Battery tender - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Bigdumogre · 10-23-2022, 02:06 PM

How does everyone run their battery tenders? My car has become a weekend warrior car and sometimes only take it out 2x’s a month especially with the weather changing. And when I do drive it it is not for much distance so the battery is never fully charged.
How does everyone run there’s? Straight through the trunk and close the trunk on the cable? I will be adding a rear seat delete in the future, would it be easier to run it that way?

0stones0 · 10-23-2022, 02:57 PM

I ran wires off the positive and a good ground post in the engine bay and to a pigtail out the front grill. Works like a champ.

SIM GhostrdrZ · 10-23-2022, 05:00 PM

Directly to battery and pop one of the drain plugs in trunk and out the bottom. Cord never touches paint

Royal Tiger · 10-23-2022, 05:54 PM

I’ve left my car sit all winter and it fires right up.

HOJO · 10-23-2022, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIM GhostrdrZ

Directly to battery and pop one of the drain plugs in trunk and out the bottom. Cord never touches paint

This is my method also. I use a Battery Tender Jr. never had an issue. Just replaced battery after 7 years.

Cyber/Orange10 · 10-23-2022, 10:28 PM

hook to Pos tap and Neg ground on front fender out the hood by windshield no problems.

BehindBlueI's · 10-23-2022, 10:42 PM

I use the jump start connector under the hood and close the hood on the cord at the windshield.

ZED/28 · 10-24-2022, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIM GhostrdrZ

Directly to battery and pop one of the drain plugs in trunk and out the bottom. Cord never touches paint

This is the best way IMO.

I run a NOCO charger

Bigdumogre · 10-24-2022, 06:07 AM

Great ideas thank you all. The drain plug and under the hood both sound like great ideas.

ElderJ · 10-24-2022, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royal Tiger

I’ve left my car sit all winter and it fires right up.

Yeah, I run mine about once every other week at best, and I make sure to take it out on the highway for 15+ mins (punching it at least once for good measure). I've never had any battery issues to date. It sounds like OP is not running it that much, so a tender would make sense for the lifespan of the battery.

Lou gill · 10-24-2022, 07:30 AM

Direct hook up in the trunk, cable gets closed in the truck.

myold88 · 10-24-2022, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royal Tiger

I’ve left my car sit all winter and it fires right up.

.

I've never owned a battery tender in my life and have been restoring and showing
antique cars for countless years. OP- Your worried about a problem
that doesn't exist. My '10 SS is now 13+ years old and has sat for weeks.
I just get in an drive away. I've only replaced my battery once since new.
Another here says they start up their stored car every couple weeks. Don't do that.
Let it sit until your going to drive it a 1/2 hour or more.
Yes, I know opinions vary.

NOT A 45 · 10-24-2022, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myold88

.

I've never owned a battery tender in my life and have been restoring and showing
antique cars for countless years. OP- Your worried about a problem
that doesn't exist. My '10 SS is now 13+ years old and has sat for weeks.
I just get in an drive away. I've only replaced my battery once since new.
Another here says they start up their stored car every couple weeks. Don't do that.
Let it sit until your going to drive it a 1/2 hour or more.
Yes, I know opinions vary.

I drive mine once maybe twice a month as well. I don't see a need for a tender. It would take a typical 40 milliamp draw around 50-60 days to draw your battery down far enough not to start the car.

0stones0 · 10-24-2022, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myold88

.

I've never owned a battery tender in my life and have been restoring and showing
antique cars for countless years. OP- Your worried about a problem
that doesn't exist. My '10 SS is now 13+ years old and has sat for weeks.
I just get in an drive away. I've only replaced my battery once since new.
Another here says they start up their stored car every couple weeks. Don't do that.
Let it sit until your going to drive it a 1/2 hour or more.
Yes, I know opinions vary.

Totally agree on that point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NOT A 45

I drive mine once maybe twice a month as well. I don't see a need for a tender. It would take a typical 40 milliamp draw around 50-60 days to draw your battery down far enough not to start the car.

Those of us who live in the snow(rust) belt, have our rides up for 4 - 6 months at a clip and I don’t think its a detriment to have a tender on it. To each their own.

10-23-2022, 02:06 PM	#1
Bigdumogre Drives: 2012 Camaro SS Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: New York Posts: 1,434	Battery tender How does everyone run their battery tenders? My car has become a weekend warrior car and sometimes only take it out 2x’s a month especially with the weather changing. And when I do drive it it is not for much distance so the battery is never fully charged. How does everyone run there’s? Straight through the trunk and close the trunk on the cable? I will be adding a rear seat delete in the future, would it be easier to run it that way? __________________ 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS - CSP Custom Cam 232/240 .615/.615 113 +3, Texas speed CNC heads, FTI billet triple disc converter, K&N cai, Katech ported TB, GPI Ported/rod modded manifold, Texas speed 1 7/8 headers, HFC, Flowmaster 2 chambers with x pipe, Mishimoto CC, MSD wires, Roto fab washer relocation, tru cool 40k trans cooler, apex scoop, Pedders extreme coil overs and much more!!

10-23-2022, 02:57 PM	#2
0stones0 It don’t come easy. Drives: 2010 2SS RS M6 Join Date: May 2014 Location: WI Posts: 2,238 View My Garage	I ran wires off the positive and a good ground post in the engine bay and to a pigtail out the front grill. Works like a champ. __________________

10-24-2022, 06:07 AM	#9
Bigdumogre Drives: 2012 Camaro SS Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: New York Posts: 1,434	Great ideas thank you all. The drain plug and under the hood both sound like great ideas. __________________ 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS - CSP Custom Cam 232/240 .615/.615 113 +3, Texas speed CNC heads, FTI billet triple disc converter, K&N cai, Katech ported TB, GPI Ported/rod modded manifold, Texas speed 1 7/8 headers, HFC, Flowmaster 2 chambers with x pipe, Mishimoto CC, MSD wires, Roto fab washer relocation, tru cool 40k trans cooler, apex scoop, Pedders extreme coil overs and much more!!

10-23-2022, 05:00 PM	#3
SIM GhostrdrZ Drives: ‘14 ZL1 M6 vert Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,292 View My Garage	Directly to battery and pop one of the drain plugs in trunk and out the bottom. Cord never touches paint

10-23-2022, 05:54 PM	#4
Royal Tiger Account Suspended Drives: 2013 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 3,873	I’ve left my car sit all winter and it fires right up.

10-23-2022, 10:28 PM	#6
Cyber/Orange10 Cyber/orange10 Drives: 2010 2SS 96 CE LT4, 12 CRUZE ECO Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Freeport,Il 61032 Posts: 206	hook to Pos tap and Neg ground on front fender out the hood by windshield no problems.

10-23-2022, 10:42 PM	#7
BehindBlueI's Drives: 2011 Camaro SS Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Midwest Posts: 314	I use the jump start connector under the hood and close the hood on the cord at the windshield.

10-24-2022, 07:30 AM	#11
Lou gill Drives: ‘13 ZL1 convertible Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mad City WI Posts: 177 View My Garage	Direct hook up in the trunk, cable gets closed in the truck.