Another battery tender question | FerrariChat

Another battery tender question

Discussion in '360/430' started by KatMan, Jan 16, 2013.

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  1. KatMan

    KatMan Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 2, 2006
    498
    Silicon Valley
    Full Name:
    Stan K
    When I put the Ferrari battery tender on my 430, here is what happens. The middle yellow goes on for about 2 minutes and then the inside green goes on for about 3 - 4 minutes. This pattern goes on for hours - even days. The Ferrari instruction booklet says this may indicate a problem. However, in searching old threads on this topic some say this is indicates a normal battery. Battery is 4 months old and car starts fine. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
     
  2. augustxke

    augustxke Formula Junior

    Feb 7, 2009
    412
    MN
    Full Name:
    Bruce
    The tender on my 08 scud alternates the same way although 15 sec then to 60 sec green. It did this with the 4 year old battery and now the new one. The car works fine.
     
  3. DanS*

    DanS* Karting

    May 29, 2012
    218
    Manhattan Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Dan
    IMHO The best move is to get a more advanced CTEK maintainer and put the Ferrari charger back in the bag for the next owner. You'll be more confident of fully charged battery, get better battery life, and have fewer hassles.
     
  4. MVDESQ

    MVDESQ Formula 3

    Nov 25, 2010
    1,581
    Greenwich, CT
    Full Name:
    Matthew & Kristen V.
    Did you by any chance open the driver door for any reason? When I do that with factory charger it messes up the lights until I unplug and replug into wall. I think the fuel pump messes it up.

    My car has a pig tail behind the seats and the factory front panel charger. However I don't have a charger for the other set up so I use the Ferrari brand one in the fancy leather bag.
     
  5. JaguarDriver

    JaguarDriver Karting
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 27, 2011
    176
    Atlanta, GA
    Full Name:
    Dick Maury
    +1
     
  6. KatMan

    KatMan Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 2, 2006
    498
    Silicon Valley
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    Stan K
    Thanks MVDESQ. I did not open the driver's door. I have read about the reputation of the Ferrari tender. However I do not have the pigtails, so for the time being I am stuck with the Ferrari tender.
     
  7. HighandDry

    HighandDry Formula Junior

    Jul 24, 2012
    447
    Seattle
    Full Name:
    Steve
    It takes 5 minutes to connect the pigtails.

    There's a free set of connectors on the battery under the passenger side.
     
  8. Trent

    Trent Formula 3

    Dec 10, 2003
    2,013
    Indialantic, FL
    Full Name:
    Trent
    Its the F1 pump, so it can be "ready" to switch to [N] when you push start.

    Buy a CTEK 4.3. The 3300 is a little better than the OEM with a few more modes unit but is less sofisticated than the 4.3. The 4.3 is awesome, and here is a link for $55

    http://www.techbatterysolutions.com/CTEK_MUS_4_3_Battery_Charger_p/c002.htm?_vsrefdom=googlepla&gclid=CN-fz5vw8LQCFQSqnQodAxkAwg&utm_source=googlepepla&utm_medium=adwords&gdftrk=gdfV23665_a_7c1669_a_7c7827_a_7cC002

    or $59 amazon prime : http://www.amazon.com/CTEK-56-864-Battery-Charger/dp/B006G14FK8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358476842&sr=8-1&keywords=ctek+4.3


    Installing a new pigtail is fast and easy. 10 minutes if you are 10mm wrench challenged.

    I also bought a few extra pigtails for other vehicles.

    Keeping your battery in tip top shape is worth the effort and the cost.
     
  9. wkumari

    wkumari Karting

    Jul 15, 2011
    169
    Northern Virginia
    Full Name:
    Warren

    Another option is to build a CTEK to Ferrari charger cable. This plugs from the CTEK into the special Ferrari charger connector in the passenger footwell. Apart from not having to monkey with adding the pigtail, it also illuminates the "Charger Connected" icon and prevents starting until the charger is disconnected. This saves you from feeling *really* stupid because you forgot to disconnect the charger before driving off :)

    Details / schematic here: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showpost.php?p=141102598&postcount=12

    Sometime I'll get around to building a bunch of them and selling them...
     
  10. schroed911

    schroed911 Rookie

    Oct 6, 2012
    42
    Norcal
    I have the ferrari installed under hood charger with the leather case. The battery never shows fully charged. The recommendation here seems to be to install a quick connect behind the drivers seat and use a commercial charger. I one chargers shown in the link below. Are they a good choice?

    http://batteryminders.com/details.php?prod=12117
     
  11. donho

    donho Karting

    Oct 11, 2006
    154
    Naples, FL
    Full Name:
    Michael
    Not sure why that should be the case. It may be different on a 430, but the battery in the 360 is immediately in front of the passenger footwell. Installing a pigtail directly to the battery is easy and also very easy to hide when not in use.
     
