BATTERY CONDITIONER
Discussion
mrp1961 said:
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......
Definitely not hidden away, I use it a lot - in fairness mostly when nice weather - it's a lovely thing 
If you are leaving it in a garage on trickle charge then you have no problems.
I have a 3.8 amp trickle charge and that works fine.
I just open the front luggage compartment, lift out the cover between the luggage box and the screen..... Which entails pulling up the two handle holds which click out.
The battery and tyre pump will be revealed. The cover is a bit awkward to get back in, but you won't be in a hurry, so dont worry.
Just connect your trickle charger to the battery, leave the cover somewhere safe. Red +, positive....- black- earth.
Feed the wires round and out of the side of the wing.
The wires should only be thin and then you can close the front down.
Lock the car. !!!!! Dont leave it unlocked......your insurance won't like it if you do.
Or try the arm rest connection and see if it works.... The lights will go out on the charger if its not working, or show no charge.
Replacing the cover entails checking the lugs are on the top of where they fit, and not underneath. You may just need to push the middle bit down and tuck it under....
Its not rocket science, but things always seem difficult the first time
Good luck
Gadgit.
I have a 3.8 amp trickle charge and that works fine.
I just open the front luggage compartment, lift out the cover between the luggage box and the screen..... Which entails pulling up the two handle holds which click out.
The battery and tyre pump will be revealed. The cover is a bit awkward to get back in, but you won't be in a hurry, so dont worry.
Just connect your trickle charger to the battery, leave the cover somewhere safe. Red +, positive....- black- earth.
Feed the wires round and out of the side of the wing.
The wires should only be thin and then you can close the front down.
Lock the car. !!!!! Dont leave it unlocked......your insurance won't like it if you do.
Or try the arm rest connection and see if it works.... The lights will go out on the charger if its not working, or show no charge.
Replacing the cover entails checking the lugs are on the top of where they fit, and not underneath. You may just need to push the middle bit down and tuck it under....
Its not rocket science, but things always seem difficult the first time
Good luck
Gadgit.
gadgit said:
If you are leaving it in a garage on trickle charge then you have no problems.
I have a 3.8 amp trickle charge and that works fine.
I just open the front luggage compartment, lift out the cover between the luggage box and the screen..... Which entails pulling up the two handle holds which click out.
The battery and tyre pump will be revealed. The cover is a bit awkward to get back in, but you won't be in a hurry, so dont worry.
Just connect your trickle charger to the battery, leave the cover somewhere safe. Red +, positive....- black- earth.
Feed the wires round and out of the side of the wing.
The wires should only be thin and then you can close the front down.
Lock the car. !!!!! Dont leave it unlocked......your insurance won't like it if you do.
Or try the arm rest connection and see if it works.... The lights will go out on the charger if its not working, or show no charge.
Replacing the cover entails checking the lugs are on the top of where they fit, and not underneath. You may just need to push the middle bit down and tuck it under....
Its not rocket science, but things always seem difficult the first time
Good luck
Gadgit.
As Gadgit implies a 3.8 unit may be all you need and it will save you quite a few quid.I have a 3.8 amp trickle charge and that works fine.
I just open the front luggage compartment, lift out the cover between the luggage box and the screen..... Which entails pulling up the two handle holds which click out.
The battery and tyre pump will be revealed. The cover is a bit awkward to get back in, but you won't be in a hurry, so dont worry.
Just connect your trickle charger to the battery, leave the cover somewhere safe. Red +, positive....- black- earth.
Feed the wires round and out of the side of the wing.
The wires should only be thin and then you can close the front down.
Lock the car. !!!!! Dont leave it unlocked......your insurance won't like it if you do.
Or try the arm rest connection and see if it works.... The lights will go out on the charger if its not working, or show no charge.
Replacing the cover entails checking the lugs are on the top of where they fit, and not underneath. You may just need to push the middle bit down and tuck it under....
Its not rocket science, but things always seem difficult the first time
Good luck
Gadgit.
