Battery Tender DIY install for COVID-19

So I decided since lots of us are still staying home and not driving our cars, I’d show you how I’m keeping my battery charged. I live in an area where we don’t store our cars during the winter, so most people don’t have tenders, but now might be wanting to add one. I have tenders on all of my cars, just because. Here’s how I added one to my 996.2 "permanently." First, I went with the same brand/model that I used for all of my cars, Battery Tender Jr. You can get them at Walmart for under $30. For the 996.2(and my Mustang and Honda Odyssey) I needed to add an extension. I found these high quality and cheap extensions on Amazon: Amazon Amazon The battery tender comes with a hard-wire pigtail with the ends needed to connect to both battery terminals. Plug the extension into the pigtail. Make certain that the exposed terminal is the ground. Route the extension up underneath the 996.2 plastic windshield wiper cover. You’ll need to remove the cap and lift the cover so you can run the extension into the void underneath the cap. You may also need to do some slight trimming in order to be able to push the extension through, but make sure to keep it a tight fit so the extension plug will stay in place Tie wrap the extension where needed so it will stay, but allow enough slack to be able to pull the plug out. (note, old picture, yes my car has been registered since then) This allows the battery tender extension to hide underneath the cap when you’re driving, and you can quickly hook up the tender without opening the hood. Since I did this a couple of years ago, I usually plug in my car over the weekend when I’m not driving it. I’ve also plugged it in when I’m home sick for a while, or when on vacation. The protective cover for the extension plug finally broke, but I’m not too concerned since it is protected by the cap. I’ve lost one cap since install, probably due to being taken off and on a lot, or perhaps I didn’t get it snapped back in place. I ordered a couple of replacements. Sometimes I would leave the cap on the windshield, sometimes I’d put it on my rolling cart. I decided I wanted a retaining strap similar to the gas cap so I wouldn’t have to worry about loss, but kept putting it off until COVID-19 gave me more spare time than normal. I had some decorative chain. ****I use these chain links all around the house. They’re perfect for anywhere that you need to add a tie-wrap/wire-tie/zip-tie. I use them for controlling electronics cables**** I removed 1 link, and bent it into an L shape. I used E6000 to glue the chain link to the underside of the cap. I took another link, bent it into and L, opened up one end so the stud underneath the cap would fit through it, and sandwiched the link between the factory nut and a larger washer underneath. Then I used a Can Banz for a tether. The band is cheap and easy to replace when it eventually breaks. I put a knot in the middle of the Can Banz and it is pretty easy to shove into the hole and the cap can then be put back in place. A rubber vacuum line covers the stud for electrical safety. If your car is stored outdoors, like my Mustang and Odyssey, I've tried a couple of ways to keep the charging part covered, and currently use an upside down ziplock bag over the charger and extension cord. The extension cord is held in place on a wall above the ground by one of the chain links and a zip-tie. I can get a picture later and add that to this DIY.

I've had a couple of these for years and use them all the time for a variety of batteries. Easy to use and they work great.

Thanks, I've been opening my hood but now I'll do this mod.

I don't understand the need for all this when a battery tender/maintainer can be used in the cigarette lighter? If outdoors, run an outdoor extension cord and place the battery tender on the passenger floor. There is even a slot/split in the passenger door seal for just this purpose. The tender is not going to hurt anything sitting on the passenger floor, and the plug connection will be in the car so no need to worry about the weather. This is what I use. Durable too because like an idiot I finished some work on the engine, got in and fired up and drove around the block dragging the thing

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I use these Schumacher s that don't have a lighter plug. I just open the hood and plug in, so not much different than opening the door and plugging in. At least the 996 batteries are in front so you're less likely to do something stupid like I did. SoCal911t's ProTip � # 123: Unplug the maintainer before you back out of the garage. It only takes a second.

I have two of the battery tenders from amazon. Worked great all winter. I have also been plugging in my car when not driving now to keep the battery healthy. I keep it in the trunk as the cars are parked outside.

At first, I liked the Texsquirrel mod for the cleverness, but then DBJoe's cigarette lighter made more sense. I ordered 3 cig lighter extensions from Amazon and now have all 4 of my cars on maintainers. (One car, E350, has no power to the cig output when the key is off.) I also like that I can run the wire through the driver side so I might not drive off with it plugged in. Much easier than popping the hood and really nice during this at-home, no-drive time.

I drive my car every week or two whether I have a need to or not. And I don't have a need for a battery tender for such short periods of time. I do use the same charger as the OP over the winter.

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Dumb question, but where is the split in the passenger door seal? I've been running mine through the driver's side with the window dropped a little.

^^^ It's not a split, it's like a half circle cutout, and it's on the bottom weather-seal of the door (I think it's on both sides). ** While Tex has done a nice job, there's no need to route the wire like that (I guess it's pretty cool but it seems like a lot of trouble for not much gain). I just leave the quick connect tucked right next to the battery cover. When I want to plug it in, I open the hood, plug it in and close the hood again - the wire runs along the side of the frunk compartment in the "rain gutter" and out next to the headlight. You can totally close/latch the frunk lid so you have to worry about the light being on (that thing gets HOT) no pressure on the wire or anything - very simple...

Thanks for posting this TEX, I have been meaning to do this, and this thread prompted me to order two 800ma battery maintainers !!

I am partial to Ctek... vehicles have been spending too much time on them though

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Can you tell me the part number of the cap that you show here? Mine has gone missing as well and I'm having trouble finding the part number to track down a replacement. Thanks