Charging the RTS through 12 volt outlet

[Bob Denman]

Thanks!

 

[mishapman]

Sorry for the necropost. Don't know if this forum prefers a new thread or to post to an old post.

So I found this thread while looking RTS storage tips. Loving the idea of the cigarette adapter for battery tender. I hillbilly engineered a lighter adapter onto my new tender from an RC battery charger I had laying around.

The big question...is it OK to leave a tender on, using a lighter adapter plugged into the 12V outlet in the trunk, for six months of storage? I really don't want to set the house on fire and give my wife and kiddos something else to worry about while I'm away.

Thanks so much for any info.

John

 

[NancysToy]

Sorry for the necropost. Don't know if this forum prefers a new thread or to post to an old post.

So I found this thread while looking RTS storage tips. Loving the idea of the cigarette adapter for battery tender. I hillbilly engineered a lighter adapter onto my new tender from an RC battery charger I had laying around.

The big question...is it OK to leave a tender on, using a lighter adapter plugged into the 12V outlet in the trunk, for six months of storage? I really don't want to set the house on fire and give my wife and kiddos something else to worry about while I'm away.

Thanks so much for any info.

John

I would certainly not do it with an RC battery charger. In fact, I would not recommend use of that charger at all, although in an emergency it would probably be OK if it puts out 1.25 amps or less.

It is OK to leave the battery on for long term use, if you use a charger/maintainer, made specifically for motorcycle use. Battery Tender is a brand that is well known and readily available. I prefer the lower output Battery Tender Jr. for long-term use. Chargers by Accumate and Optimate are my favorites. The Xtreme charger may be the best for long-term use, with its pulse charging feature, which fights sulfation.

One thing is guaranteed, if you don't charge the battery during long-term storage, it will suffer! You can remove it or leave it installed, and charge overnight every week or two, or you can attach a motorcycle charger/maintainer and just leave it on there.

 

[mishapman]

I think I was misunderstood. I do have a proper motorcycle battery charger. I just cannibalized the lighter plug adapter from an RC charger. Adapter is a proper Radio Shack product. Just took it off the RC charger and put it on the MC charger.

Glad to hear six months on the charger shouldn't burn the house or bike down. Thanks. Other than missing family, being without the Spyder will be the toughest part of being gone.

 

[NancysToy]

I think I was misunderstood. I do have a proper motorcycle battery charger. I just cannibalized the lighter plug adapter from an RC charger. Adapter is a proper Radio Shack product. Just took it off the RC charger and put it on the MC charger.

Glad to hear six months on the charger shouldn't burn the house or bike down. Thanks. Other than missing family, being without the Spyder will be the toughest part of being gone.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. The important part of motorcycle charging is the correct saturation charge, followed by a float charge to maintain the battery without damage.

Godspeed on your new duty assignment.

 

[clueless]

I would certainly not do it with an RC battery charger. In fact, I would not recommend use of that charger at all, although in an emergency it would probably be OK if it puts out 1.25 amps or less.

It is OK to leave the battery on for long term use, if you use a charger/maintainer, made specifically for motorcycle use. Battery Tender is a brand that is well known and readily available. I prefer the lower output Battery Tender Jr. for long-term use. Chargers by Accumate and Optimate are my favorites. The Xtreme charger may be the best for long-term use, with its pulse charging feature, which fights sulfation.

One thing is guaranteed, if you don't charge the battery during long-term storage, it will suffer! You can remove it or leave it installed, and charge overnight every week or two, or you can attach a motorcycle charger/maintainer and just leave it on there.

I like Yuasa chargers. they are the mfg of motorcycle batteries and have their own line of battery tenders. the midsized model is the one I recommend

http://store.yuasabatteries.com/products/productdetail/part_number=YUA1201501/1717.0

• Fully automatic 5 stage cycle for efficient charging
• 28-day charge recycle re-evaluates battery condition for long-term storage
• Up to 16 volts for recovery of sulfated batteries
• Error proof operation
• Reverse polarity protection

 

[Yfactor]

Had one installed by my dealer as shown in attached photo. Always hot and works well for both charging and accessories.

