Installed a trickle charger jack port in wheel well, Don't have to open engine lid all the time Options

[oakdalecurtis]

I've used a Noco trickle charger on my Optima Red Top battery in my 914 for many years whenever I'm parked in my garage. Sometimes with bad weather I don't drive the car a lot in the winter. I always open the engine lid and hook up the charger when I pull in the garage. I got tired of opening the engine lid every time and hooking up the charger jaws to the battery posts, and removing then charger and closing the engine lid every time I wanted to go for a drive. Open, close, open, close.....I finally made a 1/4 inch jack port holder under the rear wheel well and connected it with a wire lead to the battery positive. The negative is the jack grounded to the body by the steel jack holder bar. Now the charger hangs over the car, and when I go out , I just switch off the Noco charger, unplug the charging jack and hang the cord over the charger. When I return, in goes the jack and on goes the charger. I'm big on simple!

[N_Jay]

I would not use a 1/4" phone plug in that application.
They don't like water.
They don't like dirt.
They corrode and short when exposed to water and dirt.
The tip is "Hot"

Better to put the connection under the dash and use a connector designed for power not audio.

Don't forget the fuse.

[oakdalecurtis]

I would not use a 1/4" phone plug in that application.
They don't like water.
They don't like dirt.
They corrode and short when exposed to water and dirt.
The tip is "Hot"

Better to put the connection under the dash and use a connector designed for power not audio.

Don't forget the fuse.

The charger has a fuse on the line, do I need a fuse on the wire to the battery too? Understand dirt and water comment, why did you mention the tip being "hot", is that an issue? Thanks for your input.

[N_Jay]

I would not use a 1/4" phone plug in that application.
They don't like water.
They don't like dirt.
They corrode and short when exposed to water and dirt.
The tip is "Hot"

Better to put the connection under the dash and use a connector designed for power not audio.

Don't forget the fuse.

The charger has a fuse on the line, do I need a fuse on the wire to the battery too? Understand dirt and water comment, why did you mention the tip being "hot", is that an issue? Thanks for your input.

Yes, you need a fuse on the battery side since it can source power to a potential short circuit (in the connector or the wiring)

The exposed tip makes for easy short circuits if the plug touches any metal.

If you want a connector exposed to the weather look at the type used in marine or towing applications.

You are still better off with the connector inside the car.