Battery maintainer question

[VKSheridan]

I have same question for the C-tek charger/maintainer. Instructions state to put negative clip away from battery onto engine block or chassis, not sheet metal. I‘m not seeing a spot that will work with the battery seated in the vehicle for the 392 engine. ?‍

Most charger/tender/maintainer manufacturers say that for legal reasons. They want any chance for spark to occur away from the battery in case you’re connecting to a gassy battery. I connect my NECO-10 maintainers directly to the battery.

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[OldGuyNewJeep]

I have same question for the C-tek charger/maintainer. Instructions state to put negative clip away from battery onto engine block or chassis, not sheet metal. I‘m not seeing a spot that will work with the battery seated in the vehicle for the 392 engine. ?‍

My Odyssey instructions also say that, so I contacted them. They said they’re updating the instructions and that clamping directly to negative post is fine.

Just clamp it and don’t overthink it.

 

[DontCallMeRubi]

Just remember positive cable connected first and disconnected last, that way any spark is on the negative side and won't harm anything electrical on the positive side.

 

[OldGuyNewJeep]

Just remember positive cable connected first and disconnected last, that way any spark is on the negative side and won't harm anything electrical on the positive side.

I put this in the notes app on my wife’s and kids’ phones.

Only tangentially related to this topic, but maybe someone will find it useful.

 

[Gorpf]

Ctek technical support said if the battery has a BMS(battery management system-do 392 wranglers have this?) then the negative terminal needs to be clamped away from battery on chassis or engine block.

Side note: The Ctek website shows the clamps being connected directly to the battery. Their video shows this and the person in the video connected to the battery incorrectly (neg. first).

edit: I solved my issue by simply separating the wires between the provided clamps allowing the neg clamp to reach engine. ?

 

[ViperJon]

My jk and RV live on tenders when they are not in use. I have been using these NOCO tenders for years with zero issues.

https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GENIUS1-Fully-Automatic-Temperature-Compensation/dp/B07W46BX31/ref=sr_1_10?crid=14I7RSEG15TEB&keywords=noco&qid=1643383138&s=automotive&sprefix=noco,automotive,168&sr=1-10

I am a firm believer in having a vehicle hooked up to a tender if it is going to sit periodically for any length of time. I work at home so really only use my Wrangler on weekends and it has been on a tender since day 1. Over three years later not a single glitch or hiccup electrically....ever.

 

[ViperJon]

True, but I would warn against charging both batteries at the same time. They are disparately sized and, while the Noco won’t complain, one would be better off disconnecting the AUX negative while charging the main and charging the AUX separately.

I now use a Noco-5 on my AUX and an Odyssey OBC-20a (6 stage - hell of a nice charger) on my main. Truth be told my AUX is disconnected and bypassed so I only maintain it once a month. With limited driving these days (pandemic) I charge my main every week.

As linked above, I developed this routine after an expensive and frustrating lesson.

I've only charged up the posts on the main battery constantly for over three years with zero ill effects.

 

[OldGuyNewJeep]

I've only charged up the posts on the main battery constantly for over three years with zero ill effects.

Yeah, @VKSheridan has a very well written post that explains why my comment is wrong:

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/battery-maintainer-question.87013/post-1825419

I concede that he knows way more about this stuff than I, but I reached out to Odyssey and they very emphatically told me not to do that with my OBC-20a. It’s a six stage smart charger and shouldn’t be compared to an alternator, in my opinion.

Y’all do what feels comfortable. For me, that’s bypassing and disconnecting the AUX, disabling ESS, and putting my charger on every weekend.

 

[OldBlue]

For me, that’s bypassing and disconnecting the AUX, disabling ESS

Same for me!

 

[DontCallMeRubi]

My battery tender solution for a dual battery system on a diesel that keeps both batteries charged and ready to start (2004 Chevy, not a Jeep but the idea is the same):

 

[InjectedCJ7]

FYI, I have the NOCO-10 She can read instructions but make sure you put clamps on battery posts and then plug power on. When battery is fully charged, the green light will stop pulsing and stays green. You can still leave on and it will trickle charge as needed. Make sure she puts on AGM. It's the 2nd white light, first light is regular Lead acid battery (12V)
You cannot change setting to AGM until you have it set up and power on. Needs to be on battery.

