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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Installed a trickle charger jack port in wheel well
Posted by: oakdalecurtis Dec 14 2016, 05:40 PM
I've used a Noco trickle charger on my Optima Red Top battery in my 914 for many years whenever I'm parked in my garage. Sometimes with bad weather I don't drive the car a lot in the winter. I always open the engine lid and hook up the charger when I pull in the garage. I got tired of opening the engine lid every time and hooking up the charger jaws to the battery posts, and removing then charger and closing the engine lid every time I wanted to go for a drive. Open, close, open, close.....I finally made a 1/4 inch jack port holder under the rear wheel well and connected it with a wire lead to the battery positive. The negative is the jack grounded to the body by the steel jack holder bar. Now the charger hangs over the car, and when I go out , I just switch off the Noco charger, unplug the charging jack and hang the cord over the charger. When I return, in goes the jack and on goes the charger. I'm big on simple!
Posted by: KELTY360 Dec 14 2016, 05:50 PM
Good idea to have the cord running past the driver's door so you can't forget to uplug on your way out.
Posted by: oakdalecurtis Dec 14 2016, 06:00 PM
Like those pictures of the gas nozzle still in the side of the car after leaving the station?
Posted by: ConeDodger Dec 14 2016, 06:26 PM
Good idea to have the cord running past the driver's door so you can't forget to uplug on your way out.
I have a shoreline on my company car that has a solenoid that kicks the cord out if I start the car without pulling it. I'd imagine McMaster Carr or Mouser would have something like that. Ask McMark. He's always innovating like that.
Posted by: jim_hoyland Dec 14 2016, 08:05 PM
Way to go! I've thought there must be a better way to connect a BC without opening the engine lid. 
Posted by: Steve Dec 15 2016, 08:02 AM
I just plug mine into the cigarette lighter. I rewired the lighter, so it's a fused connection directly to the battery. I also used the same connection with a toggle switch to create an accessory switch for the stereo.
Posted by: boxsterfan Dec 15 2016, 09:11 AM
Driver's door gap looks off. Check your longs!! 
Your trickle charger setup looks trick!! 
Posted by: oakdalecurtis Dec 15 2016, 10:42 AM
Driver's door gap looks off. Check your longs!!
Your trickle charger setup looks trick!!
Thanks for the notice, but I just didn't have the door closed tightly. Here's a pic of my California kept dry car longs.
Posted by: N_Jay Dec 15 2016, 10:56 AM
I would not use a 1/4" phone plug in that application.
They don't like water.
They don't like dirt.
They corrode and short when exposed to water and dirt.
The tip is "Hot"
Better to put the connection under the dash and use a connector designed for power not audio.
Don't forget the fuse.
Posted by: boxsterfan Dec 15 2016, 02:15 PM
Driver's door gap looks off. Check your longs!!
Your trickle charger setup looks trick!!
Thanks for the notice, but I just didn't have the door closed tightly. Here's a pic of my California kept dry car longs.
Yes, looking good!! Real good!!! Hopefully I will get to spend some time working on my teener over the Christmas break.
Attached image(s)
Posted by: oakdalecurtis Dec 15 2016, 02:15 PM
I would not use a 1/4" phone plug in that application.
They don't like water.
They don't like dirt.
They corrode and short when exposed to water and dirt.
The tip is "Hot"
Better to put the connection under the dash and use a connector designed for power not audio.
Don't forget the fuse.
The charger has a fuse on the line, do I need a fuse on the wire to the battery too? Understand dirt and water comment, why did you mention the tip being "hot", is that an issue? Thanks for your input.
Posted by: N_Jay Dec 15 2016, 03:07 PM
I would not use a 1/4" phone plug in that application.
They don't like water.
They don't like dirt.
They corrode and short when exposed to water and dirt.
The tip is "Hot"
Better to put the connection under the dash and use a connector designed for power not audio.
Don't forget the fuse.
The charger has a fuse on the line, do I need a fuse on the wire to the battery too? Understand dirt and water comment, why did you mention the tip being "hot", is that an issue? Thanks for your input.
Yes, you need a fuse on the battery side since it can source power to a potential short circuit (in the connector or the wiring)
The exposed tip makes for easy short circuits if the plug touches any metal.
If you want a connector exposed to the weather look at the type used in marine or towing applications.
You are still better off with the connector inside the car.
Posted by: oakdalecurtis Dec 15 2016, 06:32 PM
I would not use a 1/4" phone plug in that application.
They don't like water.
They don't like dirt.
They corrode and short when exposed to water and dirt.
The tip is "Hot"
Better to put the connection under the dash and use a connector designed for power not audio.
Don't forget the fuse.
The charger has a fuse on the line, do I need a fuse on the wire to the battery too? Understand dirt and water comment, why did you mention the tip being "hot", is that an issue? Thanks for your input.
Yes, you need a fuse on the battery side since it can source power to a potential short circuit (in the connector or the wiring)
The exposed tip makes for easy short circuits if the plug touches any metal.
If you want a connector exposed to the weather look at the type used in marine or towing applications.
You are still better off with the connector inside the car.
I never drive in wet conditions. Where on the positive lead should I put the fuse. presume close to the battery. What kind and how big of a fuse would you recommend? I always switch off the charger before removing the jack and only switch it on after jack insertion so I don't have a grounding problem w the tip, but I thank you for your input.
Posted by: Rand Dec 15 2016, 06:37 PM
Using the cigarette lighter port makes way more sense than sticking a hot connection in a wheel well - likely the most vulnerable to the elements of any location you could possibly choose. (Even if you don't plan on driving in the rain, it's still the dirtiest place.)
Many battery tenders include the cigarette lighter connector out of the box for an easy plug and play solution.
Posted by: PThompson509 Dec 19 2016, 01:15 PM
I've added a 110v plug to the side of my car - it has the auto-eject feature that was mentioned earlier in this thread. I've never gotten around to using it, though.
http://www.ev-propulsion.com/charging-accesories.html
The reason I never did is that the plug is right near the driver-side door, so I can't get into the car without unplugging it.
Posted by: PThompson509 Dec 19 2016, 01:17 PM
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