Learn from my mistake!

**Excoastie** · 07-03-2021, 03:34 PM

I screwed up this morning, fortunately, the bike is fine. My battery tender not so much.

I started the bike and backed it out from under the carport, and when I did so, I heard something snap back against the door of the shed.
I forgot to unplug the battery tender when I backed up. I cleanly separated the wires coming off of the wall portion of the tender.

I checked the wires with a meter, my plan was to solder them back together and roll on. There was no voltage present; so I opened up the
case, and the transformer was completely fried.

The moral of the story, make sure your battery tender is disconnected before you leave.

--Exco

**UtahPete** · 07-03-2021, 03:36 PM

Easy to do. You're not the first!

**Baron14y** · 07-03-2021, 03:45 PM

That's why I keep the frunk door open. Reminds me to disconnect.

**RICZ** · 07-03-2021, 03:53 PM

Even though I keep the frunk open when the Tender is hooked up, I also place a sign I made on the ignition switch. "CHARGER IS CONNECTED!" Don't ask why I do this.

**ARtraveler** · 07-03-2021, 04:07 PM

I like the threads where I can learn from someone else's mistake. I don't like the ones where I already have the t-shirt.

**BLUEKNIGHT911** · 07-03-2021, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by Baron14y

That's why I keep the frunk door open. Reminds me to disconnect.

X's 10 ..... been there done that

..... Mike

**JayBros** · 07-03-2021, 04:55 PM

My battery tender cable hangs from the garage ceiling, aft of the throttle to the frunk. For me that's a not so subtle reminder to disconnect it before starting the Spyder.

**canamjhb** · 07-03-2021, 04:57 PM

As life-long boater, I have seen many times when people try to leave the dock with the "yellow spring line" still attached. Same results as yours but usually more expensive.

..... Jim

**trong** · 07-03-2021, 04:57 PM

I usually put a piece of colorful velcro on the throttle grip to remind me that the vehicle is not in operable condition, wether charging or disc lock is on -on my Honda Rebel.
Be glad that was only a battery charger and not other more expensive parts.
Cheers!

**Excoastie** · 07-03-2021, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by canamjhb

As life-long boater, I have seen many times when people try to leave the dock with the "yellow spring line" still attached. Same results as yours but usually more expensive.

..... Jim

I have seen this numerous times as well. The most unfortunate was on the USCG 41 foot boat at 3am when we were responding to a search and rescue alarm.
We discovered that the cleat on the boat was better anchored than the one on the pier. The cleat put a hell of a dent in the side of the (aluminum) boat though; was hard to explain later...

--Exco

**RickWB** · 07-03-2021, 07:35 PM

When I moved from the temperature coastal climate of British Columbia to Manitoba, I had to get a block heater installed in my car. As it was not something I was used to, I did drive off from time to time, plugged in. Folks used to wave at me as I drove along, and I thought they we living the moniker of ‘Friendly Manitoba’....

**bigbadbrucie** · 07-03-2021, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by RickWB

When I moved from the temperature coastal climate of British Columbia to Manitoba, I had to get a block heater installed in my car. As it was not something I was used to, I did drive off from time to time, plugged in. Folks used to wave at me as I drove along, and I thought they we living the moniker of ‘Friendly Manitoba’....

Yes, I think that most of us raised in the lower mainland or on the Island and then moved East or North have lived that scenario.

**2dogs** · 07-04-2021, 02:10 AM

Originally Posted by canamjhb

As life-long boater, I have seen many times when people try to leave the dock with the "yellow spring line" still attached. Same results as yours but usually more expensive.

..... Jim

Ever forget to put the plug in the transom? Wonder why the spokes in the steering wheel have holes in them?

**oldgoat** · 07-04-2021, 08:47 AM

Did it yesterday but the battery tender survived.

**pidjones** · 07-04-2021, 03:29 PM

I've connected my tender plug to a relay that is energized (disconnecting the tender plug) when the key turns ON. Had the same on my GL1800.

**Peteoz** · 07-04-2021, 04:24 PM

Thanks for sharing, excoastie. I came very, very close to doing that once……..ever since, I simply leave my tender sitting in the middle of my floorboard. Works for me

Pete

**crossbowme** · 07-04-2021, 04:59 PM

I only use my battery tender during off season storage. Otherwise, I use it enough that is has adequate time to charge when running.

**Gekko** · 07-07-2021, 08:49 PM

I use a Battery Tender extender cord with my Battery Tender. When I connect it, I leave the frunk lid ajar and drape the cord over the right side mirror and over the throttle grip. I can't rev the engine without being reminded that the charger is still connected!

**Piratezz** · 07-08-2021, 12:51 AM

This reminds me of a story, of a stunt my father pulled of once,
His car is always parked in the garage, but there also is a large fridge, and to avoid collision with the fridge, my father hung a winebottle Kork, from the ceiling, when the cork hit the rearwindow, he knew, he had to stop.
Now he got another car, and forgot to move the cork, and drove right into the fridge.... It's a xmasstory, by dinner eversince

**gkamer** · 07-08-2021, 03:03 PM

A mistake we learn from is not a total write off.

**Piratezz** · 07-09-2021, 12:54 AM

Most good things/inventions come from mistakes, trail and error.

I see a cave-man experimenting with a stick, and a rope, trying to make a bow......

**Poasttown** · 07-09-2021, 03:01 AM

Excoastie

I made a cardboard cylinder that slips over my throttle grip that reminds me the bat. tender is connected. This is the reason pilots use checklist.

Poasttown
2019 F3L

**shakin_jake** · 07-09-2021, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by crossbowme

I only use my battery tender during off season storage. Otherwise, I use it enough that is has adequate time to charge when running.

~~~~as an ex-Detroiter I remember all too well not being able to ride in the winter, that’s one of the biggest reasons I moved to Florida over 30 years ago. Been riding 51 out of 52 weeks a year ever since

Best,

Jake
Reddick Fla.
It’s never too late to have a happy childhood

**2dogs** · 07-09-2021, 09:43 AM

The pigtail for my tender is under the seat. So the seat is always up when the tender is connected. Can't ride off with the seat up, kind'a like the seat in the bathroom? Yea!

**ARtraveler** · 07-09-2021, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by shakin_jake

~~~~as an ex-Detroiter I remember all too well not being able to ride in the winter, that’s one of the biggest reasons I moved to Florida over 30 years ago. Been riding 51 out of 52 weeks a year ever since

Best,

Jake
Reddick Fla.
It’s never too late to have a happy childhood

Yes! Same here in NW Arkansas. Off season (none) is usually a day here, a day there. Last season, lost a week or so when it was extra cold and snowing. Not typical for this area though. In 2019 I made it a point to ride on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years...because I could.

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