The 'E' Type Forum

Looking for a discrete robust plug-socket combination to fit to all my vehicles such that trickle-chargers can be plugged in without having to access the batteries. Something like 1/4", anything but cigarette-lighter auxiliary junk. Car into garage, up onto lift, plug into its bum somewhere under the alloy splash-cover below the battery ? Waterproof cover ? Have multiple station TechMate charger hard-wired to various places in w'shop, looking for neat finishing touch. RS catalogue connaisseurs please step forward.

i use an optimate trickle charger which I swear by. Used it on all my bikes which are notorious for going through their small batteries, but my last bike battery lasted 10 years. Optimate do chargers suitable for larger car batteries as wel. As wel as charging and maintaining with a "float" system, they also desulphate worn batteries where needed.
Point is, they also provide a permanent fixture which is wired to the battery, so you can then just plug in. You can buy them separately to add these charging points to other vehicles. My bike one tucked under the side of the seat, and had a rubber cap which you pushed over the exposed end when not in use to waterproof it.
Here's a link to show you one: http://tinyurl.com/k8yfwfv

Thanks for that. The OptiMate is just 4 TechMates in one case and RS do supply all the connectors separately, but I had wanted to avoid flying leads and have a hard-point so you didnt have to tuck wires out of the way each time you took the car out - easier on a bike than on the Jag.

I use a C-TEK conditioner, you can buy a cigarette lighter connector for it, obviously needs a permanently live supply to the lighter though, as my dash is in bits right now I can't check if it is or not.

Ian

First port of call (no pun intended!) will be a Boat Chandlers. e.g. http://www.downwindmarine.com/DC-Connec ... c-423.html Something like this:


You need a polarised system for obvious reasons and something big enough so you are not struggling to connect.

As an alternate, have a look at Hella p/n 002 620 801. Rated for 22A @ 12V, German quality, and less money than the Perko.

A cheaper way would be to use these waterproof sockets on the under-tray at ~?7 and fit cigar lighter plugs on the ends of your chargers:


eBay: http://tinyurl.com/pfyg7tt

This is what I have have used on several vehicles. I do not know if it is available in your market

http://www.batteryminders.com/battery-m ... ng-screws/

NOW we're getting somewhere, that last one is brilliant.
Plastic panel-mount, sealed connections, run-what-you-brung wiring.
The marine stuff is way over-engineered, car charging applications don't need to cope with salt, dunking, living in a harbour etc - and why would we need chrome ? Currents are furthermore derisory for a maintenance charger, the low rating on an OptiMate is 1.3 amps, and the day the socket stops working we wont lose our headlights on the M6, nor will our brakes fail.

Anyone looking for a simple way to plug their charger into the car without going via the cockpit or lifting the bonnet might like this low-tech solution I eventually opted for.

It's been there for a couple of years and is fused.

I have a couple of charging points around the workshop, with the same RS banana plug sockets, and wired back to the centralised Opti-Mate charger, so wherever the car is parked, or on the lift, it can be drip-fed via suitable banan-ended twin-feeds.



Have the same sockets on the MiniVan hidden in a wheel-arch ; neither car goes rallying so road-muck has never been an issue.

If you like these; PM me your address and I will drop some in the mail.

http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/ ... 0JKgNA.jpg

https://www.grainger.com/category/batte ... log/N-17b9

Power Connector, Gray, 4 Wire Size (AWG), 0.298" Max. Wire Dia.
Brand
ANDERSON POWER PRODUCTS
Item #
3BY22
Mfr. Model #
6800G2

Very kind Geoff, I didn't know they made smaller versions of the plug/socket assemblies we see used to battery-boost racing cars on start-up. As it turns out I really like the simplicity of the banana-plug solution I've ended up with, particularly the panel-mounted sockets, as connecting up is so much simpler than anything on flying leads - so on this occasion I'll decline your generous offer.