Hi All, I've been using the 3.8 for some time on both my 987s & 997t and they seem to work fine even when leaving the cars for long periods. I hardwire the Trickle chargers direct to the batteries on those 2 using the loop connectors, but I was unable to do this recently when laying up my 981 spyder for the first time due to a different connection on the battery for 981/991's. The OPC advised to use the centre arm socket which will recognise the charger and stay live. The sockets do shut down if they don't sense the charge. Hope this helps - it seems to be working for me.
biccie said:
Hi All, I've been using the 3.8 for some time on both my 987s & 997t and they seem to work fine even when leaving the cars for long periods. I hardwire the Trickle chargers direct to the batteries on those 2 using the loop connectors, but I was unable to do this recently when laying up my 981 spyder for the first time due to a different connection on the battery for 981/991's. The OPC advised to use the centre arm socket which will recognise the charger and stay live. The sockets do shut down if they don't sense the charge. Hope this helps - it seems to be working for me.
That's exactly what I was advised by Swindon's service department and works fine here, too! The only additional advice given after connecting the charger was to switch the charger on before locking the car.Edited by dreamcar on Tuesday 22 November 14:22
What's the latest advice on which conditioner to buy please?
May 2014 981 2.7 Cayman.
I'd like to be able to drive into my garage, feed the conditioner wire into the car to plug into the armrest 12v socket, then close the car up and lock it.
Q. How do I get the conditioner wire into the car without its wire getting worn by shutting it in the car door each time?
Q. What's the best value CTEK unit for conditioning, not charging?
Many thanks for any help.
May 2014 981 2.7 Cayman.
I'd like to be able to drive into my garage, feed the conditioner wire into the car to plug into the armrest 12v socket, then close the car up and lock it.
Q. How do I get the conditioner wire into the car without its wire getting worn by shutting it in the car door each time?
Q. What's the best value CTEK unit for conditioning, not charging?
Many thanks for any help.
DJMC said:
What's the latest advice on which conditioner to buy please?
May 2014 981 2.7 Cayman.
I'd like to be able to drive into my garage, feed the conditioner wire into the car to plug into the armrest 12v socket, then close the car up and lock it.
Q. How do I get the conditioner wire into the car without its wire getting worn by shutting it in the car door each time?
Q. What's the best value CTEK unit for conditioning, not charging?
Many thanks for any help.
If you want to stick with CTEK the obvious choice is the XS0.8. but as the name implies it only charges at 0.8amp - so fine as a conditioner, but decidedly feeble as a charger. Regarding wiring, you will have to crack a window fractionally open to get the wire through. Whether that is a security issue in your garage, I can't say. Personally I don't consider it a problem in my car port. I have a CTEK 3.6 amp model, which is obviously a bit more versatile, but it does grieve me that Aldi occasionally sell a CTEK made (but not branded) model for a fraction of the price. So clearly you are paying well over the odds for the name (you pay even more over the odds if you buy the same thing from Porsche). That said don't bother with the connector that shows the battery condition - it will always tell you the battery voltage is low, even when it has just been charged.May 2014 981 2.7 Cayman.
I'd like to be able to drive into my garage, feed the conditioner wire into the car to plug into the armrest 12v socket, then close the car up and lock it.
Q. How do I get the conditioner wire into the car without its wire getting worn by shutting it in the car door each time?
Q. What's the best value CTEK unit for conditioning, not charging?
Many thanks for any help.
Spoke with my OPC. They run the cable in the door and shut it. The seals give sufficiently not to damage it. They're using the CTEK "Charge-o-Mat" daily and have never had a damaged cable doing this.
So... I've asked for:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MZZ6T5F/_encoding=U...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00ADIHUVG/_encoding=U...
...from Father Christmas.
So... I've asked for:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MZZ6T5F/_encoding=U...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00ADIHUVG/_encoding=U...
...from Father Christmas.
DJMC said:
Spoke with my OPC. They run the cable in the door and shut it. The seals give sufficiently not to damage it. They're using the CTEK "Charge-o-Mat" daily and have never had a damaged cable doing this.
So... I've asked for:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MZZ6T5F/_encoding=U...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00ADIHUVG/_encoding=U...
...from Father Christmas.
