I leave mine hooked up that way all winter too.

...but I maybe wouldn't do that (hood closed and car cover) if for some reason I had a mostly dead battery. I'd let that get charged first, then close things up.

Even though a BT does a really slow charge, there is still going to be a lot of hydrogen gas to fully charge a mostly dead batt.

Speaking of trying to charge a mostly dead batt with a BT, if the batt is so dead its voltage is below a certain threshold, the BT won't sense it, and won't start charging it. A trick I learned was to momentarily jump another batt across the terminals with BT connected to dead batt. Even a simple 9v batt and a piece of wire is enough to get BT going. Then BT will continue to charge (but of course a batt that dead is already been damaged by discharging that deep).

 

I purchased a CTEK 3300 at another S2KI member's suggestion (can't find the post atm) and it's been great.

 

Mine are undercover with a closed hood as well, the Tender JR only draws like 750ma, so very low current. And as a bonus, the power cord will actually fit into the panel gap between the door and fender from the pillar to the rocker so it will not scratch the paint!

 

CTEK 7002 and 3300 for my PC680s and OEM batteries for the last 5 years with no issues. Batteries are left in place/connected with quick disconnect or terminal clamps.

 

Thanks, good to know! I was originally thinking about fishing it from under the car.

 

I have always had CTEK and they have been great!!!

That said I just ordered a Battery Tender because my S2000 came prewired for it. I’ll use the CTEK on my Shelby and Battery Tender on the S2000.

Both get great reviews.

 

I just ordered a CTEK!

 

I have a CTEK and a Honda Optimate 3.

 

After 17 winters of storage I can vouch for the Optimate. I started out with the Optimate 3 with my first AP1 and now use the Optimate 6 on my AP2. I also use two Optimate 4s; one on my Quicklift battery and one on my back-up sump pump battery.