Since the cigarette lighter doesn't work when the car is off, I can't use my battery tender on the S2000 the way I did with my last car in which it was always live.

I assume most here who use one just use a cigarette lighter to alligator clip adapter of some type?

I don't know what the drain is on the S2000 battery, but my last car usually got started two, maybe three times per year and driven in most cases for perhaps 350 - 400 miles per year so it definitely makes sense to use one.

Thanks in advance!

 

Many of those battery tenders/maintainers come with alligator clips or a tap with an SAE flat connector. I just put the SAE connector leads directly to the battery post and ran the flat connector to near front left of the engine bay attached with a cable tie. I just pop the hood and hook it up whenever I park as iut is driven infrequently and is now in hibernation. If your lead is long enough you can probably get it to reach to the grill… no need to pop the hood.

 

Mine only has a cigarette lighter output.

It was pricy, so I am loathe to replace it.

 

If you wanted to do an easy electrical mod, you can run power from the truck release button (constant power) to the 12v socket. The wires are inches away from each other. I did it to mine a long time ago, so I can leave things charging on group drives

 

My battery tender is over 35 years old. Works perfectly. Only came with alligator clips, though does have flat trailer hitch connector.

It also came with hardwire battery terminals harness with trailer hitch connector, so you easily plug in without even opening hood.

I'd buy a trailer hitch connector, cut the cig lighter connector off your harness, splice trailer hitch connector. Then buy or fab traiker hitch to gator clips harness.

 

Just buy this: https://www.batterytender.com/ring-terminal-harness

 

I wired attachment cables to my battery. When I hook it up, I plug the minder in and lower it through the open engine bay to the floor and then plug it in. That way you can shut the hood without issue. I leave a reminder, a paint stir stick with “Charging” written on it, on the top of the steering wheel to remind me not to drive away with the thing plugged in.

 

Why is closing hood important?

I winter store with car cover, but hood popped for tender cable. Is hood closed better for some reason?

 

Dunno.

I keep the hood slightly open to allow the battery tender wires to pass and not get pinched. Using NOCO Genius 10 charger with clips.

The leads are clipped sideways onto the battery to maintain a low profile.

 

I leave my hood popped open as well anytime the car is plugged in to the tender. More noticeable as a reminder that it's plugged in.