Hey all,

Been searching through the forums and was hoping to get some ideas. I finally decided to grab a battery tender for my 14 FX4 SCREW and was wanting to get thoughts on where to install it? I WFH and do a lot of short trips so after having to charge my battery twice in the last year (and I did the 8+ hr reset/relearn each time) I decided it was time to grab a tender.

Reviewing the forums I see a lot of discussion on them but haven't seen any pics and was wondering where you all install yours? I grabbed the 3amp version so it's a bit bigger...just wanted to get some ideas from you all where to put it.

Thanks in advance!

 

see: https://www.batterytender.com/junior

I use this on all of my vehicles that are driven occasionally. Easy to use, plug and play. It comes with a ring-terminal pigtail, Connect the positive ring directly to your positive battery terminal (not on the BMS side of the connection), and the black ring terminal to a grounding point in the engine bay. The pigtail can then just be left on the battery full-time, no need to remove. The wall unit just plugs into the pigtail when you need to maintain the battery charge.
.

 

I bought an extension to the cord. I have it connected to the positive terminal and a ground screw (so the BMS sees it). I ran the cable across the front of the truck, and then down into the left wheel well, because I can't get to the front grill area when it's in the garage. Easy to connect, and then I fold it up and into the area above the liner (i.e. in front of the tire). Only came down once and wore the connector cap down, but they sent me a new one.

 

Where do you house the device itself? That's a big issue. I do drive my vehicle daily but again, it's short bursts since it's mainly Ubering children to school. I get the occasional long drive in for some recreational sports but overwhelmingly it's short trips. Do you think this smaller device would suffice for daily, short driving? That's why I bought the bigger one but thinking maybe I overbought?

 

Thanks - this helps. Do you have a larger (3Amp) or smaller device you use? My father-in-law mentioned inside the wheel-well, too, and potentially attaching it under the box the batter sits in or somewhere in there...seems like a decent place to put it.

 

sounds like there's still a bit of a misunderstanding - the portion that plugs into the wall doesn't get installed in the truck. You install the separate harness to the battery and then that harness connects to the harness coming off the actual charging unit. Some people buy the battery harness extension and run the end of it somewhere so they dont have to open the hood to plug it in and charge. Obviously this whole scenario works better if the truck is stored in your garage

 

Maybe I am confused because here is the unit I purchased - https://www.batterytender.com/3amp-selectable-voltage

The cord that plugs into the wall does not remove from the device so it will have to remain on the device and dangling somewhere. I'm trying to install this on my battery full-time. I drive daily but between AZ heat and short trips, my battery gets toasted quickly. I need something to preserve my battery for my multiple short driving trips. I understand how to connect to the battery itself...I'm more interested in what location within the engine bay others have installed this with success. Also interested to see if this device is too big or not as there are other sizes available. If I'm not explaining myself correctly, I apologize.


Side note - I have the same tune, Intercooler and downpipes as you - LOVE the feel/performance since adding those last year!

 

Yes, you are confusing things.

There is no reason to install the charger in the truck, then you have to run an extension cord to the truck.

Run the extension to the wheel well. Plug in the battery tender (run another extension if you don't garage it).

I have both the 1.25amp and the 3amp. In regular usage, the battery is at full within well under an hour. Then I leave it plugged in all the time.

Battery Tender extensions

 

downpipes are pissing me off, throwing a lean code ever since, hoping replacing the rear cat sensor clears it up...

that said, on your link, look at the third picture - instead of hooking those ends to the gator clips - youre gonna connect one to the positive post of the battery and the other to ground. The other end of that cable can be connected/disconnected from the charging unit. You can also look at the video just after the 1 minute mark. I would agree to buy the extension in the post above, you'll hook one end to the harness at the battery and then the other to the charging portion then plug the charger into the wall

 

I'm not sure what you mean by "house the device itself"? The device plugs into a household 110v electrical socket on the wall and stays there (so does the one you bought). The other cord leaving the device has a two-prong connector that plugs on and off the pigtail - and the pigtail remains attached to your battery under the hood, even when you are driving it without the charger cord attached.