Battery Tender Time

[JCWeatherman]

I have a 2013 STL that I purchased used last summer. Now that winter is approaching, I want to hook up a battery tender, but I need some good advice. I see that there are battery terminals inside the frunk, under a removable panel on the left (driver's) side. The positive (red) terminal has a slide-off plastic cap, and the negative (black) terminal is exposed. It looks like both of these terminals have interior threads, but I haven't checked the size.

I want to use a tender, but I don't like using the typical clips that come with chargers and tenders. Has anybody rigged up an adapter cable that "permanently" connects to the Sypder terminals? It wouldn't be too much trouble to change the tender clips to some type of quick connector so the tender can be easily connected and disconnected.

If anyone has done something like this, I would appreciate some advice and pictures.

[Pampurrs]

You should've received a quick disconnect harness when you purchased your Battery Tender. If you didn't get one, you can purchase one just about any auto parts store.

Here's one on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender...Y4XKDY135PYHTY

Here's a picture of mine. I ran the harness through the zippered opening of the liner.


Pam

[k7xi]

I used those same terminals on my 2013 RTL. But my battery tender came with both squeeze clips and ring terminals and a quick disconnect. So I hooked up the ring terminals to the posts and about a foot of wire and the quick disconnect hangs in the frunk when not on use. Cut off the clips and replace them with ring terminals and put a quick disconnect in the line. Solder all the new connections.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I have a 2013 STL that I purchased used last summer. Now that winter is approaching, I want to hook up a battery tender, but I need some good advice. I see that there are battery terminals inside the frunk, under a removable panel on the left (driver's) side. The positive (red) terminal has a slide-off plastic cap, and the negative (black) terminal is exposed. It looks like both of these terminals have interior threads, but I haven't checked the size.

Those are studs with long nuts on them. A perfect place to connect to with ring terminals with 6 mm hole.

[AZ Y Factor]

Does your 2013 STL have a 12V outlet in your frunk? That's where I plug mine into on my 2014 STL.

[billybovine]

This is how installed mine. The pigtail came with the battery tender. Not in the trunk. That just adds another step to removing the trunk when needed and another hole for water to get in. This is my prefered spot see pic. Always easy to get to, no matter how full the trunk is.



Installed an overhead cord reel in my garage. No cords on the floor to trip over.

[900Dave]

This is how installed mine. The pigtail came with the battery tender. Not in the trunk. That just adds another step to removing the trunk when needed and another hole for water to get in. This is my prefered spot see pic. Always easy to get to, no matter how full the trunk is.



Installed an overhead cord reel in my garage. No cords on the floor to trip over.

Mine was installed by the dealer before purchase. They install them on all of there spyders before customer pick up and that is exactly were it was installed on mine.

[SPYD3R]

HERE'S WHAT I'VE DONE TO SUPPORT MY 'HARDLY EVER USED' BATTERY TENDER....
LONG VIEW...
SHORT VIEW...
FRUNK VIEW...
these pix are of my F3... i placed a Cross-Member on the windshield brackets (pix 1 & 2), and mounted my radar detector, the 12V adapter, and garage door opener... the 12V adapter cigar port is 'live' all the time, while the USB's work off of a switch... in the frunk, a similar - but different 12V adapter with 2 cigar ports, both live, and 2 USB ports, both alive at all times... even tho i seldom use the battery tender, it's there if i need it.... i wired both these 12V adapters directly to the battery.... both very easy to do....
hope this helps...
Dan P
SPYD3R F3-S

[Devious56]

Where is your Battery Tender?

David

[Devious56]

Where is your Battery Tender?

David

A Battery Tender is a Brand, made by Beltran, not a generic product. It is not a battery charger, but a battery maintainer (conditioner).

David

[Commander]

I use the Battery Tender Plus...It is a charger as well as a maintainer. you can get it a Walmart, but go to their internet link and if it is cheaper on the internet go to customer service and they should honor the internet price.

PN 021-0128

[JCWeatherman]

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread.

When I wrote the original post, I had just purchased a cheap Cen-Tech maintainer from E-Bay. It came with the standard spring clamps, but no ring terminals. Since then, I bought a Extreme Max 1229.4000 Battery Buddy Intelligent 6V / 12V Battery Charger / Maintainer from Amazon and moved the Cen-Tech to my tractor. The Batter Buddy came with quick disconnect ring terminals that can be used on the Spyder.