  12. up4speed

    up4speed F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 16, 2012
    3,693
    Long Island, NY
    Full Name:
    Chris
    That's exactly how I do it. I tuck the wire behind the flap of floor carpeting on the kick panel when I'm not using it. It's totally invisible then. I just find the wire by feel when I need it.
     
  13. sanchezdds

    sanchezdds Formula Junior

    Aug 15, 2009
    336
    California
    I looked up the charger using this link. What is the pigtails? I would love to purchase this charger, but I am little unsure how it could work on my Scud. I would really appreciate it if you could describe how it could be used with the pigtail.
    Thank you in advance
     
  14. timba

    timba Formula Junior

    Aug 20, 2012
    258
    Nor Cal
    Full Name:
    Tim
    With Warren's helpful post above, here's what I did:

    To get the connector that plugs into your Ferrari factory charging port, go to Mouser Electronics - Electronic Components Distributor and order the following:

    649-SC16M11S6 3 required
    649-MBG4P1 1 required
    649-MBG4S1 1 required

    To get the pigtail that connects to the CTEK charger, look here:
    Amazon.com: ctek comfort connect eyelet: Automotive

    It doesn't matter what size eyelet since you are going to cut this off and put on the connector above.

    Wire it up per Warren's instructions
    FerrariChat.com - View Single Post - YABTP: Making the "Battery Conditioner Connected" light

    You now have an adapter cable that allows you to connect to the CTEK charger on one end, and the Ferrari battery tender connector (under the passenger side dash) on the other end.
     
  15. MVDESQ

    MVDESQ Formula 3

    Nov 25, 2010
    1,581
    Greenwich, CT
    Full Name:
    Matthew & Kristen V.
    Trent. I have this Porsche charger with the cigarette outlet style end. I can't use in 430 because 430 doesn't have always on cigarette lighter. Can I get a connector that goes onto the Porsche charger end (female) and the have a wire come off and connect to the pig tail? Photos are below. Thanks. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  16. Trent

    Trent Formula 3

    Dec 10, 2003
    2,013
    Indialantic, FL
    Full Name:
    Trent
    I suppose you could, but why? That style connector is a PIA and exposes a conductor. It was default type on my BMW S100RR motorcycle and the exposed lead was +, thus if it touched anything it would be a dead short on the battery (aka circuit with a resistance of <1ohm) and pop the fuse or melt the wire if there was no fuse in the system.

    Anyway, why not just buy a new CTEK 4.3 for $55-65 delivered and then you get a superior charger, and a much better, and easier pigtail. The 4.3 pigtail has a button so its ZIF (Zero Insertion Force), makes it much easier to connect/disconnect.

    The pigtails cost $10, one of the best chargers in the world $55, seems a no brainer.
     
  17. wkumari

    wkumari Karting

    Jul 15, 2011
    169
    Northern Virginia
    Full Name:
    Warren
    #17 wkumari, Jan 19, 2013
    Last edited: Jan 19, 2013
    Yup, fully agree...

    If, for some reason you are really attached to that particular charger (because it has the Porsche sticker on it) I'd suggest getting this:
    CTEK Comfort Indicator Extension | CTEK Battery ChargersCTEK Battery Chargers
    and simply replacing the cable.

    There is also:
    http://smartercharger.com/products/accessories-cat/ctek-comfort-indicator-pigtail/ which converts the old style SAE connector into the CTEK standard connector.
    If you like the cigarette connector (Aston Martin uses this for charging), its also available:
    http://smartercharger.com/products/accessories-cat/ctek-comfort-connect-cig-plug/
     
  18. MVDESQ

    MVDESQ Formula 3

    Nov 25, 2010
    1,581
    Greenwich, CT
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    Matthew &amp; Kristen V.
    So lets say I buy the 4.3. What would I do with that wire you don't recommend I use? Is the old one easy to take out? Is it easy to run a new one? Isn't the batter under the passenger side dash area? I have no idea how to run anything.
     
  19. Trent

    Trent Formula 3

    Dec 10, 2003
    2,013
    Indialantic, FL
    Full Name:
    Trent
    If you want me to put together a DIY, just ask.
     
  20. BigJay2050

    BigJay2050 F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    May 27, 2014
    7,191
    So I have a collection of granite digital chargers and conditioners that use MVDESQ's style of connector. Can I use this cable to plug into the port on the Passenger side and then connect the standard granite digital cable to that?

    Accessories - CTEK Battery Chargers
     
  21. ttforcefed

    ttforcefed F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 22, 2002
    19,256
    yes, almost sure
     
  22. BigJay2050

    BigJay2050 F1 Veteran
    Rossa Subscribed

    May 27, 2014
    7,191
    It would be so much easier if the Ferrari Charges came with the adapter instead of having the Proprietary Ferrari plug hard-wired. I guess I'll try to make my own. :(
     

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