I picked up a Deltran Battery Tender Plus for my 328 since my battery discharges within 2 weeks of non use. I tried to connect it to my battery using the tire hold down bracket as a ground. No matter what terminal I tried connecting to the Tender blinks red indicating improper connection. What is the proper way to connect this device? Also, I read some posts that there is a battery disconnect/cutoff switch. Where exactly is it located.
The spare hold-down may not be connected to the metal frame and therefore, is not a valid connection. When I installed the tender on my Mondial QV, I attached the connectors directly to the battery cables, the wires fed forward with the plug connector ty-wrapped to the grill. I had to cut the battery clips off the supplied cable and install ring connectors - which then went on the bolts on the battery cable connectors. That is a FUSED wire and that's really important. I bought an extra cable and installed it the same way on my 308GTB. That way, the car that is not in use sits on the single tender. I just plug the charger's wire into the grill-mounted connections and the light goes solid red until the batteries are happy.
I got the cigarette lighter adapter and plug my battery tender into the lighter socket. Works great! The lighter socket is a 10A circuit and the tender puts out 1.25A max so no worries about overloading it.
I tried using the supplied ring connectors. When I connected to both terminals, I got the blinking red. Then I tried different combinations. When you connected yours, did you connect to both battery terminals or did you connect to some other ground point?
I have mine hooked up directly to the pos & negative on the battery with the supplied fused cord. Its worked fine for 10 years now. Its kind of hard to mess up unless you reverse the connections,maybe you have a bad unit.
if your battery can't hold his charge for two weeks you've better replace it. the disconnect is not hard to find: open your frontlid, go to the left side of your car standing beside the left fender and reach into the dark part just in front of your headlight assy. the connections is mounted on the chassis. just pull the contector up. best way as you have never did this before is to use a flashlight the first time to see it happening.
If your battery is discharging in two weeks of non use, something is wrong. It' either a bad battery or an electrical drain on it.
Most likely an electrical drain. A bad alternator diode can drain a battery, as well as crud between two close contacts on an electrical device that allows a small current drain. You can isolate a current drain in the car by removing fuses one at a time and using the milliamp function on your VOM to see if there is a small current draw on any circuit by placing a lead on each side of the fuse holder. To test the alternator on the car is difficult due to alternator location, but using the Ohm scale, you check between the hot terminal and alternator case, with the charging wire removed. You should get infinity one way,and a conductance with the leads reversed. If you get conductance both ways, you have a bad diode. Doug
i also use the cig. lighter as a hook up and its so easy to do, just plug in and then unplug...as to opening up the bonnet and hooking up cables,it does take longer and be careful not to let the wires drag across your fender....
I just take my battery out for the season and keep it in the warm basement. My batteries last 7 to 8 years this way.
One precaution about taking a battery out. Setting it concrete can cause it to drain. Sounds like witchery or a job for mythbusters? The temperature of the concrete is usually much colder than the air above, causing a differential temperature between acid at the top and bottom of the battery and that causes electron flow and dead battery. Always place the battery on a piece of cardboard of wood if you must place it on a concrete floor. That said, the true measure of a battery is it's amp-hour capacity. Physically provided by plate area. A battery can hold a charge for 5 years but the plates will have eaten away into debris at the bottom and the battery capacity is greatly diminished. If you want to save money, buy the best standard battery you can find, often $80-$90 - making sure it comes with full 3 year warranty. And take it in for replacement at 2 years 11 months to get a new one free. That is the best of all worlds for lowest expense and best battery efficacy.
"One precaution about taking a battery out. Setting it concrete can cause it to drain." True many years ago, not now. Battery makers specifically address this myth on their sites such as this one: http://www.trojanbattery.com/Tech-Support/FAQ.aspx
So, I figured out why the Tender was not working initially. It turns out that if the battery is drained below a certain level, the Tender has some circuitry that prevents it from charging. Supposedly some sort of safety feature. Anyhow, I got the battery recharged and hooked up the tender with no problem last night. But now I am thinking I may need to replace the battery anyway. What is the right group size? 34? I haven't bought a battery in years, any suggestions? Consumer Reports liked Die Hard, Deka and Optima.
As I noted above, the problem was not the connection, just that the battery was completely drained and the Tender does not work below a certain leve.
I really like the Die Hard Platinum. It holds a charge a lot longer than normal batteries when not used. It is a little heavier than normal and it is expensive, but I think it is worth it. I have not had to use my battery tender since I installed the Platinum about two years ago. my