 

[JJW SpyderRider]

I would suggest making sure that the plug does not include a transformer that steps down the voltage for the RC. The plug for some GPS units amongest other things has the transformer right in the plug.

 

[mishapman]

There's no transformer in the cigarette plug adapter. It's straight from Radio Shack. It wasn't part of the RC charger. I soldered it on so I could use my RC charger with a power source with a 12v cig plug. I just took it off the RC charger and used a mechanical connector to attach it to the motorcycle trickle charger. Figured why buy another. I won't be playing with my RC toys in the desert.

...Though that might be fun if I didn't cause some kind of international incident due to conflicting radio frequencies or something like that.

 

[duckfoot45]

Battery Charger

I just took a standard Battery Tender end with the ring terminals (I have lots of them!), cut the rings off and attached a cigarette lighter plug I got from Radio Shack. Easy as pie and works like a champ.

Ditto on the plug from Radio Shack (5.95) Worked like a charm because of the push in connections.

 

[cougar]

Scotty,

Got any more of them di-lithium crystals laying around? Might replace my battery with some of them since they do not sulfate.

 

[GeoffCee]

I kept a gel battery alive for 9 years with a C-Tek battery monitor/charger. I sold the bike this year with the battery still working well and so far as I know it still is.

 

[Mr. White]

http://www.powerlet.com/shop-by-product/power-cables/PWRCBL

These folks have what you need to hook your battery tender to your trunk outlet. I bought one and it broke, called them and they sent me another and a return label to send the other one back. Good folks. I plug BR1 and my Wing in most of the time. Some do, some don't, I do.


:spyder2:

 

[Vyperyder]

I don't need a battery in mine.
I installed a ZPM in the trunk and ran a warp plasma conduit through to the engine.
I'm trying to find a warp core to replace the engine with.
That setup should last for about 10,000 years.
I'm having trouble finding a spare warp core though....Oh well !!!!!
maybe the Russians have a spare nuclear reactor from one of their decommissioned nuclear subs lying around....
cheers

:roflblack::roflblack:hyea:hyea:

 

[duckfoot45]

12 volt plug

I wasn't blessed with a surplus of parts and I wanted to keep the "regular" connectors available in case I needed to hook this up to something else here in the dungeon... (How much does one of those Radio Shack plugs cost anyway??)

Plug was %.95 at the Shack. Push in connection was very easy and it works great on my RT.

 

[freebob]

black & decker float charger

Someone mentioned using the 12 volt outlet to charge the RTS. Does anyone have a brand name recommendation for this. Battery tender does not make a 12 v attachment. I am looking for something I can leave attached to the RTS for several months over the winter to trickle charge.

You can go to Home Depot and purchase Charger in link below and the 12v receptacle is included....all for 20.00

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...&cj=true&srccode=cii_5784816&locStoreNum=1110


Freebob...:doorag:

 

[freebob]

Someone mentioned using the 12 volt outlet to charge the RTS. Does anyone have a brand name recommendation for this. Battery tender does not make a 12 v attachment. I am looking for something I can leave attached to the RTS for several months over the winter to trickle charge.

click on link Home Depot for $20.00

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...&cj=true&srccode=cii_5784816&locStoreNum=1110


Freebob...:doorag:

 

[Mr. White]

click on link Home Depot for $20.00

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...&cj=true&srccode=cii_5784816&locStoreNum=1110


Freebob...:doorag:

This is a good deal! I will get one as a backup....thanks, Bob.

:spyder2:

 

[Bob Denman]

I don't need a battery in mine.
I installed a ZPM in the trunk and ran a warp plasma conduit through to the engine.
I'm trying to find a warp core to replace the engine with.
That setup should last for about 10,000 years.
I'm having trouble finding a spare warp core though....Oh well !!!!!
maybe the Russians have a spare nuclear reactor from one of their decommissioned nuclear subs lying around....
cheers

:roflblack::roflblack:hyea:hyea:

:hun::crackpipe:

 

[Vyperyder]

SORRY !!!
I think I watch too much Star Trek, Stargate etc etc.
If I start talking in Klingon just ban me
cheers