Pigtails are the handy electrical doodads that many riders use to simply and easily attach a Battery Tender or smart charger to a battery in a motorcycle. We recommend having one on your motorcycle for several reasons. Here are some details you might want to consider.
- Wet-cell and AGM (absorbent glass mat) batteries require regular care, so using a pigtail that dangles in an accessible location greatly simplifies maintenance. Some battery locations are a PITA to get to.
- Ideally, the pigtail lead includes a fuse to prevent electrical overloading.
- A pigtail makes possible a quick and easy battery and charging check with a multimeter or a voltmeter with a matching SAE plug.
- Voltmeters can tell you a lot about your motorcycle’s electrical system. For bikes without them, an external VM can be plugged in using an SAE extension cable, secured temporarily, and used for a short ride to check the system. The potential advanced warning that a gauge provides can prevent expensive troubles, unintended roadside stoppage, and spendy towing bills.
- A pigtail tether can be used to bring a tired battery to life with a jump-start module or to simply charge it.
- Even though lithium batteries do not need to be constantly maintained, using a pigtail avoids having to access the battery directly when you do want to charge it.
- A special note about lithium batteries. The latest and safest designs are LiFePO4 (lithium-iron-phosphate, not lithium-ion) types with electronic battery monitoring systems built-in. The BMS ensures that these batteries will not overcharge or undercharge, and batteries using BMS are safer and more reliable.
Adding sound systems, GPS, and other accessories that sap power from the electrical system can be tricky if it goes too far. A sensible way to manage their electrical draw is to avoid using them all at the same time.
The only limitation is the capacity of your bike’s electrical system. You can juggle electrical draw against current by running accessories on multiple pigtails and then watching the pigtail-mounted voltmeter to make sure there’s enough energy in reserve to keep the battery happy during a ride.
Not too long ago, powerful stereos were drawing electrical current to such a degree that an additional battery (usually in a saddlebag) with a switching system was a way to make it work, with one battery drawing while the other charged. Judicious use of pigtails makes it simpler.
Bottom line: A pigtail adds functionality to maintain your motorcycle’s electrical supply. They’re cheap and provide convenient access so your bike’s seat can remain planted where it is intended to be.
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