Hardwired Battery Tender 5 dollars! | FerrariChat

Hardwired Battery Tender 5 dollars!

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by fatbillybob, Jul 11, 2009.

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  1. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Aug 10, 2002
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    #1 fatbillybob, Jul 11, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  2. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 fatbillybob, Jul 11, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    So here is my low buck better way on a 550 but it works on any power sucking Ferrari. The charger I used was on sale for $3.99 at Harbor Freight and tool. They are cheap and may eventually die but they are only 5 bucks. For one Ferrari OEM one you can buy 160 of the harbor freight ones. You can see I wired the HF unit right to the battery terminals and used two side velcro to stick the automatic float electronics right on the battery cover. This unit weights about 2 ounces! The I run a connector ($1.79) up to the windscreen. So far at 120mph it does not flop out. I then keep the powerpack in the garage plugged into the outlet. I just plug in when car is in garage and unplug when I go for a drive. There are a ton of good ways to do this but most will think this is a pretty good way and you won't beat the price. I have used this particular unit for about 6 months now and use them on my current and pass racecar and trailer battery. It is nice to have a dedicated tender for all your toys instead of dragging around a big shumacher tender which is unquestionably one of the best available but weight a ton.
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  3. tazandjan

    tazandjan Three Time F1 World Champ
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    #3 tazandjan, Jul 12, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    FBB- The photo you showed is for an accessory CTEK battery tender that is actually quite small and light weight. I use one on my car. The factory fitted Zivan, however, is a real beast and weighs quite a bit more. It is similar to the red one in this photo.

    Very ingenious use of the tender and a bargain compared to CTEKs at $69.95 without Ferrari badging or $300-500 for the Zivan unit and Schedoni case.

    Taz
    Terry Phillips
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  4. bobafett

    bobafett F1 Veteran

    Sep 28, 2002
    9,193
    #4 bobafett, Jul 12, 2009
    CTEK tender works very well. So does the other "battery tender" one in the metal case w/ green logo. Either way, nicely done.

    The ferrari markups are absolutely retarded. I love the nissan brake pad thing that Redsirish discovered.
     
  5. Jettafanatic

    Jettafanatic Karting

    Nov 8, 2008
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    Santa Barbara, CA
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    Claudio
    #5 Jettafanatic, Jul 22, 2009
    He he he..... I have been using a Modified Schumacher myself to keep the battery up.... Similar set-up to FBB :)
     
  6. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #6 AceMaster, Jul 23, 2009
    good work FBB
     
  7. Dom

    Dom F1 Veteran
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    Nov 5, 2002
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    #7 Dom, Jul 23, 2009
    I did something similar with a Yuasa battery charger for my kids kart. Hardwired to my battery, just plug it in when I get home. Works great.

    I was thinking about trying it with the HF model if it ever goes bad on me. Thanks for the tips, fatbillybob!

    Dom
     
  8. synchro

    synchro F1 Veteran

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    #8 synchro, Jul 30, 2009
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2009
    Have been using these same Harbor Freight units for 3 years with great results but "upgraded" to the Pacific Battery systems batteryminder which has a nice LED display and alleged "de-sulphation mode". Unplugged the Harbor Freight units on my cars and one-by-one plugged the batteryminder into each battery. All showed fully charged and had no loss of cell fluid so the Harbor freight units have been doing their job well.


     
  9. h00kem

    h00kem Guest

    Dec 15, 2004
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    #9 h00kem, Jul 30, 2009
    Nice work. While I am a fan of Harbor Freight for "cheap tools" I don't think I would put a cheap battery tender on my Ferrari. I agree with you about the Ferrari tenders...crap. I don't use the Ferrari tenders that came with my cars. Personally I am a Deltran Battery Tender Plus man. The last thing I want is a cheap tender catching fire and buring up my garage and Ferrari. While a Deltran Battery Tender costs a little more I think it may be worth it. Just my 2 cents.
     
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  10. SonomaRik

    SonomaRik F1 Veteran
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    #10 SonomaRik, Jul 30, 2009
  11. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #11 fatbillybob, Jul 30, 2009
    I did not know the others existed and they look bigger and heavier. The one I used is about 2oz. and the charger guts are a wall transformer. Only the bridge rectifier (4 diodes and a few resisitors) resides in the car. I know my car is 3000+lbs but I don't like adding to it. Everytime someone talks about getting 20hp from xyz modification I just say take some weight out. I had a 348 racecar that was so light I ate 355Challenge cars for lunch and spooked some 360's too.
     
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  12. synchro

    synchro F1 Veteran

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    #12 synchro, Jul 31, 2009
  13. GCalo

    GCalo F1 Veteran

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    #13 GCalo, Jul 31, 2009
    Carl

    Does the LED ever turn green?

    The one I purchased stayed red always.
     
  14. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #14 fatbillybob, Jul 31, 2009
    correct red only because it is a float charger with internal sensing circuit. I am still working on remotes by the way. I need the euro ones.
     
  15. SonomaRik

    SonomaRik F1 Veteran
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    #15 SonomaRik, Jul 31, 2009
    FBB:
    thanks

    when it get hot in there, thinking velcro will fall....still like the idea and cost...use HF for a lot of one-offs.
     
  16. wbklink

    wbklink F1 Rookie
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    #16 wbklink, Oct 17, 2020
    Love my Deltran Battery Tender Plus...10+ years old perfect... Tech hard wired plug to batt got Deltran extension cord $12 :)
     
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  17. F456M

    F456M F1 Rookie

    Jan 8, 2010
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    #17 F456M, Oct 18, 2020
    Smart upgrade.

    i am used to electronic chargers and they seem to discharge the battery if not connected to the power outlet... In my car I have therefore made a contact in the grill so I can just plug the charger into that. Instead of opening up the hood. Then there is no smal current draw when the car is not connected to «shore power». And with my two batteries, I feel I have solved all the problems in the world. :)
     

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