trickle charger fitting
Discussion
It depends on were you keep the car at night.
My car sits in the garage and the charger hangs from the roof near the drivers door with an extension cable back to a plug socket near the garage door.
When I leave the car on the charger I leave the drivers window open a little and pass the cable through the gap.
I have purchased the 2.5m extension cable for the accumate so that I can even put the dust cover on and the cable is long enough to loop down and under the cover with no problems.
As for the connection to the car I cut off the cigarette lighter plug and use the short wire with the accumate cable connector to hard wire into the car.
I connected the live to the terminal marked “P” on the ignition switch. This terminal is only connected to the battery when the ignition switch is in the OFF position (so no chance of shorts or having the charger connected when the engine is running).
The earth was connected to a convenient earth wire under the dash.
The accumate cable connector comes out from between the dash top and bottom sections at the corner nearest the drivers door and can easily be connected to the charger when needed. When not in use the short piece of cable can be pushed back into the dash leaving the connector hardly showing at the side nearest the drivers door.
My car has been fitted like this for over 12 months now with the longest lay up being 4 months. Car started first time after this period.
My car sits in the garage and the charger hangs from the roof near the drivers door with an extension cable back to a plug socket near the garage door.
When I leave the car on the charger I leave the drivers window open a little and pass the cable through the gap.
I have purchased the 2.5m extension cable for the accumate so that I can even put the dust cover on and the cable is long enough to loop down and under the cover with no problems.
As for the connection to the car I cut off the cigarette lighter plug and use the short wire with the accumate cable connector to hard wire into the car.
I connected the live to the terminal marked “P” on the ignition switch. This terminal is only connected to the battery when the ignition switch is in the OFF position (so no chance of shorts or having the charger connected when the engine is running).
The earth was connected to a convenient earth wire under the dash.
The accumate cable connector comes out from between the dash top and bottom sections at the corner nearest the drivers door and can easily be connected to the charger when needed. When not in use the short piece of cable can be pushed back into the dash leaving the connector hardly showing at the side nearest the drivers door.
My car has been fitted like this for over 12 months now with the longest lay up being 4 months. Car started first time after this period.
BIGRAH said:
Mine is fitted in the boot with the cable going along the passenger side to the battery. I have fitted a mains socket at a low level on the wall, so when the car is in the garage I leave the boot open and plug it in. Works very well.
Same here.Great mind you have there BIGRAH
I am using the cigarette lighter socket with the Acumate fixed to wall near the drivers window. Works well, no mess and also there is less chance of driving off and foregtting to unplug it 
I leave drivers window slightly pen which also helps prevent condensation in the interior for long storage periods.
Anyone done that?
I leave drivers window slightly pen which also helps prevent condensation in the interior for long storage periods.Anyone done that?
Edited by m4rk on Thursday 6th November 17:58
m4rk said:
I am using the cigarette lighter socket with the Acumate fixed to wall near the drivers window. Works well, no mess and also there is less chance of driving off and foregtting to unplug it I leave drivers window slightly pen which also helps prevent condensation in the interior for long storage periods.
Anyone done that?
Yep just as long as you have a < 10A charger (the Accumate is a 1.2A charger) then the ciggy lighter socket is the best bet. That is if you can retrieve it from the armrest! I leave drivers window slightly pen which also helps prevent condensation in the interior for long storage periods.Anyone done that?
Edited by m4rk on Thursday 6th November 17:58
Hard wired a mains double socket above the drivers door. Fitted the Accumate in its cradle and fixed this to the roof beam also. I too prefer the open driver's window and a simple plug into the ciggy lighter. No drilling or extra wiring, very simple, visual check that everything is connected and a spare double socket for inspection lamps etc.
Simple and works for me.
Simple and works for me.
m4rk said:
I am using the cigarette lighter socket with the Acumate fixed to wall near the drivers window. Works well, no mess and also there is less chance of driving off and foregtting to unplug it I leave drivers window slightly pen which also helps prevent condensation in the interior for long storage periods.
Anyone done that?
Yes, I've done exactly the same as you. So quick to connect & disconnect, and no wiring required. Works a treat. I leave drivers window slightly pen which also helps prevent condensation in the interior for long storage periods.Anyone done that?
Edited by m4rk on Thursday 6th November 17:58
m4rk said:
I am using the cigarette lighter socket with the Acumate fixed to wall near the drivers window. Works well, no mess and also there is less chance of driving off and foregtting to unplug it I leave drivers window slightly pen which also helps prevent condensation in the interior for long storage periods.
Anyone done that?
Used to do the same - although now have wired the spare accumate connector straight to the Chims battery and I plug directly into that. That way I don't have to scrabble around on the floor looking for the cigarette lighter. Also prefoer to keep the accumate away from the car as mine tends to get quite hot. I leave drivers window slightly pen which also helps prevent condensation in the interior for long storage periods.Anyone done that?
Edited by m4rk on Thursday 6th November 17:58
Can't believe the lengths you guys are going to when you can just plug an accumate into the cigarette lighter in the door. All these stories of drilling holes etc...why???
Some people are saying that they leave the window partially down, but I found that you can just shut the door with the cable passing between the vertical edge of the window and the seal. That way you can lock the car with no chance of the alarm going off due to a partially open window.
Some people are saying that they leave the window partially down, but I found that you can just shut the door with the cable passing between the vertical edge of the window and the seal. That way you can lock the car with no chance of the alarm going off due to a partially open window.
Barreti said:
BIGRAH said:
Mine is fitted in the boot with the cable going along the passenger side to the battery. I have fitted a mains socket at a low level on the wall, so when the car is in the garage I leave the boot open and plug it in. Works very well.
Same here.Great mind you have there BIGRAH
Actually when I asked 'Anyone done that?' earlier I was actuall trying to ask if anyone has forgot to unplug the battery charger and driven off, yanking the lot out of the wall etc !!!
Nearly done it myself,,, thats why, apart from the ease of use, I like it attached into the drivers door cigarette socket. It not so easy to forget.
Of course the window can be closed without much trouble with the wire, but as mine is in a garage there is no need.. I never had the alarm go off becuase of it.
Nearly done it myself,,, thats why, apart from the ease of use, I like it attached into the drivers door cigarette socket. It not so easy to forget.
Of course the window can be closed without much trouble with the wire, but as mine is in a garage there is no need.. I never had the alarm go off becuase of it.
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