Using a Charger (long term) without a garage

[NorthDave]

Hi

I'm interested if anyone has a car they charge long term without a garage - I just have a drive.

I'm interested if anyone has any tips on connecting. I guess it's either mains cable from the house and ctek in the car or maybe a weather proof box on the outside of the house with the 12v cable going to the car. Is the 12v is better in case I forget to unplug it!?!

I've been chewing over for a while if I can have a second car charging this way so any help appreciated.

[Scrump]

I charge my cars on the drive.
One of them has a ctek just inside the garage door with a ctek extension cable running outside. The car has a ctek quick connect flylead permanently attached to the battery and tucked in below the windscreen wipers for quick access without opening the bonnet.

The other one is charged infrequently and that has an 240v extension lead run out to the car and into the engine bay. Charger/maintainer is put under the bonnet and croc clips onto the battery. This one is a bit more hassle to connect and disconnect.

I have seen magnetic connectors but have not tried them.

[samoht]

If turns out to be a helpful piece of the jigsaw, you can get a mains extension cable with a weatherproof socket on the end
eg https://toughleads.co.uk/collections/ev-electric-v...

Battery chargers themselves also seem to be water resistant to various levels, I guess IP65 should be adequate for this case as long as they aren't being submerged.

[akirk]

My classic rr sits on the drive on a ctek charger
Extension lead from an external socket, into car (door gaps easily allow a cable through, ctek charger sits on central cubby and is plugged into a ctek socket that is permanently wired onto the battery and comes through into the cabin in the area behind the low ratio gear lever
Works well

[journeymanpro]

I keep mine on charge via the towbar 13pin socket. May be an option?

[PositronicRay]

Ctek in the utility, 12v cable extended, fused at battery end.

[tapkaJohnD]

This may not be helpful, but I keep my campervan charged up via a main hook-up socket on its side, plugged into the 240V mains in the house. The CTEK is plugged into an ordinary household three pin socket in the van.

John

[NorthDave]

Thank you all! It's reassuring to know other people are doing it.
I'll do some research but I like the idea of an external plug and a ctek hardwired in to the car. It should make things pretty easy!!

Now I've just got to concentrate on which car to get...

[tapkaJohnD]

Oh! Didn't think you would want that sort of modification!

Lots of advice online, eg: https://www.diycampervan.co.uk/campervan-electric-...

[NorthDave]

tapkaJohnD said:

Oh! Didn't think you would want that sort of modification!

Lots of advice online, eg: https://www.diycampervan.co.uk/campervan-electric-...

I'm just trying to think of the easiest way really. I dont want to pop the bonnet every time but I guess I might be able to charge via a 12v socket in the car or something.

My main decision will be whether to have the CTek in the car or elsewhere and just run a 12v cable....

[GreenV8S]

I use a hardwired battery maintainer on the vehicle with mains supplied via an extension cable. I fitted an axial break weatherproof connector at each end of the cable so there was no possibility of driving off with it connected and an RCD to protect against exposed mains if that happens. In the past I've run the cable through the boot opening, with the current car I run it through the front grill. Both are pretty convenient to connect and disconnect.

[Polly Grigora]

What's the point in running 240 volt extensions outside a property when 12 Volts will do the very same job?

[Polly Grigora]

Could have a switch within the property to switch from one car to the other

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313123149001?hash=item4...

[TimmyMallett]

I'm no electrician but if its a reasonable distance would voltage drop be an issue on weedy 12v extensions? Which is kind of key to maintain when charging?

12v fused is safer though outside

[Polly Grigora]

No problem with volt drop if cable is heavy enough for the job

Twin Thin Wall
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115469231251?hash=item1...

[PositronicRay]

TimmyMallett said:

I'm no electrician but if its a reasonable distance would voltage drop be an issue on weedy 12v extensions? Which is kind of key to maintain when charging?

12v fused is safer though outside

I run my ctek on a 15m cable. No problems.

Once up to speed the current draw is very low, so minimal voltage drop.

[GreenV8S]

Polly Grigora said:

What's the point in running 240 volt extensions outside a property when 12 Volts will do the very same job?

You ever tried to defrost a car using 12V? It doesn't work.