Battery tender cable uses

Danmack_98 · May 17, 2009, 07:19:48 PM

I just found the battery tender cable on my 696. Is that all it's good for or can it be used for other things also?

Bones · May 17, 2009, 07:43:51 PM

uhmmmm...besides charging your battery?

suppose you could also use it as a power lead.

Danmack_98 · May 17, 2009, 08:18:12 PM

so it could be used for heated clothing or other powered accessories i'm assuming. Do heated clothes-gloves come with a compatible cable?

Howie · May 18, 2009, 07:16:13 AM

Do not use it for anything above the rating of the fuse that came in it. If you get heated clothing it should come with a suitable power lead. You can install that one and use it for your battery tender.

Mash · May 18, 2009, 09:54:23 AM

Quote from: howie on May 18, 2009, 07:16:13 AM
Do not use it for anything above the rating of the fuse that came in it.

That's really the key here. Don't use the battery tender cable for anything that will draw more power than the cable is rated for. There's a fuse in that tender pigtail, and that should give you an idea of power rating. Don't be tempted to put a bigger fuse in there, you could melt the wires.

I think you could use the pigtail as a power lead for small electronic devices, like phone chargers or GPS. Heated clothing may be a bit much.

I know for a fact that you can't jump start your bike by attaching another battery to the tender cable. Ask me how I know.

ungeheuer · May 18, 2009, 03:59:54 PM

I have indeed installed a slightly higher rated fuse and other than using my battery tender cable for it's original purpose I also use it to connect to and run a miniuture (and I mean tiny) compressor that in the event of a puncture I can use to reinflate my tyre. I also fitted an additional low-as-it-can-go fuse in the compressor side so that if I do draw too much current the fuse is easy to get to. But no, I wouldn't use it to power a long high-load draw such as electric vest, mine's strictly for "get you home" emergencies.

NAKID · May 18, 2009, 06:49:38 PM

I got a "cigarette lighter" that hooks up to the tender cable that I used to charge my cell phone while on a road trip...

mstevens · July 17, 2009, 10:23:39 PM

Quote from: Danmack_98 on May 17, 2009, 07:19:48 PM
I just found the battery tender cable on my 696. Is that all it's good for or can it be used for other things also?

Where exactly is this cable? I've pored over the manual trying without success to find it (the bike doesn't get picked up for a few days, so I can't go out and hunt on the bike itself.)

Is this a standard feature, or something added by dealers who want to drive psychiatrists out of business by minimizing the need to access the battery?

ManOrAstro-Man? · July 17, 2009, 10:42:21 PM

Yes, where exactly is the cable? Can you take a picture of where it is please? I keep reading about it being on the right side somewhere, but can't find it on my bike.

NAKID · July 18, 2009, 05:11:47 AM

The cable isn't standard, so it won't be in the manual. It will connect directly to the battery and look like this

ProTeal55 · July 18, 2009, 09:54:56 AM

Quote from: KG5 on July 17, 2009, 10:42:21 PM
Yes, where exactly is the cable? Can you take a picture of where it is please? I keep reading about it being on the right side somewhere, but can't find it on my bike.

You can pick up one from your local bike shop for around $5 (if their isnt one on your bike allready)...
Most dealers put them on as part of their prep (to aid in B.Tender sales)...

ManOrAstro-Man? · July 19, 2009, 10:00:44 PM

Thanks Nakid. I know what the cable looks like. I had the same cable installed on my old 620. I've just been reading that it's installed on the right side somewhere on the 696. I've looked and looked and couldn't find it. I guess it wasn't installed on mine by the dealer. I have the cable. I haven't had a chance to ride it in the last few weeks and I have close to a full tank of gas in there. I'll have to take her out for a long spin this week to burn some of the fuel off. Then I can lift the tank and install my tender cable. Will also install the yellow colour therapy panels that I just picked up today as well at that time.

Howie · July 20, 2009, 03:07:59 AM

If it is a Battery Tender cable the gauge wire is too thin for high power consumers like heated clothing. It will, of course, work with your Tender small power consumers like cell phones and GPS systems.

mstevens · July 20, 2009, 05:49:45 AM

Quote from: KG5 on July 19, 2009, 10:00:44 PMWill also install the yellow colour therapy panels that I just picked up today as well at that time.

Now you've got my attention!

I want to get a set of yellow plastics for my new-to-me 696 (that I haven't even picked up yet). I agree that the panel swap would be the perfect time to dissect down to the battery to mount the pigtail.

As far as I can tell, Powerlet hasn't yet released a specific kit for the 696. The kit for earlier Monsters is great. It looks as if the factory put it there, if you can even notice it. It provides a stable plug point with no connectors or cables flapping in the breeze. Even better, the wire is appropriate for heated clothing, etc. I'd feel much safer in a pinch using a Powerlet outlet to jump-start the bike than a Battery Tender pigtail. Once they do have a kit out I plan to grab a couple.

Jarvicious · July 20, 2009, 09:43:50 AM

Quote from: howie on July 20, 2009, 03:07:59 AM
If it is a Battery Tender cable the gauge wire is too thin for high power consumers like heated clothing. It will, of course, work with your Tender small power consumers like cell phones and GPS systems.

I dunno. I have a tender for both my bikes and aside from the fuse Amp rating, the wiring seems to be pretty similar. My tech even said he's run his heated gloves off of the battery harness, you just have to add a higher amp fuse. I don't really care to go look under my hood, but does anyone know off hand what the stock amp rating is for a tender and one pair of heated gloves? I want to say 3A for the tender and maybe, MAYBE 5 for the gloves. Kicking the 3 amp up to 5 on the tender harness really shouldn't be that big a deal, provided your tender isn't a raging piece of shit.

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Battery tender cable uses