Hi NewJLU2019,
I returned from Florida yesterday, and for whatever reason, my daughter hadn’t hooked up the NOCO-10, and the Jeep was dead. I hooked it up, as per instructions, leaving the battery cables alone, with the negative on the large post (to include the IBS), and the positive on the positive clamp. Plugged it in and set to AGM. The charger had one red light, pulsing, indicating under 25% charge. I left it on overnight, and now the green light is on and pulsing. I’m not sure if it is in the optimizing stage, or maintenance stage, as they don’t define what a slow pulsing is. I may have missed the stage where the light was solid green. Do you know how to tell which stage it’s in?

Thanks,
John

 

[johnbyron]

Hi NewJLU2019,
I returned from Florida yesterday, and for whatever reason, my daughter hadn’t hooked up the NOCO-10, and the Jeep was dead. I hooked it up, as per instructions, leaving the battery cables alone, with the negative on the large post (to include the IBS), and the positive on the positive clamp. Plugged it in and set to AGM. The charger had one red light, pulsing, indicating under 25% charge. I left it on overnight, and now the green light is on and pulsing. I’m not sure if it is in the optimizing stage, or maintenance stage, as they don’t define what a slow pulsing is. I may have missed the stage where the light was solid green. Do you know how to tell which stage it’s in?

Thanks,
John

Yeah, that's very confusing and the instructions are not clear. What I have observed is that the charger stays on the optimization stage for hours (sometimes up to 10) and then the green light becomes solid and stays there for at least a couple of hours. At that point I disconnect the charger, so I have never experienced the "slow pulsing" light. I searched online but couldn't find any video showing the difference between pulsing and slow pulsing.

 

[VKSheridan]

Funny, I’ve never paid attention to the LED’s before disconnecting. I leave mine plugged in when I think it will sit a few days or weeks and never give it a second thought. Been doing that to my Hellcat for 6 years on its original battery, did the same to the boat and doing the same to the Jeep.

 

[NewJLU2019]

Hi NewJLU2019,
I returned from Florida yesterday, and for whatever reason, my daughter hadn’t hooked up the NOCO-10, and the Jeep was dead. I hooked it up, as per instructions, leaving the battery cables alone, with the negative on the large post (to include the IBS), and the positive on the positive clamp. Plugged it in and set to AGM. The charger had one red light, pulsing, indicating under 25% charge. I left it on overnight, and now the green light is on and pulsing. I’m not sure if it is in the optimizing stage, or maintenance stage, as they don’t define what a slow pulsing is. I may have missed the stage where the light was solid green. Do you know how to tell which stage it’s in?

Thanks,
John

Sorry for delay. Son is in town from Florida. You have not missed a stage. While it's pulsing it's still charging. When it turns solid green its fully charged. That will take some time to reach fully charged. The NOCO trickle charges so it slow. Have you started your Jeep yet ?

 

[NewJLU2019]

Hi NewJLU2019,
I returned from Florida yesterday, and for whatever reason, my daughter hadn’t hooked up the NOCO-10, and the Jeep was dead. I hooked it up, as per instructions, leaving the battery cables alone, with the negative on the large post (to include the IBS), and the positive on the positive clamp. Plugged it in and set to AGM. The charger had one red light, pulsing, indicating under 25% charge. I left it on overnight, and now the green light is on and pulsing. I’m not sure if it is in the optimizing stage, or maintenance stage, as they don’t define what a slow pulsing is. I may have missed the stage where the light was solid green. Do you know how to tell which stage it’s in?

Thanks,
John

I wanted to add if you want to reach out to @WranglerMan for he is the one who explained to me all about the NOCO -10 etc.

Once light turns solid green you can leave it on for as long as you want. It will only charge when battery drops some. Most users will leave it on battery for weeks at a time. Depends on how long Jeep will be idle.

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