BATTERY CONDITIONER

[ROLFSSEN]

Hi,

I need a battery conditioner for my Spyder. I'm not intending to use it much over the winter as I'm away quite a bit.

Can anybody suggest a decent one please?

I've no idea where the battery is on the car, so is it easy to connect it?

Thanks,

Tim

[dreamcar]

ROLFSSEN said:

Hi,

I need a battery conditioner for my Spyder. I'm not intending to use it much over the winter as I'm away quite a bit.

Can anybody suggest a decent one please?

I've no idea where the battery is on the car, so is it easy to connect it?

Thanks,

Tim

Our BGTS is on life support in the garage over winter also. I use Porsche's Charge-O-Mat which plugs into the 12v socket in the box at the rear of the centre console. I had 987 and 997/2 previously and the charger plugs into the cigarette lighter socket in those cars. (You don't say whether your car is a 987 or 981 model) No need to connect direct to the battery. Charge-O-Mat is a CTEK charger rebadged however.

[bcr5784]

dreamcar said:

Our BGTS is on life support in the garage over winter also. I use Porsche's Charge-O-Mat which plugs into the 12v socket in the box at the rear of the centre console. I had 987 and 997/2 previously and the charger plugs into the cigarette lighter socket in those cars. (You don't say whether your car is a 987 or 981 model) No need to connect direct to the battery. Charge-O-Mat is a CTEK charger rebadged however.

I think you'll find the CTEK one is cheaper, and from time to time Aldi do their own rebadged CTEK one too - which is much cheaper still (and does 6V as well as 12 if that matters to you). Don't be fooled by the low quoted outputs of CTEK chargers - their figures are much more real-world than the inflated figures of many chargers.

[b2tus]

dreamcar said:

Our BGTS is on life support in the garage over winter also. I use Porsche's Charge-O-Mat which plugs into the 12v socket in the box at the rear of the centre console. I had 987 and 997/2 previously and the charger plugs into the cigarette lighter socket in those cars. (You don't say whether your car is a 987 or 981 model) No need to connect direct to the battery. Charge-O-Mat is a CTEK charger rebadged however.

CTEK all the way. The 981 ciggie type socket in the centre console is the perfect 12v connection as it is permanently live. The wire is thin enough to run between the door and the frame to your outside 240v supply. There are other hard wired options but this works perfectly for me.

This is the CTEK MXS 5.0 model that I use and IMHO, is the perfect battery conditioner for the 981.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CTEK-MXS-5-0-Battery-Cha...

[kilarney]

ROLFSSEN said:

Hi,

I need a battery conditioner for my Spyder. I'm not intending to use it much over the winter as I'm away quite a bit.

Can anybody suggest a decent one please?

I've no idea where the battery is on the car, so is it easy to connect it?

Thanks,

Tim

Assume 981 version same as me. I use a CTEK the 5.0 amp one. You will have to connect a fly lead direct to the battery which comes with the kit. The accessory sockets dont stay live so wont work (unlike my 997.2). Important the battery is an AGM one so needs a slightly higher charge voltage which is selectable on a CTEK 5 A but many chargers dont have this capability including the CTEK 0.5 A version

[kilarney]

The battery is in the frunk just pull the big plastic cover up in front of the wipers

[dreamcar]

kilarney said:

Assume 981 version same as me. I use a CTEK the 5.0 amp one. You will have to connect a fly lead direct to the battery which comes with the kit. The accessory sockets dont stay live so wont work (unlike my 997.2). Important the battery is an AGM one so needs a slightly higher charge voltage which is selectable on a CTEK 5 A but many chargers dont have this capability including the CTEK 0.5 A version

You must have a different 981 to me then as the 12v socket stays live in mine! I know it's still connected because if I lift a door handle the minute voltage drop is detected by the charger and ie switches from trickle to charging. That wouldn't happen if the 12v socket was dead and therefore isolated from the car's systems

[b2tus]

dreamcar said:

You must have a different 981 to me then as the 12v socket stays live in mine! I know it's still connected because if I lift a door handle the minute voltage drop is detected by the charger and ie switches from trickle to charging. That wouldn't happen if the 12v socket was dead and therefore isolated from the car's systems

X 2.

[kilarney]

b2tus said:

X 2.

