battry maintainer

[buttjoint]

Do the factory cigerette lighter plug-in type maintainers work on a 911 that have a lighter that is on only when the key is on ?

[Emission]

If the circuit is closed when the key is out... I don't see how it could.

[buttjoint]

I don't either, thats why I am asking. they are sold for all the new porsches and I think the cig lighters are switched? I am sure one of our experts will know!

[singpilot]

I hardwire the batt maintainer (from WestMarine) to my Optima. Then all I have to do is pop the trunk, and put my 20 amp extension cord in and plug in. The maintainer is velcroed to the aft wall in the trunk.

My car sits for weeks at a time, and have not had an Optima fail since this mod.

[RoninLB]

I'm w/sing on this one.. although I use a marine battery clamp w/ wing nut to fully disconnect the battery.

and fwiw aircraft pilots, like sing, always have a good prospective on elects

[buttjoint]

I can do that if I have to, but I am still curious if the dang thing will work properly pluged into the cig lighter?

[singpilot]

The cig lighter is on a switched circuit. (Unless someone has changed that). Means cig lighter is dead (to the battery) when the key is removed from the car.

Prove this to yourself. Put anything that can be powered by the cig lighter in and turn it on. Turn the ign key off, and remove the key.

Device dead? Cig lighter recepticle is dead. Removed from batt as a source by the switched circuit controlled by the ignition key. Will not pass electricity either direction when this happens..... like from the batt to the plug, or from the maintainer to the batt thru the cig lighter.

Hard wire the maintainer. Meaning put the red (POS) + wire onto the red (POS) + terminal on the batt. Negative (BLACK) - wire onto the negative (woven strap) terminal of the battery. The maintainer should come with a fuse in the red line. Do not cut it out of the circuit. It will be your only protection against problems.

Velcro the maintainer box somewhere out of the way under the hood. So you can still see the function lights.

When you want to use it, simply plug it in with a capable extension cord. Don't close the hood all the way and jam the cord, but DO make sure the hood light goes out if you have one.

[Westy]

I used to buy a lot of stuff from West Marine, usually $$$$. Go to a motorcycle shop like cycle gear etc. Buy a bettery tender for like 30 bucks. Has the memory, fuse, everything it needs. Then hard wire it as said above. Beautiful little device.

[singpilot]

Yep, another imortant part Westy brought up. You want a batt maintainer, not just a small output battery charger. Big difference.

The diff is the WAY they charge.

[tobluforu]

If you want a battery maintainer that works great, get this http://www.batterymart.com/batteryminder.php
I have this hooked up to the viper and it works great. I don't drive that car very much, and it's a bear to start a 10 cylinder car with a blower.
You hard wire it to the battery. It has a plug that you can run about 3 feet.. Pull into garage, plug it in and your all set.

[Steve W]

The one that tobluforu has works great. Comes with a little pigtail that you can attach to the battery. The little detachable plug you see in the pic, I leave just poking out of the front edge of the hood where the battery is, and it's just a quick connect or disconnect it as I come and go.

[RickM]

I've been a Battery Tender fan for years...have three.

http://www.batterytender.com/

[buttjoint]

Thanks guys I will hard wire it. Was just wondering why they sell them with a cig lighter plug for all the new porsches. One would think that the lighters are switched also!

[Emission]

Originally posted by RickM
I've been a Battery Tender fan for years...have three.

http://www.batterytender.com/

I read about the Battery Tender in a thread on Pelican about a year ago... bought one.... and it rocks.

100% recommend one.