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[harleydawg57]

Got in a hurry to ride the other day--unplugged my battery tender and forgot to secure cap on pigtail--after riding for few miles I stopped for quick lunch.  Got back on and battery was dead as a hammer.  Looked around and noticed pig tail from battery cap was off and resting on my starter housing.  Hope battery is ok--less than year old.

[Twolanerider]

Got in a hurry to ride the other day--unplugged my battery tender and forgot to secure cap on pigtail--after riding for few miles I stopped for quick lunch.  Got back on and battery was dead as a hammer.  Looked around and noticed pig tail from battery cap was off and resting on my starter housing.  Hope battery is ok--less than year old.

Had one of those melt before.  Long enough ago I don't remember why though.  One alternative to avoid the problem in the future would e a hard mounted connector.  Company called Powerlet makes a bunch of different kinds of brackets with power connectors.  They use that nearly universal BMW type power connector.  Then just get a little adaptor for the SAE plug on the batter tender to BMW (they have those too, and about everything else you can think of) and it's a simple, easier to use, can't-fall-and-melt type of connection. 

The same connection gets used on mine for battery tender, heated clothes and even the occasional other plug in accessory.  On the touring bikes an easy place to mount is to take out the clip that holds the cruise control cable up just behind the rear cylinder and drop a small screw or bolt through that hole.  Use it to attach the bracket then restrap the cruise cable to the newly mounted bracket.  Makes it in there something like this:

[d o g o l s]

Got in a hurry to ride the other day--unplugged my battery tender and forgot to secure cap on pigtail--after riding for few miles I stopped for quick lunch.  Got back on and battery was dead as a hammer.  Looked around and noticed pig tail from battery cap was off and resting on my starter housing.  Hope battery is ok--less than year old.

    

[harleydawg57]

Twolane--Thanks for the info--Nice clean install look.

[Trapperdog]

Had one of those melt before.  Long enough ago I don't remember why though.  One alternative to avoid the problem in the future would e a hard mounted connector.  Company called Powerlet makes a bunch of different kinds of brackets with power connectors.  They use that nearly universal BMW type power connector.  Then just get a little adaptor for the SAE plug on the batter tender to BMW (they have those too, and about everything else you can think of) and it's a simple, easier to use, can't-fall-and-melt type of connection. 

The same connection gets used on mine for battery tender, heated clothes and even the occasional other plug in accessory.  On the touring bikes an easy place to mount is to take out the clip that holds the cruise control cable up just behind the rear cylinder and drop a small screw or bolt through that hole.  Use it to attach the bracket then restrap the cruise cable to the newly mounted bracket.  Makes it in there something like this:

Twolane, I like that! The woman has heated gear (gloves and vest) for her FLHX and the plug gets left pulled out often and ends up melting on the left pipe. Even if your mount needs some modification, it would be worth it. Luckily, I wired it into the accessory harness so it doesn't short out. Thanks for sharing.

[Twolanerider]

Twolane, I like that! The woman has heated gear (gloves and vest) for her FLHX and the plug gets left pulled out often and ends up melting on the left pipe. Even if your mount needs some modification, it would be worth it. Luckily, I wired it into the accessory harness so it doesn't short out. Thanks for sharing.

It has worked well for me.  If you forget to unplug and walk away it just pops out.  No harm and no foul.  The part number for the bracket, socket and its pigtail is PKT-034 from Powerlet.

[porthole]

One alternative to avoid the problem in the future would e a hard mounted connector. 

Damm you, you just never stop giving us ideas

[Twolanerider]

Damm you, you just never stop giving us ideas

Sorry Duane.  I do like the simple effective solutions to things though.  Even though it sometimes doesn't seem that way with the red bike.  The fixed connector just works though.  And makes other things you use it for easier.

[porthole]

Yes it does, and after riding with the heated gear yesterday I kept checking to make sure the pitails didn't pop and drop onto the pipe. This is such a simple solution. Not having to worry about the pulling the wire from under the seat and all. AND you get to drop a few power cords.This will be on the short list.

Actually, I had already planned on flush mounting a powerlet in the tourpak for my wife's heated gear (I have a 12 gauge B+ going to the tourpak). Just never thought about doing this. You get  on this one.

[Screamin]

Simple, effective and inexpensive. Outstanding 2Lane. I'm sure it's not totally dummy proof so I'll share when I find a way.

[Black_Dog]

I just plug my tender into the cigarette lighter.

Black Dog

[sportygordy]

I just plug my tender into the cigarette lighter.

Black Dog

don't think that would do much good unless turn ignition on... Then i would think other accessories would self defeat the slow charge..

[skreminegul07]

Yes it does, and after riding with the heated gear yesterday I kept checking to make sure the pitails didn't pop and drop onto the pipe. This is such a simple solution. Not having to worry about the pulling the wire from under the seat and all. AND you get to drop a few power cords.This will be on the short list.

Actually, I had already planned on flush mounting a powerlet in the tourpak for my wife's heated gear (I have a 12 gauge B+ going to the tourpak). Just never thought about doing this. You get  on this one.

Shotgun? 
 

[Twolanerider]

I just plug my tender into the cigarette lighter.

Black Dog

Placebo charger effect .

The lighter socket isn't connected to the battery unless you also leave the switch on.

[Twolanerider]

Yes it does, and after riding with the heated gear yesterday I kept checking to make sure the pitails didn't pop and drop onto the pipe. This is such a simple solution. Not having to worry about the pulling the wire from under the seat and all. AND you get to drop a few power cords.This will be on the short list.

Actually, I had already planned on flush mounting a powerlet in the tourpak for my wife's heated gear (I have a 12 gauge B+ going to the tourpak). Just never thought about doing this. You get  on this one.

That was a good side benefit.  Has been long enough back I don't remember for sure know.  But pretty sure I dropped the pigtail for the battery tender, another pigtail for something else and the still different one yet to be installed for the heated clothes.  So overall lost two connections at the battery didn't need anymore because I could use this for everything with just one cable adaptor.  Had Gerbing provide the jacket liner with this common BMW connection already on the clothes so didn't even need an adaptor there.