Battery Conditioners

[mohitos]

Having just replaced my battery, I am keen to leave it on charge if possible as I rarely use the car and flat batteries are proving a pain.

I have this Porsche charger which plugs into the cigarette lighter - I believe it's based on a C-Tek.



Can I leave it permanently connected and if not, are there other 'conditioners' that would do this job better ?

Yes yes, I know, just 'drive it' blah blah blah, but commuting by train midweek and with an 8 month old daughter, this has proved quite a challenging task !

Thanks !

[cjb1]

I bought a cheap conditioner from Makro a year or so back, if I recall correctly it was only about twelve quid. I leave it plugged in all the time and did so for the entire winter lay up last year, the battery has stayed in good condition and the car (1988 911 3.2 Carrera Sport)started first turn of the key every single time. Prior to purchasing the device I was forever getting the jump leads out and also replaced several batteries in the meantime.

[tjlees]

The optimate range can be left plugged in and also condition the battery http://www.optimate.co.uk/ . C-tek also have a good range http://www.ctek.com/gb/en . However two of my batteries are charged with a £10 draper trickle charger and both, according to my optimate 6, are in excellent condition after 5+ months. So I am with the previous poster, you don't have to spend a fortune keeping a good battery in excellent condition. Maybe if you have a dead battery or a gel battery or lithium- ion one then get a c-tek or optimate...

[maximtaylor]

I'll actually answer your question.

Yes, you can leave it connected

[ontheloop]

I use a ctek 3600 on my GT3 plugged into the cigarette lighter socket, works perfectly. The charger conditions the battery as well a recharging i

Here is some blurb from the ctek website


Desulphation - Desulphation with pulsing for sulphated batteries.
Bulk - Charging where 80% of the energy is returned. The charger delivers an almost constant current until the battery voltage reaches maximum level.
Absorption - Charging up to almost 100%. The charge current falls and the voltage is kept constant at the maxi- mum level.
Pulse - Maintenance phase, where the charger delivers a pulse if the battery voltage drops. Charging varies be- tween 95% and 100%. The battery receives a pulse when the voltage reduces. Keep the battery in good condition when not in use. The charger can be connected for months.

[mohitos]

maximtaylor said:

I'll actually answer your question.

Yes, you can leave it connected

Thank you!!

[Lanby]

It's a rebadged CTEK 3600 and yes you can leave it plugged in permanently.

You can also get a connector lead that you attach straight to the battery allowing you to plug the charger in under the bonnet.

[anonymous-user]

Lanby said:

It's a rebadged CTEK 3600 and yes you can leave it plugged in permanently.

You can also get a connector lead that you attach straight to the battery allowing you to plug the charger in under the bonnet.

As he says it's not based on a C-Tek, it is a C-Tek, and it can be left on permanently. My 997S has lived with one since new in September 07 and is still on original battery.

Much easier to connect using cigarette lighter than under bonnet. Just plug in and close door on cable.

[FarQue]

Yep, fag lighter socket and leave it on.

[cjb1]

maximtaylor said:

I'll actually answer your question.

Yes, you can leave it connected

So what part of my and tliles reply didn'r say exactly what you just have? No one likes a smart arse

[cjb1]

ontheloop said:

I use a ctek 3600 on my GT3 plugged into the cigarette lighter socket, works perfectly. The charger conditions the battery as well a recharging i

Here is some blurb from the ctek website


Desulphation - Desulphation with pulsing for sulphated batteries.
Bulk - Charging where 80% of the energy is returned. The charger delivers an almost constant current until the battery voltage reaches maximum level.
Absorption - Charging up to almost 100%. The charge current falls and the voltage is kept constant at the maxi- mum level.
Pulse - Maintenance phase, where the charger delivers a pulse if the battery voltage drops. Charging varies be- tween 95% and 100%. The battery receives a pulse when the voltage reduces. Keep the battery in good condition when not in use. The charger can be connected for months.

Now that was an accurate, informative and proper PH answer right there

[mohitos]

cjb1 said:

So what part of my and tliles reply didn'r say exactly what you just have? No one likes a smart arse

Let's keep this friendly! I guess the point is that my original question was 'does my existing charger do the job', and if it what charger should I consider? You definitely answered the second part, but the good news is that my original charger does the job just fine.

I love pistonheads for the advice and information available, but again, there's no need to take offence, it's been a useful post.

[monthefish]

Are there any battery conditioner that can work outside?

[anonymous-user]

monthefish said:

Are there any battery conditioner that can work outside?

I think there are various solar powered ones available. Little panel on dash, plug in to cig lighter.

[BubblesNW]

monthefish said:

Are there any battery conditioner that can work outside?

This might be worth a look as long as you are not parked on the street

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006IRIMGS/?tag=hydra0b...

[monthefish]

Thanks chaps.

I've heard mixed reports on these solar chargers - have either of you (or anyone else) used one on a Porsche with great success?

[tjlees]

monthefish said:

Thanks chaps.

I've heard mixed reports on these solar chargers - have either of you (or anyone else) used one on a Porsche with great success?

Yes, probably best not to use them. Most do not have a regulator for the current/voltage coming through or are not big enough to generate the required Power throughout 24hrs to maintain/charge battery over and above the car voltage drain. The good producers of battery charger such as c-tek and optimate do not offer this as an option probably because it's not as effective as a mains charger.

I'm sure someone will recommend them for free power/good for outside, but I would not like to put an unregulated power supply through the 12v socket into an expensive car, and anyway mines a garage queen so fairly pointless unless I move the car to the window...

[Vixpy1]

I've got a CTEK, fantastic bit of kit

[Outofoffice]

I use a solar powered trickle charger. Seems to keep my battery charged during the weeks when I don't use the car.

[mohitos]

I tried a solar charger. Didn't work at all.