carmudgeons.com  

Go Back   carmudgeons.com > Automotive Forums > Car Talk > Perseverators Anonymous

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-18-2019, 01:48 PM   #181
TD
Founder emeritus
 
TD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Maryland
Posts: 21,002
Quote:
Originally Posted by rumatt View Post
Solar powered battery tender.


Brilliant. Probably obvious. But not something I had thought of.

Thanks!
TD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2019, 03:27 PM   #182
kognito
older fart than ZBB
 
kognito's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: On the road again
Posts: 8,887
Quote:
Originally Posted by TD View Post
Brilliant. Probably obvious. But not something I had thought of.

Thanks!
Many of those tenders come with cigarette lighter plugs . . . your BMW might relay disconnect the cigarette lighter after 10-30 minutes (if you even have a cigarette lighter?)

But yeah, they work great, just might need to jury rig it

heck this one makes jury rigging easy
__________________
2017 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE
2020 Fusion Titanium
kognito is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2019, 03:34 PM   #183
rumatt
Mugwump
 
rumatt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3
Location: NY
Posts: 17,475
I bought one that mounts directly to the battery. I run it through the trunk, into the back seat, and up onto the back window glass.

I don't know how well it actually works, but the light stays on saying it's doing something, and my battery hasn't died yet. I moved the car about once a month during the winter.
rumatt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2019, 03:34 PM   #184
JST
195
 
JST's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 24,593
Quote:
Originally Posted by kognito View Post
Many of those tenders come with cigarette lighter plugs . . . your BMW might relay disconnect the cigarette lighter after 10-30 minutes (if you even have a cigarette lighter?)

But yeah, they work great, just might need to jury rig it

heck this one makes jury rigging easy

Yes, I followed the suggestion in the other thread and hard-wired my tender onto the Porsche's battery clamp screws. Works great. Haven't had a dead battery since.

EDIT: I don't use a solar one because the car is usually covered. But the plugs and the hardwiring are the same.
JST is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2019, 03:37 PM   #185
TD
Founder emeritus
 
TD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Maryland
Posts: 21,002
Quote:
Originally Posted by JST View Post
Yes, I followed the suggestion in the other thread and hard-wired my tender onto the Porsche's battery clamp screws. Works great. Haven't had a dead battery since.

EDIT: I don't use a solar one because the car is usually covered. But the plugs and the hardwiring are the same.


Funny you mention that... I also bought a plug-in one along with the battery hardwire connection for the M3 while I was at it just now.
TD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2019, 03:39 PM   #186
TD
Founder emeritus
 
TD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Maryland
Posts: 21,002
Quote:
Originally Posted by kognito View Post
Many of those tenders come with cigarette lighter plugs . . . your BMW might relay disconnect the cigarette lighter after 10-30 minutes (if you even have a cigarette lighter?)



But yeah, they work great, just might need to jury rig it



heck this one makes jury rigging easy


Long ago, I bought the adapter that converts the glove box flashlight charger to a cigarette lighter plug. That one doesn’t shut off when the car is off. I will plug the solar unit in to that.
TD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2019, 03:43 PM   #187
rumatt
Mugwump
 
rumatt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3
Location: NY
Posts: 17,475
Quote:
Originally Posted by TD View Post
Long ago, I bought the adapter that converts the glove box flashlight charger to a cigarette lighter plug.
Oh crap, that's a good idea.
rumatt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2019, 02:58 PM   #188
Terri Kennedy
There and back again
 
Terri Kennedy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: 2003 BMW 325xiT; looking for a new fun car
Location: New York
Posts: 2,939
Quote:
Originally Posted by TD View Post
Long ago, I bought the adapter that converts the glove box flashlight charger to a cigarette lighter plug. That one doesn’t shut off when the car is off. I will plug the solar unit in to that.
Early production 2003 BMWs (9/2002 production dates) often have a mis-wire* that prevents the glove box flashlight from charging at all. If anyone still has one of those cars, check to make sure the flashlight charges before setting this up, or you'll just have a nice place to store the plug of your charger.

* This is related to the mis-wire of the aux input connector which prevents the aux input adapter from being detected by the head unit - it is in the same arm of the main wiring harness. Several of the pegboards where the harnesses are laid out had incorrect instruction sheets.
Terri Kennedy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Interesting 340i review robg Car Talk 18 09-02-2016 10:23 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:04 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Forums © 2003-2008, 'Mudgeon Enterprises - Site hosting by AYN & Associates, LLC