XKR Winter Charging

[Mike Hawthorn]

Hi All
Does anyone use a trickle charger over the winter? I've looked in the Owners Manual and its Long on what you can't do and Short on what you can do. If I do attach a trickle charger, do I connect to the battery directly or the jump Cable points as indicated in the Manual for jump starting?
I know this seems simple but I really don't want to fry the electrics.

Hope someone can help

Mike H

[a8hex]

Mike Hawthorn said:

Hi All
Does anyone use a trickle charger over the winter? I've looked in the Owners Manual and its Long on what you can't do and Short on what you can do. If I do attach a trickle charger, do I connect to the battery directly or the jump Cable points as indicated in the Manual for jump starting?
I know this seems simple but I really don't want to fry the electrics.

Hope someone can help

Mike H

I had a good laugh at that in the manual too, when i bought mine. It seems to suggest that everything beyond changing gear mustn't be attempted by the owner and they you must get a qualified Jaguar service engineer to do everything
I mentioned the charging thing to the salesman who flog me the car, his response is "Well everything in the showroom is on a trickle charger, how else do you think we can leave them open for people to look at all day without the engine running"

I connect mine to the terminal behind the panel on the left hand side of the boot (mine is a 2010 convertible, they move the terminal around between models) The positive terminal is covered by a rubber sleeve/boot, there is no negative terminal so I just clip onto a handy bit of metal work in that area. I keep meaning to get an auto sparks to connect up a nice plug somewhere for me so I can just plug the thing in, which would be much easier.

[Mike Hawthorn]

Thanks very much for your reply, Ours is also a 2010 model coupe.
I guessed as much but as my old Dad would say "there's no shame in asking."

Thank again

Mike H

[Simpo Two]

a8hex said:

I keep meaning to get an auto sparks to connect up a nice plug somewhere for me so I can just plug the thing in, which would be much easier.

On TVRs you could simply use the cigarette lighter socket as it wasn't switched with the ignition. I don't suppose the XK is that helpful...

[8bit]

Get a CTek MXS5.0 and one of the "comfort indicator" accessories. One of these is designed to be installed in the interior trim by cutting a small hole, passing the wires through to the battery and charging points and then mounting the part itself on the trim panel. Then you just plug the cable from the CTek device into that and switch it on. The other comfort indicator is just like a flylead, connect it up correctly and poke the indicator round the side of the trim panel. I went for that option as I didn't want to end up leaving a hole in the trim when the day eventually comes to sell the car.

In terms of installing it, there's nothing to it really. One wire connects to the threaded stud on the positive battery cable. On a 4.2 car, the other wire goes to the equivalent stud on the negative battery cable but on a 5.0 car you need to connect it to the negative jump/charging point. Remove the boot floor panel and the battery cover. Lift the trim panel on the left hand side and look for a threaded stud on there with a couple of black cables and crimp connectors attached. Attach the negative wire to that.

I had to get the comfort indicator with the M8 thread attachments, if memory serves correctly.

[Mike Hawthorn]

Thanks for all your replys. I did check it out yesterday and what did I find, a former owner had fitted a fused plug to the post and an earth, behind the left hand panel. I will get a male plug to suit and use my existing Trickle Charger. For now I've connected up in the normal way to the post and an Earth. I'm sure this will be ok as I'd guess the Negi post in the spare wheel area is just to stop people banging Jump Leads together when Jump Starting. (I guess the Health and Safety Police thought we couldn't work that one out for ourselves?)

[8bit]

What sort of fused plug? Can you post a photo?

[Mike Hawthorn]

Hi 8bit
I'll take a better photo and post it in a day or so. I only took this one at the time so that I can get a plug to suit.

[8bit]

Hmm, don't recognise that, could be from some other brand of charger. Personally I'd ditch it and install a CTek comfort indicator (you'll want the M8 version, not M6 as that won't fit on the stud on the chassis) and get an MXS5.0.

[Toma500]

I use an accumate with the cigarette lighter connection plugs straight into the cigarette lighter used it near 10 yrs now no problem if it does a tvr should be ok on a jag unless you have a non smoking option interior

[8bit]

The cigarette lighter sockets on X150 series XK/XKRs isn't permanent live so can't be used for charging.

[jimattfield]

Mike Hawthorn said:

Thanks for all your replys. I did check it out yesterday and what did I find, a former owner had fitted a fused plug to the post and an earth, behind the left hand panel. I will get a male plug to suit and use my existing Trickle Charger. For now I've connected up in the normal way to the post and an Earth. I'm sure this will be ok as I'd guess the Negi post in the spare wheel area is just to stop people banging Jump Leads together when Jump Starting. (I guess the Health and Safety Police thought we couldn't work that one out for ourselves?)

If you want a quiet life do not use a trickle charger, use a proper maintainer like a CTek (no, the two are not the same). As suggested, get the comfort lead, don't use an odd unknown cable left behind. Attach one end to the positive battery pole, already provided with a threaded post. The negative post in the spare tyre well is not to stop leads banging together, it is to help prevent people attaching the negative lead to the negative battery pole which will bypass and potentially damage the battery condition sensor. Personally, I attach the negative lead to one of the bolts holding the SatNav stack in place. I did this on my 2010 XK and I have done it on my 2015 XK and it has worked flawlessly. Don't be tempted to cheapskate, these cars are beauties and are well worth some TLC and it is a small expense relatively for a large return.

[p4cks]

Another vote for a CTEK conditioner, I've got one on each of my other cars.

Whilst neither are Jags, here's one of them which needed some DIY but gives you an idea of how easy it is

[a8hex]

p4cks said:

Another vote for a CTEK conditioner, I've got one on each of my other cars.

Whilst neither are Jags, here's one of them which needed some DIY but gives you an idea of how easy it is

That's what I've been meaning to do with mine, did you fuse one or both of the lines, just it case?

[p4cks]

Nope, just plugged them into the walls.

[Wizward]

Is it possible to use a suitable solar panel perhaps located on the dash or under the rear window?
This would avoid trailing leads and the car would not have to be near a mains supply - maybe parked in the street?

[8bit]

A couple of folk on jaguarforum.com have used solar trickle chargers, not sure how effective they are personally. You won't be able to use one attached to any of the 12v sockets in the car as none of them are live when the car is switched off.