Tuscan trickle charging through cigar lighter socket

[DazCarter]

Guys & Gals,
I'm about to purchase my first Tuscan and would very much like to know if it's possible to trickle charge the battery via the cigar lighter point rather than getting Anderson connectors fitted or ripping back the panel behind the passenger wheel to access the battery.

If it is possible then I would very much like to know. If the answer is yes, then it opens up the possibilities of trickle charging via a solar panel on the dash which I already have.

Tuscan model will be an early one between 2000 and 2002.

Any comments would be welcomed.
Thanks
Daz

[glow worm]

Cigar lighter is the way most people do it.. Accumate charger has a specific adapter...no experience of solar chargers.

[tcant]

I use the accumate trickle charger/conditioner with the cigarette lighter connection. Works a treat and never had a problem (touch wood).

Not sure about the solar panel but I have read somewhere on one of these forums about some PH'ers who do trickle charge using them. Best do some searching or wait for someone to come along who knows!

[NCE 61]

Tried a solar charger when I had a Chimarea (long time ago) & it could not keep pace with the battery discharge so have used an Accumate since. However better solar chargers are now available such as this one

[DazCarter]

Thanks Guys for the info!

P.S. I'm assuming that the ignition doesn't have to be switched on for the cigar lighter charging to work?

[andyvdg]

The ignition doesn't need to be on - just plug in and go. The accumate is one of the things I wish I had bought much earlier than I did - very useful.

[DazCarter]

Cheers Andy!

[ShadownINja]

NCE 61 said:

Tried a solar charger when I had a Chimarea (long time ago) & it could not keep pace with the battery discharge so have used an Accumate since. However better solar chargers are now available such as this one

I only had a cheap £15-20 one with my old Chimaera. Could leave it for 2 weeks no problem... wonder if your old Chimaera had a "leak" somewhere.

[NCE 61]

ShadownINja said:

NCE 61 said:

Tried a solar charger when I had a Chimarea (long time ago) & it could not keep pace with the battery discharge so have used an Accumate since. However better solar chargers are now available such as this one

I only had a cheap £15-20 one with my old Chimaera. Could leave it for 2 weeks no problem... wonder if your old Chimaera had a "leak" somewhere.

The battery discharge with alarm & immobiliser enabled was measured and found to be 'normal' for a TVR, although unfortunately sometimes it has to be left for longer periods than 2 weeks.

[ShadownINja]

NCE 61 said:

ShadownINja said:

NCE 61 said:

Tried a solar charger when I had a Chimarea (long time ago) & it could not keep pace with the battery discharge so have used an Accumate since. However better solar chargers are now available such as this one

I only had a cheap £15-20 one with my old Chimaera. Could leave it for 2 weeks no problem... wonder if your old Chimaera had a "leak" somewhere.

The battery discharge with alarm & immobiliser enabled was measured and found to be 'normal' for a TVR, although unfortunately sometimes it has to be left for longer periods than 2 weeks.

Ah! I only left it for 2 weeks (holiday) and was then driving it every day.

[deadline21]

my tuscan does less than 2000 miles a year and lives in the garage permanently plugged in to Acumen trickle charger via the cigarette lighter - never had any problems - My old chimaera had an Optimate hard wired in - I knew it would only be a matter of weeks before the tuscans battery was flat too - was recommended to us the Acumen and its been great -

[Daston]

I have just got myself one of these as my battery went flat and I have no power in my garage

http://www.reuk.co.uk/buy-12-VOLT-5-WATT-SOLAR-PAN...

[S6 Devil]

Daston said:

I have just got myself one of these as my battery went flat and I have no power in my garage

http://www.reuk.co.uk/buy-12-VOLT-5-WATT-SOLAR-PAN...

Is it able to trickle charge and if so what would I need? An accumate\optimate I assume! I have no power in my garage and need something like this. Cheers!

Edited by S6 Devil on Friday 2nd January 16:53

[Daston]

it wil trickle charge, not sure what else needs to be done with it as my old man is installing it for me. Will let you know how I get on.

[S6 Devil]

Daston said:

it wil trickle charge, not sure what else needs to be done with it as my old man is installing it for me. Will let you know how I get on.

That would be great if you could, Thanks.