Yes I probably have. The later 981 spyder doesnt work the same as the earlier 981 mine is a 2016.

[kilarney]

dreamcar said:

You must have a different 981 to me then as the 12v socket stays live in mine! I know it's still connected because if I lift a door handle the minute voltage drop is detected by the charger and ie switches from trickle to charging. That wouldn't happen if the 12v socket was dead and therefore isolated from the car's systems

Are you sure yours is on trickle and they are live as pulling the handle wakes things up. Same on my car. Only time the socket stays live is if there is a decent current draw. It seems the current threshold changed on later 981,s

[mikefocke]

There are maintainers, chargers, maintainers with charger capability and maintainers with charger capability and desulfication capability.

Put the Boxster/Cayman away for the winter when it has had its oil changed and its battery is fully charged (and topped off with distilled water(tough to get in the UK)), hook the maintainer up and you can start the car in the spring with no problems.

A maintainer will not overcharge (nor will most charge a fully discharged battery). A charger may overcharge and cook the battery if left on too long.

The more expensive maintainer/chargers will do everything but really aren't needed just to maintain for months over the winter.

[dreamcar]

kilarney said:

Are you sure yours is on trickle and they are live as pulling the handle wakes things up. Same on my car. Only time the socket stays live is if there is a decent current draw. It seems the current threshold changed on later 981,s

I queuried the method of trickle charging with my OPC when I collected the car and I use the method they advised. Our car was new in March 2015.

[ghiblicup]

My 2015 GTS is trickle charged through the arm rest socket. No problems at all.

[SHIFTY]

Boxster GTS 2014 all internal 12v switch off after approx 10 mins I connect direct to battery, I am sure this is the same for majority of 981.

To confirm plug charger into 12v socket as soon as you hear the relays clicking in watch the green light go off on charger (approx 10 mins), open door and the same repeats itself.

[dreamcar]

SHIFTY said:

Boxster GTS 2014 all internal 12v switch off after approx 10 mins I connect direct to battery, I am sure this is the same for majority of 981.

To confirm plug charger into 12v socket as soon as you hear the relays clicking in watch the green light go off on charger (approx 10 mins), open door and the same repeats itself.

Not on mine. Initially after connection it illuminates partial charge and takes some time to change to fully charged. From then on trickle charge illuminated, unless I lift a door handle (with doors locked) and immediately the charger detects this and reverts to partial charge indication

[RSVP911]

b2tus said:

CTEK all the way. The 981 ciggie type socket in the centre console is the perfect 12v connection as it is permanently live. The wire is thin enough to run between the door and the frame to your outside 240v supply. There are other hard wired options but this works perfectly for me.

This is the CTEK MXS 5.0 model that I use and IMHO, is the perfect battery conditioner for the 981.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CTEK-MXS-5-0-Battery-Cha...

I have the same charger - does anyone know if you have constant power connection / if the ciggy lighter socket is permanently live and as such can connect it to charge the battery of a a 964 Turbo ? Cheers

[mrp1961]

RSVP911 said:

I have the same charger - does anyone know if you have constant power connection / if the ciggy lighter socket is permanently live and as such can connect it to charge the battery of a a 964 Turbo ? Cheers

Don't think the socket remains live, if the 3.3 is similar to my 3.6t. I used to have a permanently connected cable/connector under the bonnet wired to the battery and just plugged the conditioner in and ran the cable out through the weather seal without any problems (water leaks, etc) when needed.

[RSVP911]

mrp1961 said:

Don't think the socket remains live, if the 3.3 is similar to my 3.6t. I used to have a permanently connected cable/connector under the bonnet wired to the battery and just plugged the conditioner in and ran the cable out through the weather seal without any problems (water leaks, etc) when needed.

OK thanks I'll hold off on the ciggy type then : mines a 3.6 too - not many around

[mrp1961]

RSVP911 said:

OK thanks I'll hold off on the ciggy type then : mines a 3.6 too - not many around

Unfortunately I meant my"old" (i.e. previous) 3.6t. Sold it (for a decent profit) but missed out on the indecent prices since then!! Enjoy it, don't hide it away......

[Fl0pp3r]

CTEK are brilliant. I've bought 4 of them over the years for various vehicles in our family...very effective especially with the recondition function, and absolutely fool-proof