BATTERY CONDITIONER

[David W.]

PaulAlex said:

I would point out that both the Porsche manual and CTEK instructions state that you shouldn't connect the charger to the negative terminal of the battery, but instead use the chassis jump point near the tyre inflator location.

Paul

Is there a technical reason for this? Wondering if it is on newer cars with coded battery or older ones as well?
DW

[tjlees]

David W. said:

PaulAlex said:

I would point out that both the Porsche manual and CTEK instructions state that you shouldn't connect the charger to the negative terminal of the battery, but instead use the chassis jump point near the tyre inflator location.

Paul

Is there a technical reason for this? Wondering if it is on newer cars with coded battery or older ones as well?
DW

Go with what the Porsche manual says - not the charger. Using chassis jump point will mean charging will be through the battery management module/circuitry, so the car will know how much charge the battery has had and will adjust engine charging accordingly. If you don't the battery maybe overcharged during use/ managed incorrectly which could cause early failure.

Also make sure the charger handles AGM batteries (if yours is one) - I've been caught out once before and ended up prematurely killing the battery with a charger on the wrong setting.

[anonymous-user]

David W. said:

Is there a technical reason for this? Wondering if it is on newer cars with coded battery or older ones as well?
DW

There may well be technical advantages on certain cars but that isn't the reason the manuals say this. Car manuals say this for safety reasons. (So the spark occurs away from the battery).

[Lonely]

Just a further opinion for anybody needing it - I've used a Ctek 3600 for the last 8 years on my 987 Cayman S, connected into the armrest power point, cable run under passenger door, doors closed and car locked. Everything has worked fine...........until now when the mode selector on the unit has packed up - a not uncommon issue according to the internet! Looks like it's time for a new one.

[Lonely]

Update - just saved a few quid with some internet searching. A chap on a Volvo forum (of all places) has a very cheap fix which worked for me absolutely free as I didn't even need the switch cleaner, just give it a good blast of my breath! Posting the link just to spread the good word!

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=26...

[WG]

Just taken delivery of new CTEX charger. I am surprised at how short the leads are that are expected to connect to the car. I haven't got my car yet to check (due in Feb) but I very much doubt that neither the lead with eyelets meant to attach to the battery nor the alternative lead supplied to connect to 12 v socket will be long enough so I will have to fork out another sum of money for a CTEK extension lead. Disappointing ! Feel free to tell I am wrong and that all leads reach without extending ! (I plan to have charger unit mounted on wall adjacent to vehicle in garage.

[DJMC]

Ordered my CTEX with the extension cable (and 12v cigarette charger cable/plug).

Amazon were the cheapest just before Xmas: https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-56-304-Comfort-Conne...

[Sandy59]

Lonely said:

Just a further opinion for anybody needing it - I've used a Ctek 3600 for the last 8 years on my 987 Cayman S, connected into the armrest power point, cable run under passenger door, doors closed and car locked. Everything has worked fine...........until now when the mode selector on the unit has packed up - a not uncommon issue according to the internet! Looks like it's time for a new one.

This seems to have happened to one I have. If I wait for a while the mode selector usually starts working but it's pretty annoying sometimes as it can take a while.

I actually went and bought a Halfords alleged smart conditioner, but this doesn't seem to do the same job. After weeks of 'conditioning' although the car will start ok, there's always a warning about the battery being low. This has happened with 2 x different Halfords units on 2 different cars so don't think I'd recommend these to be honest.

[WG]

DJMC said:

Ordered my CTEX with the extension cable (and 12v cigarette charger cable/plug).

Amazon were the cheapest just before Xmas: https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-56-304-Comfort-Conne...

Yes - thanks. I will probably have to go down that route!

[uknick]

Lonely said:

Update - just saved a few quid with some internet searching. A chap on a Volvo forum (of all places) has a very cheap fix which worked for me absolutely free as I didn't even need the switch cleaner, just give it a good blast of my breath! Posting the link just to spread the good word!

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=26...

Major thanks for the link.

My conditioner failed end of last year and I was just about to buy a new one when I saw your link. I did what you did, pressed its button and then gave it a blow job. It seems to have fixed it.

[Bennachie]

Took mine apart last year and cleaned it. Success, i thought it was due to internal grease migrating to the micro switch. Anyway, a clean and all is tickity boo.

[Cheshirecat65]

PaulAlex said:

I would point out that both the Porsche manual and CTEK instructions state that you shouldn't connect the charger to the negative terminal of the battery, but instead use the chassis jump point near the tyre inflator location.

Paul

You are right.

But the positive terminal and the CJP are quite far apart... too far for the Ctek connector leads!

[gtsralph]

Cheshirecat65 said:

You are right.

But the positive terminal and the CJP are quite far apart... too far for the Ctek connector leads!

There are two CJPs, one for RHD and one for LHD, the latter is adjacent to the battery on RHD cars. Just need a M6 bolt and clean off the paint on the face of the CJP

[bo duke]

Cheshirecat65 said:

You are right.

But the positive terminal and the CJP are quite far apart... too far for the Ctek connector leads!

I posted a DIY on the reasons for not attaching charge leads direct to negative battery terminal, and alternative attachment points for charging pigtails, here:
- http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=125032

[jimPH]

I have quite a few chargers:

CTEK 5.0
CTEK 3.8
CTEK lithium
CTEK 0.8

But my top of the line, most versatile and best of the bunch:

NOCO Genius G1100

It does everything, 6v/12v lithium, charge, maintain. And much better built/robust. Wish I saw it earlier. Come in massive range if you need something beefier.

[Cheshirecat65]

bo duke said:

I posted a DIY on the reasons for not attaching charge leads direct to negative battery terminal, and alternative attachment points for charging pigtails, here:
- http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=125032

That is extremely helpful, - many thanks for posting again.

I will follow the same route I think.

[PaulAlex]

I ended up hard-wiring from the off-side post enabling me to access the CTEK plug without removing the cover in future. Took my time and used decent heat-shrink and cable braid so that it looks as OEM as I could make it. Pleased with the result - now just have to plug the CTEK extension cable in and drape the cable out by the O/S wing mirror when needed....

[bo duke]

Cheshirecat65 said:

That is extremely helpful, - many thanks for posting again.

I will follow the same route I think.

You are welcome!

[Lonely]

uknick said:

Major thanks for the link.

My conditioner failed end of last year and I was just about to buy a new one when I saw your link. I did what you did, pressed its button and then gave it a blow job. It seems to have fixed it.

Glad I could be of help. Not sure if it assists at all but the fix only appears to be temporary with mine. I find I'm having to open it up and work the selector switch a few times to get the mode to change. Not sure why as when it's all boxed back up there's very little casing covering the switch. Oh well, takes 5 mins and saves a lot of ££'s

[Doddler]

So just reading this thread, and purchased a CTEK mx 5.0 with cigarette lighter adapter. Plugged it into my 981 spyder and it starts to charge, but as has been mentioned before after 10mins the charger on/off light begins to blink and stops charging. I’ve tried all 3 sockets (armrest, glovebox, px footwell) with the same result. I presume there’s now no alternative but to hardwire it to the battery. Interestingly the OPC says my charger must be faulty!