I may still ride occasionally in the winter months, but I will always hook up the tender. I like the idea of keeping lead acid batteries fully charged. They don't merely have a "memory" like some suggest; lead acid batteries' worst enemy is low voltage -- it kills them.

[Devious56]

Good for you, enjoy the ride.

David

[Deanna777]

I use Deltran Battery Tender JR. 12V. 750mA Switches Automatically from Charge to Float!! I have used my Deltran Battery Tender JR for 3 years. Deanna

[slick999]

John,
Besides the battery tender add some Star Tron to your fuel tank to keep the gas fresh.Yes if this weather around here keeps up we will be getting some winter riding in.

[JCWeatherman]

John,
Besides the battery tender add some Star Tron to your fuel tank to keep the gas fresh.Yes if this weather around here keeps up we will be getting some winter riding in.

Thanks for the good advice. I rode last Sunday, then fueled up and added some stabilizer, then rode for a few more minutes to get it into the gas line, then parked it. It's covered and has the battery tender on it.

Weather is looking good for Thanksgiving Day. I might be out again!

[Saluda]

Mine was installed by the dealer before purchase. They install them on all of there spyders before customer pick up and that is exactly were it was installed on mine.

Same here, happy with the location.

[AY4B]

Thanks for this thread. I was planning to install one tomorrow on both my Spyder and my wifes Harley. I was not sure how to do it on the Spyder.

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

You should've received a quick disconnect harness when you purchased your Battery Tender. If you didn't get one, you can purchase one just about any auto parts store.

Here's one on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender...Y4XKDY135PYHTY

Here's a picture of mine. I ran the harness through the zippered opening of the liner.


Pam

that's how i hooked mine up & also for the micro start

[AY4B]

This is how I did mine but I drilled a hole in the plastic at the corner to pull the wire.

This is how installed mine. The pigtail came with the battery tender. Not in the trunk. That just adds another step to removing the trunk when needed and another hole for water to get in. This is my prefered spot see pic. Always easy to get to, no matter how full the trunk is.



Installed an overhead cord reel in my garage. No cords on the floor to trip over.

[JCWeatherman]

Once again, I want to thank everyone for their replies and thoughts. I was really fishing for a few good ideas, and you came through for me. My STL is now safely tucked away for the winter (although I did ride to church on Christmas eve, rode on Christmas day, and was out again on January 10 ). I installed some kit-supplied quick connectors for a battery tender. All is good!

[loisk]

We hooked the heated vest cables to the terminals near the trunk lid, fed it through to the top centre part near the brake and other switches, put a weatherproof 12v plug (fit nicely between the switches in the centre), then put a matching 12v thing on the connector for the tender. I love it , use it all day for the vest and when I am home can see at a glance whether the tender is connected and hook it up without unlocking anything! Simples..

[Deanna777]

[QUOTE=billybovine;1058265]This is how installed mine. The pigtail came with the battery tender. Not in the trunk. That just adds another step to removing the trunk when needed and another hole for water to get in. This is my prefered spot see pic. Always easy to get to, no matter how full the trunk is.



Installed an overhead cord reel in my garage. No cords on the floor to trip over.

[/QUOTE
Before I picked my 2014 RTS-SE6 @ the dealership I had the pig tail installed, so I could have my battery tender put on when it was time to have my spyder put in to hibernation. Deanna

[Bob Denman]

I just unhooked mine from it's Tender... (The lawn tractor deserves a bit of electrical love too! )
It was "On the juice" for almost a Month. I'll let the tractor take a turn through most of February, and then switch back over for a quick refreshing of the battery just before the start of the Season.
(Too cheap, and not enough outlets, for multiple tenders...)

[oldguyinTX]

Does your 2013 STL have a 12V outlet in your frunk? That's where I plug mine into on my 2014 STL.

This is the easiest way to do it. You do have to buy the 12 v adapter for the battery tender, and you have to switch a fuse in the RIGHT fuse box. The fuse boxes are labeled in the as frunk Left & Right. Move the fuse in position 6 to position 7. This will make the 12 V outlet in the rear cargo always hot. In other words, the key does not have to be on for it to be hot. Using this method, it sends the battery tender current straight to the battery as long as it is plugged in. Hope this helps, & good luck.