Battery tender connection-where the heck is it?

[BoxyLady]

Hi folks,

Have a 2016 F3 Limited. I have read several places that there is a tender connector under the passenger seat. I used the "customer accessory" lead under there to get power to the GPS, but did not see a tender connection. I assume I am looking for a that standard tender connector with the male/female tips that work with all the battery tenders I have seen out there.

Can someone confirm for me what I am looking for?

I searched the manual and this site using all kinds of search combinations. i see a TON of threads about trickle charge vs battery tender, when and when not to use one, etc., but can't find anything regarding where to plug one in.

I have Battery Tender brand tenders attached to all my 2 and 3 wheeled vehicles at all times, and want to get one attached to the Spyder.

thanks!

Jeff

 

[Tazzel]

Did not know it had one pre installed

 

[Highwayman2013]

When you buy one like the Battery Tender Jr. it will come with the pigtail that you attach directly to the battery terminals.

 

[Bob Denman]

When you buy one like the Battery Tender Jr. it will come with the pigtail that you attach directly to the battery terminals.

Yup! :thumbup:

 

[vtown biker]

Is the general consensus on here that you use a battery tender over a trickle charger?

Are they not basically the same thing?

Thx in advance for the comments.

Bob

 

[cognaccruiser]

Is the general consensus on here that you use a battery tender over a trickle charger?

Are they not basically the same thing?

Thx in advance for the comments.

Bob

Perhaps part of it is the terminology that people use. Battery Tenders recognize when the battery needs charging and keeps it topped off but stops charging otherwise. If by trickle charger you mean any battery charger that is used to charge a battery and just keeps on charging and never stops on its own, then that device will "cook" your battery.
So depending on your definition, there may or may not be a distinction.

Gary

 

[vtown biker]

My charger has a 2A feature for trickle charging and when charged, turns off.

I think the big difference is that my regular charger won't maintain the battery as it slowly discharges over time.

The tender senses the discharge and automatically tops off the battery.

Am I correct here?

Perhaps part of it is the terminology that people use. Battery Tenders recognize when the battery needs charging and keeps it topped off but stops charging otherwise. If by trickle charger you mean any battery charger that is used to charge a battery and just keeps on charging and never stops on its own, then that device will "cook" your battery.
So depending on your definition, there may or may not be a distinction.

Gary

 

[Easy Rider]

Is the general consensus on here that you use a battery tender over a trickle charger?

YES.

Are they not basically the same thing?

NO.

A trickle charger will charge at a low level forever if you don't disconnect it. That is bad for most batteries.
A tender will turn off or drop way down when the charge is full and you don't have to manually turn it off and on.

 

[Culpjp]

Some dealers will install the pig tail connectors for a battery tender on every bike they sell. You may have seen posts from people that bought from one of these dealers. As far as I know, they don't come from BRP installed.

 

[wvedec]

Frunk

Hi folks,

Have a 2016 F3 Limited. I have read several places that there is a tender connector under the passenger seat. I used the "customer accessory" lead under there to get power to the GPS, but did not see a tender connection. I assume I am looking for a that standard tender connector with the male/female tips that work with all the battery tenders I have seen out there.

Can someone confirm for me what I am looking for?

I searched the manual and this site using all kinds of search combinations. i see a TON of threads about trickle charge vs battery tender, when and when not to use one, etc., but can't find anything regarding where to plug one in.

I have Battery Tender brand tenders attached to all my 2 and 3 wheeled vehicles at all times, and want to get one attached to the Spyder.

thanks!

Jeff

I have a 2016 F3-T. My battery tender connection is in the frunk. It was obvious when I opened the frunk, as the dealer had threaded it over the frunk gasket. Since this caused a leak in the frunk, I rerouted mine around the edge of the frunk, so that the end of the connector sits in the cavity where the hinge goes when you close it. Perhaps the dealer left yours under the frunk liner and you will find it if you remove the frunk liner (an easy task). I have attached a photo showing the connection between my Battery Tender and the connection in the Spyder frunk.

Wayne

 

[Easy Rider]

When you buy one like the Battery Tender Jr. it will come with the pigtail that you attach directly to the battery terminals.

Those can also be found at most all auto parts stores.
I think they are commonly called "SAE battery charger connectors".

