Ground power

[gluaisrothaii]

I wanted to have an easy means to connect a battery tender and/or run the ship on ground power for troubleshooting or maintenance purposes. As a side bonus I wanted a connection I could make without opening doors and that would self disconnect if I forgot it and drove off- admittedly a corner case requirement.

I found Rosenberger MagCode (https://www.rosenberger.com/en/products/automotive/magcode.php)connectors- hard to find in the US for some reason, so sourced from the UK via eBay. I picked the 15A 12V style. Fabricated a .063" aluminum bracket that bolts to an existing hole in the stainless rear fender support by the right exhaust pipe, along with some 3M VHB tape. Connected to power and ground via fused 14g Tefzel wire. These connectors are not live unless the matching magnetic connector is attached. Pretty neat.

Here's a quick photo summary of the installation. I'm using a 20amp 2-channel marine smart battery charger/maintainer, and for grins I put a watt-meter inline so I can see how many watts each accessory draws and how many Ah it takes to charge the battery for example. Powerpole connectors are quite neat for this purpose. I used the 30 amp style.

+12v connection to the main power connection in the engine bay; ground from the coil bracket.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Cars/1981-DMC-12/i-dxCxn3P/0/b70c12d9/XL/IMG_5383-XL.jpg (https://klevins.smugmug.com/Cars/1981-DMC-12/i-dxCxn3P/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/Cars/1981-DMC-12/i-PQkrx97/0/1e4283da/XL/IMG_5388-XL.jpg (https://klevins.smugmug.com/Cars/1981-DMC-12/i-PQkrx97/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/Cars/1981-DMC-12/i-z33wRPS/0/4f6880e0/XL/IMG_5387-XL.jpg (https://klevins.smugmug.com/Cars/1981-DMC-12/i-z33wRPS/A)

https://photos.smugmug.com/Cars/1981-DMC-12/i-SXm7r6X/0/c2b842d4/XL/IMG_5391-XL.jpg (https://klevins.smugmug.com/Cars/1981-DMC-12/i-SXm7r6X/A)

[David T]

There is also a self ejecting connector that the emergency services (ambulances & fire trucks) use. When you start the motor it pops the plug off. In California where you don't get so dirty that is an OK place to put the connector but in other areas where it is going to get all dirty that isn't such a good place to put it.

[gluaisrothaii]

There is also a self ejecting connector that the emergency services (ambulances & fire trucks) use. When you start the motor it pops the plug off. In California where you don't get so dirty that is an OK place to put the connector but in other areas where it is going to get all dirty that isn't such a good place to put it.

I did look at the self ejecting connectors- they are cool and very spendy. There's a weather cover for the car side receiver- on order- but agreed this is a California solution. Would be tricky in a road salt state.

[jangell]

I had exactly the same problem, and a few months ago I discovered MagCode ports. I bought one with the spring-loaded cover (from eBay, like you, shipped from Germany, I believe -- I didn't have any easier time finding them than you did). I'm waiting for my garage to be finished before I install it. It's interesting to see another installation!

I'm looking at putting it under the front left fender somewhere, the logic being that I back out of my garage and won't worry about driving over it when it releases on its own, and I have to walk around that side anyway to get into the house, so I'll be able to quickly pop on the charger on the way in. I'd like to find someplace higher and more easily accessible, but I also don't want it to be visible. I thought about mounting it through the bottom of the driver side mirror housing, but then I have to drill through the housing or making a new one, and opening the door will cause the cable to detach (which might be a feature?), and having to run wires through the door to the battery (if I can't find any I can reuse) seemed like a pain.

-- Joe

[gluaisrothaii]

I had exactly the same problem, and a few months ago I discovered MagCode ports. I bought one with the spring-loaded cover (from eBay, like you, shipped from Germany, I believe -- I didn't have any easier time finding them than you did). I'm waiting for my garage to be finished before I install it. It's interesting to see another installation!

I'm looking at putting it under the front left fender somewhere, the logic being that I back out of my garage and won't worry about driving over it when it releases on its own, and I have to walk around that side anyway to get into the house, so I'll be able to quickly pop on the charger on the way in. I'd like to find someplace higher and more easily accessible, but I also don't want it to be visible. I thought about mounting it through the bottom of the driver side mirror housing, but then I have to drill through the housing or making a new one, and opening the door will cause the cable to detach (which might be a feature?), and having to run wires through the door to the battery (if I can't find any I can reuse) seemed like a pain.

-- Joe

Great minds etc.- good to see I'm not the only one thinking along these lines. The neat thing about these connectors is that they are self aligning, so even if you can't easily see the socket it's easy to install the plug (and impossible to misalign). I always back into my garage so my install position allows release on departure without risk of driving over the plug, and I didn't have to drill/cut/modify anything on the car. I'm planning to install sockets on my KTM and FJ as well.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Cars/1981-DMC-12/i-LbgGrDv/1/dfc95844/XL/IMG_5382_heic-XL.jpg (https://klevins.smugmug.com/Cars/1981-DMC-12/i-LbgGrDv/A)

[jangell]

Just curious, but do you have issues with all the exhaust in the garage? It looks cooler to have my cars facing forwards out of the garage (I mean, that's what really matters :) ), but I don't want to fill the garage with exhaust. If I backed in I'd put the port on the rear too, and it's a lot easier to find battery hookups back there.

