Battery Tender question

[seeker]

Bought a BT jr. and read the instructions. Said I should connect the red lead to the + on the battery and the black lead to the vehicle chassis. If I connected the black lead directly to the - on the battery, would it be the same as if I connected it to the chassis?

[waterman]

Originally Posted by Seeker

Bought a BT jr. and read the instructions. Said I should connect the red lead to the + on the battery and the black lead to the vehicle chassis. If I connected the black lead directly to the - on the battery, would it be the same as if I connected it to the chassis?

The red goes to positive and the black I just hooked up to the negative on the battery.

[dogdoc]

YES seeker either way is fine.

[seeker]

Thanks waterman and Doc. Just wanted to be sure before I screwed something up, of which I am very capable of doing.

[macmac]

Since the engine and frame are grounded any bolt into any of these is the same as (-) on the battery. When you install anything to a battery it is wise to place the ground wire last.

The same thing goes when jumping a battery. In the even you ever need to get a jump start from a car the car MUST NOT be running!

Lets say you left something turned on some how. I have, passing lamps I wired to be on when I wanted them and not with the engine. So in day time I walked away leaving a 9.2 amp draw. Well in 3 hours or more time I ran the battery flat.

I was with friends that had cars, and one had jumpers. I removed the seats, and placed the red cable on my red cable first.

Then I placed the black cable on my bike and then to his battery ground (-). Making sure my ignition was OFF, I had him start the car, and I smoked a ciggy butt, which takes me apx 7 minutes.

Then I asked him to sh*t OFF the car, and when he did I started the bike with the cables still in place.

At this point you want to break ground first, as this way it tends to reduce sparks.. So I pulled his jumpers off my bike and then the ground off his car, and last the red sets.

For the best results, use that tender anytime you are not riding , or parked at work. That means every day.. The amp rating is well under 1 amp, and it will turn on and off on battery demand, so you can walk away and forget it..

[dogdoc]

wally world has a Schmaker brand battery tender for under $20, has the battery pigtails, etc. Draws just 1.5 amps. I think mac mentioned this one, half price of BT brand.

[macmac]

Doc it is rated to put OUT 1.5 amps, and does turn on and off as the battery demands it. Just to clear things up.. Last I knew they were 17 bucks and do come with a plug in pig tail to wire direct to the battery AND a set of jumper leads as well.

I own 2 of these chargers and use them both every day. I can't tell the wall current costs as this place uses a bit of juice from the lines coming in. On the house service , is a barn with lights and a real machine shop with a Bridgeport Mill and a lath, plus welders.

The house has like items any house has for 3 people living in it.. 2 tv's 4 computers etc etc..

I read it here that the BT Jr, puts out about 1/2 amp, so anyone with these would want to run it any time they are not riding and or parked at work. I do the same thing.