 

[Petrom714]

just got leftover 17 F3t
just confirmed no pig tail in the frunk
havent looked under the seat yet for the pig tail
my impression is that BRP does not install anything to connect the tender/charger

Hi folks,

Have a 2016 F3 Limited. I have read several places that there is a tender connector under the passenger seat. I used the "customer accessory" lead under there to get power to the GPS, but did not see a tender connection. I assume I am looking for a that standard tender connector with the male/female tips that work with all the battery tenders I have seen out there.

Can someone confirm for me what I am looking for?

I searched the manual and this site using all kinds of search combinations. i see a TON of threads about trickle charge vs battery tender, when and when not to use one, etc., but can't find anything regarding where to plug one in.

I have Battery Tender brand tenders attached to all my 2 and 3 wheeled vehicles at all times, and want to get one attached to the Spyder.

thanks!

Jeff

 

[SilverFox1]

There is a big difference between a tender (maintainer) and a trickle charger no matter how small the amperage. Don’t leave a trickle charger plugged in all the time. A tender or maintainer can stay plugged indefinitely. It only works when the battery needs it.

SilverFox

 

[BoxyLady]

thanks folks. No problem, I can certainly attach one to the battery terminals in the front trunk, if it's not already there.

thanks.

 

[ARtraveler]

thanks folks. No problem, I can certainly attach one to the battery terminals in the front trunk, if it's not already there.

thanks.

Looks like they have your questions answered. :yes:

 

[Devious56]

Perhaps part of it is the terminology that people use. Battery Tenders recognize when the battery needs charging and keeps it topped off but stops charging otherwise. If by trickle charger you mean any battery charger that is used to charge a battery and just keeps on charging and never stops on its own, then that device will "cook" your battery.
So depending on your definition, there may or may not be a distinction.

Gary

Just to clear this up, a Battery Tender is a battery maintainer sold by the Deltran Company here in Florida. There are other battery maintainers on the market, some of them very good. Itis not a battery charger. There is only one Battery Tender, there are af few different models. If you are confused, or not sure, Google it and see for yourself.

 

[Docster]

Perhaps part of it is the terminology that people use. Battery Tenders recognize when the battery needs charging and keeps it topped off but stops charging otherwise. If by trickle charger you mean any battery charger that is used to charge a battery and just keeps on charging and never stops on its own, then that device will "cook" your battery.
So depending on your definition, there may or may not be a distinction.

Gary

https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-a-trickle-charger-534853

http://batterychargersexpert.com/what-is-a-battery-tender/

 

[Peteoz]

I have a 2016 F3-T. Perhaps the dealer left yours under the frunk liner and you will find it if you remove the frunk liner (an easy task). I have attached a photo showing the connection between my Battery Tender and the connection in the Spyder frunk.

Wayne

I certainly don’t have a dealer installed tender connector on my 2016 F3-L, Wayne, and it looks like many others don’t either. Perhaps your dealer is one of those who goes “the extra mile”.

Pete

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Is the general consensus on here that you use a battery tender over a trickle charger? YES!

Are they not basically the same thing? NO!

In the strict sense of the terminology they are not the same as cognaccruiser explains. Battery tender is a brand name that has evolved into a generic term, kind of like aspirin and xerox. A battery tender is a battery maintainer. A maintainer squirts a little bit of electricity into the battery as needed to keep it fully charged. A trickle charge continues to send a small current all the time.

To confuse the issue the terms are often used interchangeably so make sure you look closely at the description on the unit. A maintainer will usually use the word maintain. Many maintainers will work as a charger until the battery is fully charged and then change into maintenance mode.

You are wise to be asking before you accidentally ruin a good battery! :thumbup:

Battery Tender brand product is very popular, but there are others out there equally good. I have one from NAPA. Schumacher makes a good one.

 

[cognaccruiser]

Just to clear this up, a Battery Tender is a battery maintainer sold by the Deltran Company here in Florida. There are other battery maintainers on the market, some of them very good. Itis not a battery charger. There is only one Battery Tender, there are af few different models. If you are confused, or not sure, Google it and see for yourself.

Of course you are correct. I do as do others and tend to use the name Battery Tender when meaning a battery maintainer. I have a Yuasa version as well as a Battery Tender made by Deltran. And yes Deltran makes a few different versions. I've had one made by Deltran that was sold by BMW for one of my cars that was only driven in the summer. So, no confusion here. Guess it's like saying Kleenex instead of tissue.

Gary