12v socket

[Stickshifter]

Have a new 420R coming soon....does it come with a 12v socket for a battery conditioner, my old Caterham did not but read something new ones do...on Amazon buying a CTEK and need to know what plug in to buy...

[agatebox]

Caterham Should come with a “standard” cigar socket fitted. Therefore you’ll need the CTEK cigar plug to charger, adapter lead (I don’t think it comes with the charger as standard). It’s what I use.
Obviously you could just use the battery direct connectors adapter lead (that I believe does come as standard with the CTEK chargers) though you have to mess about taking the bonnet off and on for charging etc.

Edited by agatebox on Saturday 31st December 13:51

Edited by agatebox on Saturday 31st December 13:52

[Stickshifter]

Great..with u completely could add to battery terminals but be easier just to reach under dash...have ordered CTEK and cigar add on...thnx

[Chubbyross]

I thought the Caterham 12v socket wasn’t live if the ignition is switched off. I’m happy to be corrected. I use a ctek but it’s connected to the battery over winter.

[haddock]

Yep cigar lighter live and works with CTEK

[agatebox]

Chubbyross said:

I thought the Caterham 12v socket wasn’t live if the ignition is switched off. I’m happy to be corrected. I use a ctek but it’s connected to the battery over winter.

The only time the 12v socket shouldn’t be live is when the isolator key, if you have one fitted, is taken out, assuming everything has been wired in properly in the first place! :-)

[Chubbyross]

agatebox said:

Chubbyross said:

I thought the Caterham 12v socket wasn’t live if the ignition is switched off. I’m happy to be corrected. I use a ctek but it’s connected to the battery over winter.

The only time the 12v socket shouldn’t be live is when the isolator key, if you have one fitted, is taken out, assuming everything has been wired in properly in the first place! :-)

Ok. Great. Thanks for confirming. My 420R came with an adaptor already fitted to the battery terminal so I’ve been using that. I have an internal cut-off switch in the cockpit but it’s not removable - presumably fitted aftermarket. I believe it kills the 12v socket when switched off.

[Stickshifter]

OK so new car arrived all good, there is a 12v under dash; connected new CTEK MXS 5 charger all fine but after a day looks like charger not 'charging' unplug from 12v plug back in again all good....any thoughts: shall I just connect it direct to battery?

Help appreciated.

-S

[alscar]

You say after a day not charging - did the yellow lights illuminate then go back to zero lights or red appeared rather than the green ?

[Stickshifter]

no red lights just a green flashing light

[Stickshifter]

green bottom left hand connection lights?

Seems the 12v had turned off at some point but then i unplugged it and plugged back in and then worked again with lights building on that spectrum

[alscar]

So the second time plugged in you got all 6 orange lights up then the first green light in the line then appeared ?
I’m assuming that the mode button shows the green light for the car symbol.
If there was or is an issue it’s the top light above the mode button shows an issue - sometimes flashes.

[alscar]

Meant to add - usually with CTEK’s if there is an issue with connection the flashing light appears almost instantly ie no succession lighting of that row of orange then green.
However if the battery is very low on charge or there is an issue with it then sometimes it takes quite a while for orange lights more than 3 to appear and I’ve found that could take 24 hours.

[Stickshifter]

yes its weird working fine now will check in morning if turns off will connect direct to battery and see

[alscar]

I have various CTEK's connected to various machines including garden tractors and a quad bike as well as cars but where directly connected to the battery via the adapter fitted ( Amazon is excellent for these ) there has never seemingly been an issue.
Where I have used cigarette lighter adapters you do sometimes have to be a bit careful when connecting to ensure a positive connection.

[Stickshifter]

totally right think it wasn't a perfect connection been fine all day...but may as u say connect it direct to battery....more reliable....thank you for ur guidance...helped...

[alscar]

Glad it all worked ok.
If you do go the direct battery connection route something like this gives you both the condition indicator lights ( never convinced these are 100% accurate though ) and an inline fuse.

CTEK 56-382 Indicator eyelet M8:

[BertBert]

Strangely the red light came on my ctek this week. On investigation it turned out the neg connection to the battery hadn't been tightened after recent works (will be having words) and the terminal had worked loose.

Well done ctek!!

[Stickshifter]

OK have ordered that inline fuse and lights...super helpful...think the cigar connector thing is not a great connection...so will go direct.....