Trickle Charger

[Dickl]

Can I plug my trickle charger into the accessory plug that's under the side cover without doing harm?

Thanks,

DICKL

[The emperor has no clothes]

NO !!!

[saddlesore]

I ran a couple of leads from the battery that I pull out for winter with no problems.   The first battery lasted 12 years.

[gordonv]

The AUX port goes to the radio, NOT the battery. It's not a power aux, but a speaker input for the radio, IF you have an IS model.

Like mentioned, depending on your charger, you use the correct plug that goes to the battery.

There a few styles. SAE is that male/female stepped type.

My CTEK charger has a removable plug end. I can change it to a clip on, or plug into a direct connect on the battery.

[sandy]

CTEK is one of the best. I have the 3300 with battery leads on 2 bikes. Just plug in and forget.

[Jess from VA]

Get a Battery Tender (or CTek) or any small charger with a brain (that shuts off when fully changed, then cycles on and off as needed).  They all come with a pigtail you attach to the battery terminals, then ziptie the other end of the pigtail to the frame back by a rear foot peg.  The charger stays plugged in, and when you ride in, you just plug it in.

Some come with SAE plugs: (I like this old style plug because it also will power my small air pump which is always on the bike, and can pump up a flat) (older heated gear also used these plugs, but newer stuff now uses all coax plugs.  


Others may come with Coax plugs.


You can always get short SAE to Coax conversion wire/plug if you need one.


I have 5 of these (Battery Tender Jr).  Only one unit ever died on me in over 10 years and mine all run full time 24 X 7 year round when I'm not riding or driving.  I like the red (charging) and green (all charged up) leds in the unit.  Whenever I go out to ride, I look for a green, meaning my bike battery is fully charged.  I never pull my batteries in winter like I used to. The power in these is low and not what should be used to charge a new battery with new acid, but some have done it anyway.  If your bike sits outside, you can get a waterproof Battery Tender too.    The battery pigtail is lower right in the pic.


https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-021-0123-Junior-Charger/dp/B000CITK8S

https://www.amazon.com/Deltran-Battery-022-0203-DL-WH-Lithium-Waterproof/dp/B00T6JD80A/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1482992930&sr=1-2&keywords=waterproof+Battery+Tender
 

[MarkT]

I installed coax plugs for heated gear on all the bikes.  Then installed the corresponding plug on all the chargers.  Fused all the plugs at 30amps.  Will take a nasty short to blow any of them. Nice to be able to easily plug in even a fast charger.  Day-to-day chargers here are 6 amp automatics.  Have a big manual controlled charger for desulfating but it is connected directly to batteries.

[Dickl]

The plug that is coming out from under my side Interstate plate is the SAE plug. It draws about 13 volts with the key in the off position.

Is that still apt to be the aux plug? What type of fitting should be on the aux wire? I guess tonite I'll pull the seat and the side plate. I do have a battery tender jr.

DICKL

[Jess from VA]

I'm not aware that OE (pure stock) bikes have a SAE plug anywhere on them.  If you pull the seat, unsnap the big rubber band, roll the radio forward on it's wires, and pop the battery cover, you will probably see that the SAE plug you have under the side cover runs up to the battery terminals.

The Aux plug is round and has a rubber cover over the terminal.

Obviously, if your SAE plug is tied directly to the battery terminals, it is not key switched.  Always hot.

If you already have a Battery tender, and pigtail to the battery, just plug it in.

I wouldn't want my pig tail hidden under the side cover (pulling the cover off all the time can result in broken tabs if you are not careful); suggest you reroute it to the frame back by a rear foot peg and ziptie it to the frame so it is easily accessible (I'd want it on the side of the bike nearest the wall plug you will plug the Battery Tender in).

No SAE plug here.

[h13man]

Can I plug my trickle charger into the accessory plug that's under the side cover without doing harm?

Thanks,

DICKL

If the plug is wired directly to the battery etc. yes. If not you can purchase a 10 ga. two pin pigtail to hook directly to the battery thus allowing you use a tender, aux. sockets, GPS, etc.

[Gryphon Rider]

The plug that is coming out from under my side Interstate plate is the SAE plug. It draws about 13 volts with the key in the off position.

Is that still apt to be the aux plug? What type of fitting should be on the aux wire? I guess tonite I'll pull the seat and the side plate. I do have a battery tender jr.

DICKL

If it's an SAE plug, then a previous owner installed it.  If it has power regardless of the key position, then it should be fine for connecting a charger to.  Check to make sure the positive wire is fused.

[sandy]

Most of us know this but to make things clear: A trickle charger never stops charging. It has to be turned off so the battery doesn't cook and dry up. A "smart charger" senses charge and shuts down until the battery needs to be topped up. The smart unit never has to be unplugged unless you want  to go for a ride. Some SC's go through an analyzing procedure and attempt to correct a sulfate condition. That's why I use a CTEK 3300. It has a car, motorcycle and gel cell modes. Check Amazon for a decent price.