-- Joe

[gluaisrothaii]

Just curious, but do you have issues with all the exhaust in the garage? It looks cooler to have my cars facing forwards out of the garage (I mean, that's what really matters :) ), but I don't want to fill the garage with exhaust. If I backed in I'd put the port on the rear too, and it's a lot easier to find battery hookups back there.

-- Joe

I guess it would be an issue if the exhaust wasn't clean or I didn't have cats, but I really haven't noticed that much of a problem. Generally it takes only about 10 seconds to back in, less to get the car out so there's not much buildup of exhaust. I definitely wouldn't let the car idle in there for any time at all.

Funny enough I think the DeLorean looks great reversing out of the garage, especially if you have a fogger for the full BTTF effect!

[JETS 81 DMC]

Just a F.Y.I. side note:

You do not want to use this connection type with a "Battery Tender" brand because the instructions state to unplug from the AC outlet before disconnecting and when connecting connect to vehicle first then plug in to AC outlet.

You might want to check your charger instructions.

Just thought I would share this info.

Neat idea. I have not seen those before and keeping a mental not on them. :cheers:

[jangell]

Huh. I put a Battery Tender connector in my engine compartment and have just been plugging and unplugging the cable without worrying about unplugging the tender itself. It seems odd that it would actually damage the tender or the car. I checked the instructions just now and I don't see anything about unplugging it before use. Maybe I overlooked something?

-- Joe

[JETS 81 DMC]

Huh. I put a Battery Tender connector in my engine compartment and have just been plugging and unplugging the cable without worrying about unplugging the tender itself. It seems odd that it would actually damage the tender or the car. I checked the instructions just now and I don't see anything about unplugging it before use. Maybe I overlooked something?

-- Joe


Hmmm, I recently bought another new Battery Tender Plus. I got out the instructions and you are correct, no mention of connecting and disconnecting to AC.

I know they have changed their design and no longer us a transformer and the new technology used is different, so maybe that's why.:headscratch:


I have several of these and one is pretty old and those instructions had stated that but not on my newer one. It is one of their first ones they made many years ago.

I guess I am a guy and don't always read instructions or maps :blush::banghead:

Good catch

[r00b]

Just a F.Y.I. side note:

You do not want to use this connection type with a "Battery Tender" brand because the instructions state to unplug from the AC outlet before disconnecting and when connecting connect to vehicle first then plug in to AC outlet.

You might want to check your charger instructions.

Just thought I would share this info.

Neat idea. I have not seen those before and keeping a mental not on them. :cheers:

Maybe they want to minimize the chance of the battery exploding, or at least not be responsible for it. Battery exploded and blinded someone, they must not have followed the instructions.

[JETS 81 DMC]

INCORRECT = NO LONGER APPLIES TO THE NEWER BATTERY TENDERS - SORRY

I cannot edit or delete this post so this info in not correct anymore with the newer Battery Tenders

Thanks jangell for the correction. :thumbup:

I just got off the phone with them and they confirmed not a problem now.



Just a F.Y.I. side note:

You do not want to use this connection type with a "Battery Tender" brand because the instructions state to unplug from the AC outlet before disconnecting and when connecting connect to vehicle first then plug in to AC outlet.

You might want to check your charger instructions.

Just thought I would share this info.

Neat idea. I have not seen those before and keeping a mental not on them. :cheers:

[David T]

Typically you always disconnect the the source or the higher voltage first. While it may not cause any harm disconnecting the battery first, the power to the charger should be disconnected first. As for the Battery Tender, I use it once a month for one day and then disconnect it if I am not driving the car. I don't like the idea of leaving it hoked up all the time even though it is alright to do it in the instructions. I disconnect it because if the charger should fail it could damage the battery. Having seen enough houses where lighting has hit, I doubt the charger could take a strike or even a surge from the power company. I don't like leaving things plugged in all the time if it isn't necessary.

[JETS 81 DMC]

Typically you always disconnect the the source or the higher voltage first. While it may not cause any harm disconnecting the battery first, the power to the charger should be disconnected first. As for the Battery Tender, I use it once a month for one day and then disconnect it if I am not driving the car. I don't like the idea of leaving it hoked up all the time even though it is alright to do it in the instructions. I disconnect it because if the charger should fail it could damage the battery. Having seen enough houses where lighting has hit, I doubt the charger could take a strike or even a surge from the power company. I don't like leaving things plugged in all the time if it isn't necessary.

I use surge protectors on all of mine. Been using Battery Tenders since they first came out and have not had a problem. I am still using the first one I bought many years ago.

I did have one quit working and they warranted it. (10 year warranty on the Battery Tender Plus model.