I have used several brands over the years. Can anyone recommend one that can be permanently mounted under the hood, and then plugged in kind of like a block heater? It would need to be able to handle the heat.
These are my 2 options:I have used several brands over the years. Can anyone recommend one that can be permanently mounted under the hood, and then plugged in kind of like a block heater? It would need to be able to handle the heat.
I see the Schumacher SC1300 is approved for under-hood mounting and does not have a universal fused disconnect like most others do. You can do more research. The Deltran ones are rated for 50°C (122°F), so it depends where you mount them. Typically you'd use a quick disconnect, which you can buy separately, so you can use the maintainer for more vehicles. But I can see the advantage of mounting it on the vehicle so you don't lose it. I've lost a couple.I have used several brands over the years. Can anyone recommend one that can be permanently mounted under the hood, and then plugged in kind of like a block heater? It would need to be able to handle the heat.
I see the Schumacher SC1300 is approved for under-hood mounting and does not have a universal fused disconnect like most others do. You can do more research. The Deltran ones are rated for 50°C (122°F), so it depends where you mount them. Typically you'd use a quick disconnect, which you can buy separately, so you can use the maintainer for more vehicles. But I can see the advantage of mounting it on the vehicle so you don't lose it. I've lost a couple.
I have pigtails on three cars and a motorcycle currently. Its the only way to go. You can add a splice to lengthen it, so you don't even have to open the hood.Makes no sense to me to mount a charger on a car -
just install a pigtail and feed the lead outside to your maintainer.
This way you can look at the charger and see whats happening.
What abnormalities have you observed?Lesson learned. Long pigtails introduce enough resistance and voltage drops with the higher amperage smart chargers to defeat their logic. Pigtail extensions should be used with lower amperage chargers, or those which use constant voltage strategies. Also, at 5 amps or more, the typical 10 amp blade fuse drops 0.5 volts, which is, again, enough to confuse a smart charger.
im looking at you, noco
Post #135What abnormalities have you observed?
I occasionally run 12 ft extensions with my Battery Minder, Granite Digital Save a Battery and Griots battery maintainers and noticed no issues. I monitor them through a bluetooth enabled monitor that graphs their voltage outputs...never seen a problem. They cycle through their logic as expected and shown in their IFUs.
An extension should make absolutely no difference for maintaining a battery because the current for than is very small, causing negligible voltage drop. At 10 amps output you're mot maintaining, but charging a low battery.Post #135
Battery Charger Testing Results
While I hold less than zero foot in the game, I find this thread fascinating. While I've never found myself in need of a battery charger/maintainer in my day to day life, I did find myself needing one several years back when I bought my CB900C. I knew I wouldn't be riding it regularly, and that...bobistheoilguy.com
I’ve tried it with and without extensions. They do make a difference, but the noco still seems to go to float way too soon. I have the 10 amp version, however, which will worsen the problem. A smaller unit wont incur as much v drop.
I’ve switched to a ctek, which doesn’t push as many amps, but does effectively put a better finishing charge on the battery.
Am I the only person that bought a NOCO 5? It seems to do the job, says it's temperature compensated, has AGM setting, etc.
Oh, and it doesn't get hot while charging which is a big plus here in FL.
Maybe a NOCO thing...plus the higher amps. I have a Battery Minder that has a 2, 4 and 8 amp setting. Never a problem with the 12ft cord. All my others are 3 to 4 amps...again no issue.Post #135
Battery Charger Testing Results
While I hold less than zero foot in the game, I find this thread fascinating. While I've never found myself in need of a battery charger/maintainer in my day to day life, I did find myself needing one several years back when I bought my CB900C. I knew I wouldn't be riding it regularly, and that...bobistheoilguy.com
I’ve tried it with and without extensions. They do make a difference, but the noco still seems to go to float way too soon. I have the 10 amp version, however, which will worsen the problem. A smaller unit wont incur as much v drop.
I’ve switched to a ctek, which doesn’t push as many amps, but does effectively put a better finishing charge on the battery.
That wouldn't help much on the MB. The battery connectors are remote from the battery itself. Not under the back seat like my old Caddy's but under a cover. I like to use the battery charger under the hood without removing the covers, which BTW includes the cabin air filter housing. I suppose I'm just going to have to be happy with ambient sensing, unless I get into a situation where I'm trying to rescue a few disconnected batteries.There are multiple types of temp compensation.
The noco 5 is "ambient" as in there is a temp sensor somewhere in the body that (last I looked at the profile) decides when to add some more voltage when it's cold. It's pretty much one way and cannot tell if you are cooking the battery.
Better more accurate temperature compensation happens with a probe connected to the batts, or a temp sensor in the positive clamp like the CTEK 25 amp charger.