ironchariot

I pasted the "Official" words from Deltran Corp (Battery Tender) I received last night...

"Charles,
You can hook positive to positive and negative to negative. We had to include the part about the chassis for UL purposes. Have a great day!
XXXXXX XXXXX
Customer Service
Deltran Corp.
801 US HWY 92 East
DeLand, FL 32724
(386) 736-7900"

I did the ring terminal hookups clamped under the 10mm nuts on the positive/negative terminals of the battery, routing the wire under the battery holddown clamp (making sure not to pinch the quick connect wiring). I electrical taped the fuse next to the positive ring terminal, and ran the line as ETYU did right along the drain channel under the hood (1st pic of #6 post on this thread - my vehicle is stored indoors as well)...on my 2000 SLK 230 the quick connect fits perfectly and can be extended out from the drain channel to where the quick connect plug has just enough room to pull the cap off and connect to the Battery Tender connection. I purchased the 25' lead extension because my Tender/electrical outlet is on the other side of the vehicle, I have an overhead rafter that I hang the extension from so that it falls directly over where the quick connect exits from the hood/windshield area (when I disconnect I simply loop the extension end through a wire tie attached further up the extension).
I used the heavy-duty velcro to keep the quick connect on the channel and also under the hood where the wire bends along side the drain channel so its taut enough to prevent the hood from contacting and cutting into it.
Again, thanx to y'all for the details and pics...that was sooo much easier to accomplish because of you!
Charlie

etyu

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As posted by UK-C200 (in the Busy Weekend thread: http://www.slkworld.com/general-modi...y-weekend.html), below is an alternate way to do the trickle charger pre-wiring. The quick connect is now in the engine compartment, tucked near the upper strut mounts. See photos below:

View of positive (red) and negative (green) connections to their respective battery posts. One can also connect the negative to the ground located within the battery compartment (green arrow) instead of the negative battery post. Photo is taken with the person viewing from the rear of battery compartment and looking towards front of vehicle.



Negative wire connected to ground wire inside battery compartment (11 mm bolt, ring bracket from trickle battery charger fits):



Close up of the trickle battery charger wires (left wire bundle in photo, the thick red wire is factory positive) as they enter/exit the battery compartment:



Detail of the trickle battery charger wire from the engine compartment (looking towards the battery compartment bulkhead):



Close-up of the quick connect with rectangular rubber armor and soft rubber cover on the wire as it is anchored on the left with a 4-inch plastic tie:




Advantage of this set-up:

Easy to locate and do the quick-connect. No need to remove black battery cover.

The wire from the trickle charger can still be routed via the drain slot at the windshield area, go around the rubber seal of the battery compartment cover and to the engine compartment. The hood can be closed and car locked as it is charging.

This is still an indoor/protected structure set-up.

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Eddy

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Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package
Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, (
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Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, Mod. R170 ant.
EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, HyperWhite license plate lamps (
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Scott), bilateral rear fog lamps enabled.

UK-C200

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Guys - just as an FYI - I tried to purchase the 25ft. extension lead from Deltran, but they were out of stock. The price is $11.95 usd - I was not able to make one for close to that cost, so unless you really need something longer (and thinking about it, even if you need something longer, buy the 25ft and extend it), the one from the Deltran is the best deal. (SAE2 connector pairs are sold at WalMart in the fishing section near the trolling motor kit - go figure - for $8.00 usd )

I've got the tender mounted to a switched outlet on the shop wall, and I plan on running my extension lead in through the hood gap in the front to the connector clipped above the strut; I'm not sure if my extension is long enough for me to go in from the windshield drain slot, although I think I'm going to give that a try...


And etyu, all I can say is that I think your engine compartment is cleaner than my kitchen!?!

etyu

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With the similar set-up shown below:



The trickle charger will now be located at the lower part in the middle of the windshield instead of on the left side of vehicle. Use an old computer mouse pad for the base (I tore the glued on fabric ad on an old mouse pad, now the mouse pad has two rubber surfaces). The wire with SAE2 connector will be long enough and still thread into and connect to the prewire in the engine compartment (via the slot that leads to a drain aft of the battery compartment). The AC cord of the trickle charger goes to and hangs down from the left side of vehicle. I use an indoor/outdoor type extension cord from here to connect to an AC outlet (GFI protected) inside the garage. Just remember to put cones or the-like so people do not trip on the extension cord. In the garage, AC outlet happens to be on a post just next to the left rear tire area.

I don't think my engine compartment is cleaner than anyone else's. It's probably just the flash from the camera.

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Eddy

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Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package
Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, (
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Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, Mod. R170 ant.
EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, HyperWhite license plate lamps (
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Scott), bilateral rear fog lamps enabled.

etyu

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Just bought this set of accessories from an ebay seller: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...%3D4%26ps%3D41

It has some attachments that may be useful. The extension is 8 feet as I didn't want the 25-foot extension.

Phatperformanceparts.com sells the 25-ft extension cord for around $9.00! (shipping is extra) Here's the link: http://www.phatperformanceparts.com/...81%2D0148%2D25

I also found a lot of the local bike (motorbike) shops sell some of the battery trickle charger accessories. Near where I live, Cycle Gear at 23052 Lake Forest Dr., Laguna Hills, CA has the 25-ft extension for $15 (sales tax extra).

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Eddy

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Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package
Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, (
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, Mod. R170 ant.
EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, HyperWhite license plate lamps (
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Scott), bilateral rear fog lamps enabled.