[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by Midlife ZL1

Hey guys, new here and in South Dakota. In the process of picking up a maintainer for my car. I'm browsing the Battery Tender website and they have a plug that goes into the OBDII connection inside the car. I guess in newer cars (not sure how new) can charge the battery through that connection. Has anyone seen this? Does that seem like a safe option? I have never had to store a car before, just motorcycles.

https://www.batterytender.com/produc...ccessory-cable

My trickle charger pushes 4-5 amps while charging a somewhat depleted battery and still takes several hours, sometimes a day to top it up. I wouldn't want this much amperage to go through the OBD-II connector and wires, and if it's limited by the unit, recharging will take forever.

That said, if you store the car long term, maybe it doesn't matter, but IMO it's much easier to keep the hood open to the first detent than to have wiring come through the door.

Another interesting option is to install a NOCO power inlet with an "onboard" trickle charger the way a fellow member did, see his post here: https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showp...1&postcount=19

[ctrlz]

Agree with arpad, would go under the hood.
You really don't have to go nuts with a trickle charger. If you keep it hooked up a few amps is fine.
I have the 1.75 amp units from nexpeak, but they make a 10 amp.
https://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Mai...zcF9hdGY&psc=1

[bishopts]

Originally Posted by Midlife ZL1

Hey guys, new here and in South Dakota. In the process of picking up a maintainer for my car. I'm browsing the Battery Tender website and they have a plug that goes into the OBDII connection inside the car. I guess in newer cars (not sure how new) can charge the battery through that connection. Has anyone seen this? Does that seem like a safe option? I have never had to store a car before, just motorcycles.

https://www.batterytender.com/produc...ccessory-cable

You will be charging through a 10amp fuse in the trunk if you charge through the DLC. It will work but it might be better to get a regular charger with trickle functions. Just to make it more useful.

I think a key thing that most people can't grasp is that maintaining a battery for winter isn't rocket surgery. It's not even complicated.
Attach a low amp charger to the jump post under the hood and walk away from it.

[2018 Blue 1LE]

Originally Posted by Midlife ZL1

Hey guys, new here and in South Dakota. In the process of picking up a maintainer for my car. I'm browsing the Battery Tender website and they have a plug that goes into the OBDII connection inside the car. I guess in newer cars (not sure how new) can charge the battery through that connection. Has anyone seen this? Does that seem like a safe option? I have never had to store a car before, just motorcycles.

https://www.batterytender.com/produc...ccessory-cable

That seems like it is more geared towards a complete in car set up with a solar panel.


If you were to connect this to a wall powered or outside vehicle charger, then how would you run the cable?

[ctrlz]

Originally Posted by bishopts

It's not even complicated.
Attach a low amp charger to the jump post under the hood and walk away from it.

Agree, just make sure charger has a trickle function and it is activated, meaning it doesn't shut off once it detects full charge. The default mode for smart chargers is often to turn off.