How to use battery maintainer/tender for storage

[Hiroshima]

Since I know that there are many who only drive their X on an occasional basis, I wanted to know how you use your battery maintainer/tender. I got the Schumacher 1.5 amp in-car battery maintainer for the X.

From all the battery charger manuals I have read, they all say that batteries being charged vent explosive gas and that they should be in well ventilated area.

My question is this: Do you then open the hood to let the bad gas vent? I was hopeing to leave the car covered and just plug the maintainer in with the car all closed up.

Thanks in advance:

Jeff

 

[nsxtasy]

I have this model and I just plug the maintainer in with the car all closed up.

I think they usually use the term "onboard" rather than "in car". The maintainer should be mounted right alongside the battery under the hood, not in the car's interior. The battery is actually vented, in that there is free flow of air alongside the battery.

Here's the procedure for plugging it in:

1. Before pulling car into garage, drape an extension cord along the floor so that it ends in the area underneath the battery.

2. Pull car into garage.

3. Open hood.

4. Remove spare tire.

5. Look down under hood for extension cord. Hopefully you can see it near the battery.

6. Reach down to extension cord and plug it into the battery maintainer.

7. Close hood.

8. Cover car.

I know some folks have installed a small extension cord from the battery maintainer to the front grille, which gives them a more convenient place to plug in their long extension cord rather than draping it along the floor and hoping it's in an easy area to grab. This is not a bad idea.

[This message has been edited by nsxtasy (edited 24 March 2003).]

 

[Hiroshima]

Thanks Ken, I had a feeling that you would reply .

Do you remove the maintained in the summer when you drive the car? I assume that vibration is not an issue.

Thanks again for your help.

Jeff

 

[nsxtasy]

I leave it permanently mounted all year round, even when I go to track events. I haven't had any problems with vibration. It works when I plug it in, and the rest of the time I forget about it.

Just don't forget about unplugging it when you get in the car to use it again. If you're like me, you'll probably do that just once

and then learn your lesson. I now leave the spare tire next to the driver's door, as a self-reminder to put it back in and unplug the charger.

 

[Jimbo]

I have an underhood unit. It's a solid state charger so I'm not worried about vibration, etc. It's located under the front hood, of course. It's securely tie-wrapped in position. I simply open the hood, plug it in and then gently rest the open hood on the cord (with a towel on the car just in case). The gap from the open hood provides some ventilation that would dissipate any outgassing build-up.

I'd be reluctant to cover my car with the charger going for fear of gas build up and sparks (although it seems like Ken hasn't had any problems). Perhaps with a small fan blowing underneath?....

-Jim

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1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
1976 Honda Accord 5 spd, 3 door Blue/Blue
1977 Honda Accord - Custom - Under Construction
2003 MINI Cooper S - On Order - All Black
1986 Chevy Suburban
http://homepage.mac.com/jimanders/PhotoAlbum1.html

[This message has been edited by Jimbo (edited 24 March 2003).]

 

[Spencer]

Potential dumb question/comment. What is this talk of removing the spare? I have the Schumacher 1.5 amp in-car battery 'maintainer' as described by Hiroshima original post. It's permanently mounted in my car, and all I do is pop the hood, plug it in, and close the hood to the first click. You're not talking about removing the spare with one of these for any reason are you?

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by Spencer:
Potential dumb question/comment. What is this talk of removing the spare? I have the Schumacher 1.5 amp in-car battery 'maintainer' as described by Hiroshima original post. It's permanently mounted in my car, and all I do is pop the hood, plug it in, and close the hood to the first click. You're not talking about removing the spare with one of these for any reason are you?

Yes.

I remove the spare so that I can grab the extension cord from underneath the car and plug in the maintainer.

After plugging it in, I close the hood normally.

Don't you worry (for security reasons) about leaving your hood unlocked like that? (Then again, I recently was shocked to hear that some folks leave their car keys in their cars in the garage, so maybe I'm just more security-conscious than some people.)

 

[Zipy]

I know I saw something about this somewhere else, but since we're on the subject anyway- With the low voltage/amperage of the trickle charger could'nt it be hooked up at the jump start terminals in the engine compartment without doing any damage? One of the previous owners of my car had one installed there,although I didn't inherit it in the purchase. There are still 2 spade connectors hooked up there for the charger unit.

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1991 Red/Ivory #2055 1991 GMC Syclone-For Sale
1998 Integra GSR

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by Zipy:
With the low voltage/amperage of the trickle charger could'nt it be hooked up at the jump start terminals in the engine compartment without doing any damage?

The particular unit we're talking about is a small, compact unit that is designed to be permanently mounted. It makes more sense to mount it near the battery. It's somewhat smaller than the size of a standard VHS videocassette (perhaps 1/2 to 3/4 the size) and it looks like this (in its packaging):

EDIT: Made size estimate more precise.

[This message has been edited by nsxtasy (edited 25 March 2003).]

 

[POWERED by HONDA]

It's smaller than a VHS cassette tape. Maybe 1/2 to 3/4 the size.

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by POWERED by HONDA:
It's smaller than a VHS cassette tape. Maybe 1/2 to 3/4 the size.

Uh... yup, it is. Which is why I said "about the size"... but you're right, and that is more precise. I'll go back and edit my post.

Thanks for watching my back.

We know how NSXprime folks are sticklers for details, especially that nsxtasy guy...

[This message has been edited by nsxtasy (edited 25 March 2003).]

 

[POWERED by HONDA]

Heheh, sorry. I had too much coffee this morning.