searching for specifically when looking for the adapter? That's the part giving me the biggest trouble, does it have a specific name?
     
  6. FrancisK

    FrancisK Formula 3
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    I think I answered my own question just now, I'm looking for a "3 pin" adapter. I see they are available for CTEK but I'm assuming that won't work with the battery saver brand tender......
     
  7. FrancisK

    FrancisK Formula 3
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    Yea from my research is it a better option than the CTEK but the issue becomes is there a 3pin adapter for it....?
     
  8. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    33,736
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    I never use the factory plug. They are never in a convenient place. His comes with a plug to hard wire to car where ever is best for your situation.

    I refuse to sell junk so have been selling theirs to my clients for a long time.
     
  9. FrancisK

    FrancisK Formula 3
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    I get it and I agree that they are the best option from my research but I'm not looking to make alterations to the vehicle and I don't mind the trunk input it actually works for me. So with that being said I'm assuming the battery saver brand isn't an option for me then right....?
     
  10. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
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    In your case I guess not unless you want to adapt the Ferrari cord to that unit.
     
  11. FrancisK

    FrancisK Formula 3
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  12. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    May 29, 2001
    17,913
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    I own several different battery tenders and per Rifledriver, I do like the Battery Saver from Granite the best. One nice thing, if you have power outages, when power is restored, the Battery Saver will start charging again. A Ctek will not, as you have to activate it by pressing the mode button to get it going again. So unless you are present to do that, your battery will continue to drain...Most brands have either a power or mode switch to start them. They are not a good choice if you have power interruptions.
     
  13. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    Which is easy enough to do. There are tutorials here on Fchat to modify your charging cord, or you can often buy them online.
    I simply made one using a thread here on Fchat that described where to obtain the plugs and pins, and adapted it to work with my Battery Saver...which uses the more common SAE plug. Only Ctek uses a proprietary plug.

    Here is the adapter for the SAE to Ferrari plug used around 2008 to 2010
    Ferrari 458 SAE adapter for Battery Charger Die Hard Schumacher Foval Charger | eBay

    That price is crazy, I made my adapter for like $35 or $40, using the instructions in the thread here on Fchat
     
  14. Ray Smith

    Ray Smith Formula Junior
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    Raymond Smith
    Do as you feel what's right for you but the CTEK is a very adaptive tool. FWIW, Jay Leno uses nothing but CTEK chargers which is where I learned of them. I even bought the CTEK Li-Ion charger for my anti-gravity battery. They perform flawlessly. The C8 Corvette charger is actually a CTEK.

    Ray
     
  15. Ray Smith

    Ray Smith Formula Junior
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    The CTEK comes with a "comfort connector" which has eyelets which connect directly to the battery and has three LEDs which show battery condition when not plugged into the charger. The also sell an 8 foot extension cable if needed. You can close the car door on the charger cable: The Ferrari dealer does it all the time and I did it for two years with no ill-effects.

    Best wishes.

    Ray
     
  16. alex

    alex Formula Junior
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    vraa and FrancisK like this.
  17. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    The Granite Battery Saver comes with the same accessories and also has an LCD display of battery charge level and voltage.
     
  18. Snapshift

    Snapshift Formula Junior
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    May 31, 2020
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    I have 3 different charger/tenders.1, a CTEK5.0; 2. A battery Saver (Granite) https://www.batterysaver.com/store/p78/2365-lcd.html
    and a battery minder
    https://www.batteryminders.com/2012agm-12v-charger-maintainer-sealed-agm-lead-acid-batteries

    all on an agm Battery. I made an adapter box with gauges and posts on it to clamp charging cables on whatever charger I'm using and from the adapter box a single SAE 2 wire plug to the charging port behind the seat. You have to check polarity because it becomes reversed. I have run some tests between all the tenders, and the Granite will charge the battery to a slightly higher resting voltage. I believe it is a great product. If you can splice wires you could use this charger with your old CTEK wire from your new charger, but be careful and double check the polarity to make sure the positive output from the charger is going into the positive input on the charger plug.
     
  19. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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  20. FrancisK

    FrancisK Formula 3
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  21. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    If you saw my post, I mentioned it is available, though at a crazy price: Ferrari 458 SAE adapter for Battery Charger Die Hard Schumacher Foval Charger | eBay
    You can make your own following the parts and instruction from here: DIY (kumari.net) I think it cost me at the time, maybe $30. Parts are more now, so might cost you $40.
    There is also a long thread by the same person here on Fchat. I followed the instructions, but made mine with an SAE plug to work with my Granite Battery Saver. The SAE plug is what every other battery tender manufacturer uses, other than Ctek. I believe Ctek wants to capture their own accessory cable market by using a proprietary plug.
     
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  22. syata

    syata Formula Junior

    Feb 23, 2017
    421
    You can also use the alligator clips and connect the battery tender in the front (engine) positive and negative battery terminals. I first wanted to use the build in plug in port in the trunk but then I would have to use a too long extension cord.


    Sent from my iPad using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
  23. JCR

    JCR F1 Veteran
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    Mar 14, 2005
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    I'm on my second CTEK. When this one dies, and it will, I will move to another brand. CTEK has nice marketing and slick packaging, but they cheapen out on the electronic internals. This guy has multiple videos on CTEKs and shows what the problems are.

     
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  24. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
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    Brian Crall
    I have put a lot of them and the big expensive Ferrari factory chargers in the garbage.
     

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