Permanently fitting a smart charger leads under the bonnet

[wild camper]

I want to fit a smart battery conditioner that gives a float charge
Has anyone fitted the permanent leads under the bonnet on the terminals used for a jump start?
I want to try this because the leads supplied with the ring terminals are too short to fit to the battery under the seat

[Altransit]

I've fitted mine to the batteries directly, one lead on each battery, but there's no reason why you can't fit one to the jump point, you just need to find, or make, an adjacent earth terminal.

Out of interest, why do you want the the lead under the bonnet?

[wild camper]

Thanks Altransit
The supplied leads are too short, it’s very awkward to make the connection to the “plug” in the confined space between the back of the seat and bulkhead
Every time I want to connect the charger I’d have to remove the torque headed seat stops at the front of the seat
It’s traditional! Most servicing is done under the bonnet, much more convenient
Who dreamt up the idea of putting the battery under the seat?”
There’s lots of sharp edges under the seat to cause a short, I know because my bloodstains are on the battery terminals

[Balkan Boy]

I fitted this charger (eyelets to the terminals) that has a quick disconnect. https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-MXS-5-0-R ... B00FC42HAA
It sits nicely behind the seat, and when I use it it stays in the cab.

If the battery was under the bonnet I'd probably have to run the wires to the cab which is the opposite of your situation.

[Altransit]

Mine just exit the seat base along with the earth cable, and are cable tied in position at the front of the drivers seat. Because I don't use the van enough to keep the batteries topped up, I just give them a boost every couple of weeks in the Winter with the smart charger, which can sit on the cab floor, and the mains lead just fits between the door and rubber surround at the bottom. I can safely leave it connected overnight.

CIMG3366.JPG

[Altransit]

Who dreamt up the idea of putting the battery under the seat?”

I had to smile at this, as my 1970 Mini Van has the battery under/behind the drivers seat

[dumper]

If you have twin batteries it will only change the starter battery and not the auxiliary battery and if that is flat central locking does not work plus I’d not want a 240 v charger somewhere where it can be effected by the weather.
Batteries under seats in the cab is not a new thing a 1980 s vw lt 35 had it in the cab and loads more did

[bigjohnthomas]

I had my leads connected to the jump start point and a air con pipe bolt with the connector sticking out at the corner of the bonnet
It went a bit green at the plug end though

[Kardaani]

My secondary battery needs charging weekly, story told in this post
viewtopic.php?f=65&t=190501

Mechanic in Ford service told me to set auxillary charging cables allways directly to the battery terminals. If fitted after BMS sensor it might mess up cars own charging system.

For easyer charging i have fitted these in my custom. No need to remove drivers seat when charging when indicator panels are fitted next to it.
https://www.ctek.com/products/vehicle/m ... est-charge
https://www.ctek.com/products/vehicle/i ... panel-1-5m

Also with Calix cable kits, got power outlet inside the car and no need to left chargers cable pinned between door.
https://goo.gl/images/rZueHD

[wild camper]

I decided against fitting the battery tender to the under bonnet jumper terminal
I read kardaani’s post about possible problems if fitted after the BMS sensor
I purchased from Amazon a Kuncan 3ft Sae to Sae Extension Cable £7.99’, I fitted it under the drivers seat and brought it out under the front of the seat, similar to Altransit’s set up
It’s much more convenient in this position than fiddling about behind the seat and the bulkhead
The Sae connector has a cap to prevent shorts and tucks away when not required, secured by cable ties
If you google “ battery tender” it brings up many different cables many with the same Sae connector as used on many of the economy smart chargers
They’re cheaper as they’re Chinese “knockoffs” of a Chinese Manufacturer ( Kuncan), but I didn’t want to wait a month for it