Where to Hardwire a Battery Tender on '24 Hybrid

[VinnyH]

I just got a '24 Lariat hybrid and I'd like to permanently install a pigtail for a 12 volt battery tender under the hood. I'm aware the hybrids tend to enter Derp Sleep, and I want to leave it hooked up wheen away for a few days. I know the hybrids have the two "junp posts" under the hood, but isn't there a simpler place to "bolt in" the positive lead? I assume the ground lead can go to any normal chassis bolt. I searched but didn't find anything definitive. Thanks in advance!

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[mp24]

the easiest is to use the red jump post under the hood and find any unpainted bolt for the negative. don't directly connect it to the battery.

 

[Franks and Beans]

I have had many cars that I hooked up to a battery tender and was wondering the same thing myself. However, I haven't done it to my Maverick. I got delivery on 1-5-2022 and to date have not had a problem and that is including several trips of multiple days not driving the vehicle (just came back from one and the Maverick started right up after sitting for 11 days). There are a few of us out here who have not gotten a deep sleep mode so can't speak for everyone. I feel that some of the problems may come from the Ford app (got a notification one time stating the vehicle was in deep sleep but wasn't actually true, truck was fine and it never effected driving) which I found to be buggy and deleted from my phone.

 

[CurtisB]

Type in search bar "Trickle Charge" There is an entire write up thread on this. You can hook up a trickle charge off the battery located under your rear seat. Connect ONLY the positive post off the battery and then the negative to a ground within the battery area. I have done this. Many have. It hasn't messed up the computer because the computer battery maintenance tracker is connect to the negative battery terminal.
I might add, that I don't have the original battery that came with the truck. I have installed a better battery, reset the battery charging system and my "sleep" issue has gone. Had one sleep message 4 weeks after the battery change and now I am going on 2 months with no message.
It is the mindset of many in here that the stock battery just can't handle the needs of the Maverick. Of course, it's up to you.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

I used the jump point & a body ground under the hood. Some have posted on here that you should connect it at the battery itself, and bypass the BMS unit there.

I've never had problems with it connected the way I have it under the hood. I do, however, reset the BMS after each use of the battery tender. Your owner's manual 'splains how to reset the BMS. It has also been discussed many times on MTC. A forum search should find it, if you don't want to read the manual.

Additionally, since I've owned my XL Hybrid, built August, 2023, I've haven't had a single battery issue yet (knock wood). In addition to using a battery tender if I don't drive for several days, I also disconnected the Telematics modem by pulling Fuse #11 in the fuse box behind the plastic kick panel on the front passenger floorboard.

This shouldn't be necessary, of course. But I don't want to mess with a dead battery, either.

 

[VinnyH]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Those of you hooking up a tender to the jump post- how exactly are you doing it? Is it threaded?

 

[acapaldi]

I'll try my hand at a write up, I keep mine under the rear seat. I've been running on this setup since December, no fires, no BMS resets, no errors found in FORScan after charging with it. It's fairly clean and the truck doesn't seem to mind it being there.

1. I bought a NOCO Genius 5 smallest one I could get that had a desulfate cycle on it. Wanted the option, but I never used it. The 2A would also probably work for this.

2. I designed and 3D printed a FITS mount for it that works with the included mounting strap. There's a FITS mount near the battery compartment you can slot the charger into. .stl file is attached.

3. I got rid of the standard clamps that came with the NOCO and got the optional eyelet terminal connector. Plugs right into the charger. I tucked the excess cable under the rear battery cover.

4. I connected the positive lead of the terminal connector to the positive post of the battery. I took the clamp nut off, put the connector under it, tightened it back down.

5. Crappy picture, but there's a double-end stud on the right wall of the battery compartment. No idea what it is, but it is a ground. I used an M6 nut to secure the negative terminal of the connector to it.

This part is kind of important. You aren't bypassing the BMS sensor by doing this, you're including it in the charging loop. So it sees the current going into the battery. I originally had my terminal connector hooked directly to the negative post, and would have to reset BMS every time I used my charger. With it connected to a ground, and not right to the battery, the truck won't throw any battery state detection fault errors after charging it. The system isn't suprised that the battery is now full, it watched it get charged.

6. I put the cover on it, wrapped the cord in a velcro strap, and I hook it to the wall when it needs it. For me it's been once a month-ish depending on how much I drive and the outside temperature.

 

[VinnyH]

Thanks for the detailed write-up Acapaldi. I'll definitely go this route if I decide to install the charger/harness under the seat. Great job!

 

[BlueSpec1]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Those of you hooking up a tender to the jump post- how exactly are you doing it? Is it threaded?

It's threaded, 5/16-18
https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...tions-under-the-hybrid-hood.25652/post-749248

 

[VinnyH]

It's threaded, 5/16-18
https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...tions-under-the-hybrid-hood.25652/post-749248

Thank you! In all the pics, the darn positive post doesn't look threaded; guess I missed that.

 

[First Sergeant]

Good advice on the previous posts. I also connected to the red post under the hood. Slightly more towards the front of the truck is a negative/ground that the factory used, has about 5 grounds attached it looks like. Run the ground there. I tried to get the ground loose for the "jump" post, but that sucker was tight and thought I may twist something off, so went with the other grounds. I ran the wires both out towards the side of the radiator and down, then out the front of the grill so as to be able to easily hook up my charger. When done charging, disconnect and tuck wire just inside the grille, can barely see it and very easy to get back out and plug in. I hook up my tender if I am not driving for a few days. No battery

issues so far.

 

[VinnyH]

Good advice on the previous posts. I also connected to the red post under the hood. Slightly more towards the front of the truck is a negative/ground that the factory used, has about 5 grounds attached it looks like. Run the ground there. I tried to get the ground loose for the "jump" post, but that sucker was tight and thought I may twist something off, so went with the other grounds. I ran the wires both out towards the side of the radiator and down, then out the front of the grill so as to be able to easily hook up my charger. When done charging, disconnect and tuck wire just inside the grille, can barely see it and very easy to get back out and plug in. I hook up my tender if I am not driving for a few days. No battery

issues so far.

This is pretty much EXACTLY what I wanted to do, thanks for posting! And it's been very neat to see everyone's "take " on doing this.

 

[Jeff D.]

I mounted my Battery Tender on the wall and have my cord exiting the front between the left headlight and the fender. The way I enter my garage to get in the vehicle, there's no way I could miss that it's plugged in and drive off.

 

[Samcat13]

Good advice on the previous posts. I also connected to the red post under the hood. Slightly more towards the front of the truck is a negative/ground that the factory used, has about 5 grounds attached it looks like. Run the ground there. I tried to get the ground loose for the "jump" post, but that sucker was tight and thought I may twist something off, so went with the other grounds. I ran the wires both out towards the side of the radiator and down, then out the front of the grill so as to be able to easily hook up my charger. When done charging, disconnect and tuck wire just inside the grille, can barely see it and very easy to get back out and plug in. I hook up my tender if I am not driving for a few days. No battery

issues so far.

Thank you for the pictures. Helps us old people out.

 

[VinnyH]

Thanks for all the helpful information and responses! Got my tender harness hooked up under the hood and tested it. You guys know your stuff!

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