You really don't need the 5 amp charger (or even the 3.6 one) if all you are interested in is conditioning.So... I've asked for:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MZZ6T5F/_encoding=U...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00ADIHUVG/_encoding=U...
...from Father Christmas.
I have just ordered the CTEK off Amazon having got my first flat battery of the winter on my Boxster. Couldn't believe the process for opening the front bonnet to get at the battery - what a laugh.
Anyway, I would like to leave the CTEK permanently installed, and then simply connect to power when the car is not used.
I was thinking of running my own cable to an easy outside (externally accessible) access point, and then having a waterproof easy connection of some sort. Something magnetic would be ideal so that I done drive off with the garage attached!
Has anyone tried this? Anyone got any good ideas on how to do it?
carbob said:
I have just ordered the CTEK off Amazon having got my first flat battery of the winter on my Boxster. Couldn't believe the process for opening the front bonnet to get at the battery - what a laugh.
Anyway, I would like to leave the CTEK permanently installed, and then simply connect to power when the car is not used.
I was thinking of running my own cable to an easy outside (externally accessible) access point, and then having a waterproof easy connection of some sort. Something magnetic would be ideal so that I done drive off with the garage attached!
Has anyone tried this? Anyone got any good ideas on how to do it?
Perhaps go for the cigarette lighter adapter (so that you don't forget it) and some extra CTEK cables.Anyway, I would like to leave the CTEK permanently installed, and then simply connect to power when the car is not used.
I was thinking of running my own cable to an easy outside (externally accessible) access point, and then having a waterproof easy connection of some sort. Something magnetic would be ideal so that I done drive off with the garage attached!
Has anyone tried this? Anyone got any good ideas on how to do it?
I believe that the connectors on the ends of the cables are waterproof - I have charged my car on the drive when it has been raining without any issues.
Feel or look at the weatherstripping under the door. Is there a gap there? I used the cheapest ctec with an extension cord from the outlet running under the door through that gap. The charger sat on the floor of the passenger seat and connected to the lighter. If I put the car away into hibernation anywhere fully charged, the maintainer held the charge forever and did not overcharge. Some chargers will never shut off and overcharge. Some maintainers will not charge at all no matter how long connected if the battery voltage is too low to start with. So know what you are buying.
To drive I sometimes just unplugged the maintainer from the extension cord and left the maintainer sitting on the floor and connected to the lighter socket.
This worked for years and months at a time. And if I got a good day, it was 5 seconds to get the car back on the road. Took longer to take the car cover off and get it stowed in the frunk.
To drive I sometimes just unplugged the maintainer from the extension cord and left the maintainer sitting on the floor and connected to the lighter socket.
This worked for years and months at a time. And if I got a good day, it was 5 seconds to get the car back on the road. Took longer to take the car cover off and get it stowed in the frunk.
I've got the Porsche branded one, but can't bring myself to squash the cable in the door, so I've only used it when I've been in the house and been leaving the car door ajar and unlocked.
Can anyone give me confidence that it's ok to properly shut the door with the wire in it? I'm scared of it marking the door more than damaging the cable. I have the box with the flashy lights on sat underneath the car, and the wire between that and the 12v plug going in the door. Is this the normal arrangement?
Can anyone give me confidence that it's ok to properly shut the door with the wire in it? I'm scared of it marking the door more than damaging the cable. I have the box with the flashy lights on sat underneath the car, and the wire between that and the 12v plug going in the door. Is this the normal arrangement?
I treated myself to a 5A CTEK charger over the holidays and have hardwired the battery cables so that it can be easily connected without lifting the trim panel above the battery. This now leaves me able to just plug in the CTEK extension cable and run it towards the rear edge of the bonnet and out by the O/S wing mirror to the charger.
I would point out that both the Porsche manual and CTEK instructions state that you shouldn't connect the charger to the negative terminal of the battery, but instead use the chassis jump point near the tyre inflator location.
Paul
I would point out that both the Porsche manual and CTEK instructions state that you shouldn't connect the charger to the negative terminal of the battery, but instead use the chassis jump point near the tyre inflator location.
Paul
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