Battery tender magnetic attachment

[Xhilr8n]

Used to have a Bentley Continental GT Speed, about as far from this forum as it gets.  But someting in common, few drive either car two days in a row.  They might sit for a month.  Regularly.  Sad but true.

 

This means a battery tender is a neccessity.  Not as finicky as something like a McLaren that will develop behaviors if not kept on a charge when not running.

 

A Bentley has remarkably smart features all over them but one I liked was the magnetic attachment for the battery tender,  No need to open the trunk or anything, just put the inch and a quarter wide round magnetic lead to a spot on back of car.  Bonus feature is that if you forget and drive off, no problem.  Pops off easily.

 

Would be great to not have to remove the bonnet to get the tender going.  Has anyone here done this?  I’ve seen where Evora folk have done it.

 

Something like this https://optimate1.com/acco-97/

 

 

[KnifeySpoony]

I wired an sae plug into the power for 12v socket under the dash. Very convenient. However i rarely use it because i just use the battery cutoff switch. 

[wdb]

I use CTEKs and they come with a quick connect kit. I put them at the base of the windshield so it is in my line of sight. Not as trick as the Bentley but it works for me. 

[Xhilr8n]

We had CTEKs for the Bentley and McLarens, I still have some.  But use Battery Tender for most vehicles.  They work.  
 

My question is where to place the interface and how to attach it.  I’ve been thinking somewhere forward of pedal box that I can access by feel alone from under the car.  Low to ground so cable’s not on things and bonnet still on.

 

wdb could you share a photo of how you did it?

[wdb]

Well *cough* for the Caterham I actually unlatch the hood to access the connector. On my other cars I tuck the connector in near the wipers. I don't really mind seeing the dongle, and if it does bother me I can always open the hood/frunk and pull it under to hide it.

[7Westfield]

My Westy has a dongle from a BT under the hood, attached to the fuse box. This winter, I'll probably move it under the dash.

 

I also run the BT, or whatever it is, thru a timer, so it only runs a couple of hours a day

too many reports of those things cooking a bat, or starting fires

[11Budlite]

I mounted a bolt-on connector designed for a BT to the heater blanking panel, that way I can charge the battery without taking off the bonnet. It's circled in red in this photo. Even with the heater you should be able to find space under the dash to run a connector.

 

Edited September 15 by 11Budlite

[IamScotticus]

9 hours ago, 7Westfield said:

too many reports of those things cooking a bat, or starting fires

Wrong charger for battery and not a smart charger.  I know, I destroyed bats using dumb high voltage trickle charging. 

[CBuff]

I went with the cig adapter smart trickle. Noco. I have a cig outlet in the fuse box cover as well as in the boot.  It’s post mco switch so I need to remember to keep the cut off on for it to charge. (I wired the 12v thru a msd solid state switch. )

https://a.co/d/iuB77Xw

[Xhilr8n]

I dug around and found the CTEK we used on the Bentley some time ago.  It has the round magnetic attachment, I’ll be looking to find the other side of it.  It was a part of the Bentley oem.

 

Plugged it up to the 7 per alligator clips, seems to be running its cycle.

 

The Elise with Odyssey 680 has been on a Battery Tender for years.

 

I sure appreciate folks chiming in with their solutions.

 

I’m looking for the level of convenience and thrills I had with the Bentley.  Cables on floor right up to car, and if you have places to be there’s no requirement to unhook it.  Or if you just plain forget 😨

 

 

 

Edited September 15 by Xhilr8n

[Xhilr8n]

Here’s my dilema.  Simplest thing would be to have a mount on outside of car down low below the external battery kill, forward of the pedal box.  Yes requiring preparing a hole in the precious new aluminium 😱

 

I have the tools and skill and courage to make the opening but not something to just go do without serious examination of benefit/risk.

 

But after all there is already an electrical kill switch on the outside, why not an electricity in?

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/196081510755?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=196081510755&targetid=2315428264940&device=t&mktype=pla&googleloc=9010329&poi=&campaignid=21394550841&mkgroupid=173029507588&rlsatarget=pla-2315428264940&abcId=9448521&merchantid=6296724&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21394550841&gbraid=0AAAAAD_QDh8ev-C5XF-id_pFwuDcXFaMo&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8p7GBhCjARIsAEhghZ20_-AVnKAybsNa4PLk--kBDWo-bPPs8tOBOSvm1byQ6A4TgFqchJoaAgN2EALw_wcB

Edited September 15 by Xhilr8n

[Xhilr8n]

From a place where I spent a lot of time, learned a lot.

 

https://www.lotustalk.com/threads/ctek-compatible-magnetic-charger.481860/

Edited September 16 by Xhilr8n

[Xhilr8n]

Well I studied on it and studied on it and am planning to mount on the side of the car low, yes preparing (drilling)  the appropriate opening in the fabulous aluminium car.

 

Asked myself if it would look too odd and then walked around the car and saw the awesome exhaust boldly presenting to the world.

 

Turns out it’s a bit of a challenge to make something stand out as even more odd on these cars.

[jbcollier]

Yup, I use them on my Seven and Europa.  Much simpler, and therefore more likely to be used.

[Xhilr8n]

4 minutes ago, jbcollier said:

Yup, I use them on my Seven and Europa.  Much simpler, and therefore more likely to be used.

How, where did you place the magnet on your cars?

[jbcollier]

Underneath, out of sight.

[Xhilr8n]

OK it’s done!

 

Decided to place it further forward than original idea.  Less evident and the cable will lay near the wheel, not as much out in the way.

 

We place a tiny anti rotation notch.  I put it at a 45 degree angle rather than vertical, just the natural angle of my hand.

 

Glad to speak with anyone who wants to do this.  I got a special drill bit, sure took my time.  Getting my somewhat small right hand down in there to tighten things up from above was just barely possible.

[CBuff]

I don’t have the cojones to drill into my Ali.  But well done. Looks great!

[IamScotticus]

Clean

[Xhilr8n]

5 hours ago, CBuff said:

I don’t have the cojones to drill into my Ali.  But well done. Looks great!