CTEK owners. Where do you locate your comfort connectors?
CTEK owners. Where do you locate your comfort connectors?
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eltax91

Original Poster:

10,789 posts

237 months

Tuesday 2nd April 2013
quotequote all
Hi all

After many recommendations on here, I invested in a CTEK charger and comfort connector with a battery status indicator.

So, it's for my weekend toy mx5 and ideally I'd like to achieve the ability to see the indicator easily when I walk into the garage and to still give easy access to the connector to plug the charger in.

So, if I wire it directly to the battery it'll be stuck in the boot and inaccessible. Similarly if I wire it in under the bonnet it'll be out of sight.

So, that leaves the cabin, which leaves it nice and easy to see, but when parked up in the garage accessing it to plug in wont be perfect. I guess I can drop the window a crack or whatever.

If I wire it in the cabin, where do I wire it to ensure it is connected permanently to the battery for charging?

eltax91

Original Poster:

10,789 posts

237 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
BUMP for the day crowd

SuperVM

1,098 posts

192 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
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Radios quite often have a permanent live feed, though whether or not that is suitable for charging, I've no idea.

Dave^

7,903 posts

284 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
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I'd be tempted to extend the flylead to an appropriate length and connect direct to the battery.

Mattt

16,664 posts

249 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
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Cigarette lighter socket, assuming it's not a switched feed.

clockworks

7,809 posts

176 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Personally, I wouldn't worry about being able to see the LEDs.

I've got a CTek charger for my 911. I bought one of these comfort leads, and fitted it directly to the battery. I can see the LEDs as soon as I open the front luggage compartment.
No matter what the actual state of the (new last year) battery is, odds are the amber or red LED will be flashing within a few days. Even if it's flashing red, the car will crank and start perfectly. It seems to be far too sensitive, switching to red when the battery is fine.

Just fit the lead in a place where it's easy to plug the charger in without compromising security. If you want a simple and reliable indication of the state of charge of the battery, fit a digital voltmeter to an unswitched permanent live feed in the cabin. Plenty of choice on eBay - search for "car voltmeter". They do panel types that are hard-wired, and dash top or all-in-one types that plug into the cigarette lighter socket.

NotDave

20,951 posts

188 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
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Dave^ said:
I'd be tempted to extend the flylead to an appropriate length and connect direct to the battery.
This. It's what I did on the 2x cars I've had one on, and what I've done on the 3x classics my father has.

Under the bonnet, clipped out the way and then just pop the bonnet, connect, shut bonnet. Forget.

Job jobbed.

eltax91

Original Poster:

10,789 posts

237 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Interesting info about the sensitivity. So, to focus on easy connectivity and not caring about seeing the LED's, the way I park my MX5 in the garage is nose-in towards the plug sockets/ workbench.

So, if one wanted to wire it in under the bonnet of the MX5, whose battery is in the boot, where would one wire it??

NotDave

20,951 posts

188 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Lead to the battery, tucked in corner of the boot.

Get/make an extension fly lead. Do it right way round and charger can sit on bench next to plugs and car an be connected with boot shut.

Dave^

7,903 posts

284 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
eltax91 said:
Interesting info about the sensitivity. So, to focus on easy connectivity and not caring about seeing the LED's, the way I park my MX5 in the garage is nose-in towards the plug sockets/ workbench.

So, if one wanted to wire it in under the bonnet of the MX5, whose battery is in the boot, where would one wire it??
Start reversing in?