battery conditioner, which one

[m60ddy]

Soon arriving into my garage is my dream car, a 4.2 Cerbera. It is currently being prepared at Track V Road and will possibly arrive just before Christmas, not best timing I know but its coming.
As a result it may spend a little time parked up till the weather returns, so which battery conditioner. Would prefer the cig lighter ones to save wireing one in but if they are pants then I will go with an item that does a job best.

Cheers
M

[gcpeters]

ctek, and wire it into the battery direct instead of having to faff around with the cig lighter (its a very very easy job)

I had an accumate and it broke..

GP

[V8 GRF]

I used the cig lighter connection on my Accumate for several years quite successfully until I got caught out one weekend when I'd done one or two short jouneys prior to not using the car for a few days. Unbeknown to me the fuse had blown in the lighter and I had a flat battery.

It's a job of 10 minutes to connect the plug across the terminals and you then have a direct and reliable connection. I just leave the plug hanging out of the side of the battery panel and it's a quick job to connect.

[EGB]

Think about a battery cut off switch. No drain. ECU reset bonus. Works for me over 3 months. Cigar charger is ok if it maintains 13.4 volts on battery when measured with ammeter after trickle charging. Nice Brooklands, big life change with Cerbera.

Edited by EGB on Wednesday 21st November 09:41

[TimJM]

I use a CTEK via the cig lighter and haven't had any issues. I got it off the last owner so has been charged this way for at least 6 years+ now. Generally I only put it on charge if I haven't used the car for a couple of weeks. It seems the Griff doesn't suffer from the current drain the Cerbs do (or at least that is my experience). My cerb was dead (wouldn't turn engine) from fully charged after 3-4days. My Griff has gone over five weeks without use or charge and started first turn.

I have the battery adapter but haven't ever thought of fitting it as the cig lighter does seem to work fine.

[NTEL]

I've used Accumate for the past 7 years with no problems what so ever. Plugs into the ciggy lighter socket so can't get easier than that. Works very well as the car still has the original battery, over 7 years old now. Car hardly gets used these days but never a problem starting it.

[Guillotine]

Accumate was the OEM kit from TVR, Cteks fine too though. Get a conditioner or a 3 stage a charger

V8 GRF said:

I used the cig lighter connection on my Accumate for several years quite successfully until I got caught out one weekend when I'd done one or two short jouneys prior to not using the car for a few days. Unbeknown to me the fuse had blown in the lighter and I had a flat battery.

It's a job of 10 minutes to connect the plug across the terminals and you then have a direct and reliable connection. I just leave the plug hanging out of the side of the battery panel and it's a quick job to connect.

When you connect your accumate, if connected the yellow led comes on.
Check when plugging in via ciggy socket and all is ok.
TVR electics arent the best and slamming the door can misplace the plug on Griffs etc.
Just check the led as you leave.

[V8 GRF]

Guillotine said:

When you connect your accumate, if connected the yellow led comes on.
Check when plugging in via ciggy socket and all is ok.
TVR electics arent the best and slamming the door can misplace the plug on Griffs etc.
Just check the led as you leave.

That's what I thought but obviously its not always a foolproof guide as the yellow light on the accumate came on that time as well so I assume there was/is some load in the wiring but it still didn't charge the battery.

[SPS]

TimJM said:

I use a CTEK via the cig lighter and haven't had any issues. I got it off the last owner so has been charged this way for at least 6 years+ now. Generally I only put it on charge if I haven't used the car for a couple of weeks. It seems the Griff doesn't suffer from the current drain the Cerbs do (or at least that is my experience). My cerb was dead (wouldn't turn engine) from fully charged after 3-4days. My Griff has gone over five weeks without use or charge and started first turn.

I have the battery adapter but haven't ever thought of fitting it as the cig lighter does seem to work fine.

+1
CTEK really good and has a number of very useful functions. You can also see what state of charge the battery is at by looking at the led cluster.
I use the cig point too.

[ratboiler]

I have both they are as good as each other.

[gammav]

I have C-Tec... 8 step (cant remember exact model), up until this year it has always worked fine via cig lighter.

Now cycles through the first five steps... then goes to error mode before it reaches the trickle stage.

C-Tec web site suggests battery faulty and cant hold charge but the battery starts the car just fine and has never gone flat.

Suspect the problem might be cig socket so might try a direct connection to the battery to see if that solves the problem.

Anyone had a similar experience?

[m60ddy]

EGB said:

Think about a battery cut off switch. No drain. ECU reset bonus. Works for me over 3 months. Cigar charger is ok if it maintains 13.4 volts on battery when measured with ammeter after trickle charging. Nice Brooklands, big life change with Cerbera.

Edited by EGB on Wednesday 21st November 09:41

Thanks for all the responses. Seems there is little between the units them selves. As for a battery cut off switch, thought the idea of the charger's was to keep the ecu properly supplied with power and to reduce electrical issues? Is this true? Would a battery cut off be detrimental or benefit the car? Where would you put it?

Ps I loved my 280 it was also one of the original turbo technics cars. Was very sad to see it go but it was always a stepping stone to a Cerbera.

Edited by m60ddy on Wednesday 21st November 16:25

[blueg33]

SPS said:

TimJM said:

I use a CTEK via the cig lighter and haven't had any issues. I got it off the last owner so has been charged this way for at least 6 years+ now. Generally I only put it on charge if I haven't used the car for a couple of weeks. It seems the Griff doesn't suffer from the current drain the Cerbs do (or at least that is my experience). My cerb was dead (wouldn't turn engine) from fully charged after 3-4days. My Griff has gone over five weeks without use or charge and started first turn.

I have the battery adapter but haven't ever thought of fitting it as the cig lighter does seem to work fine.

+1
CTEK really good and has a number of very useful functions. You can also see what state of charge the battery is at by looking at the led cluster.
I use the cig point too.

+ another

Cit lead is most convenient. Mine came with a leat with croc clips and a lead with terminals to wire to the battery. On the Alpine I use the latter as I cant open the door in the garage. On the Tusc I used the cig lighter.

All my other battery conditioners have lasted about 18 months ctek is 3 years old and going strong

[gerradiuk]

m60ddy said:

Would a battery cut off be detrimental or benefit the car? Where would you put it?

I have a C-Tek straight off the battery not really bothered to use it on the Cerb though as I have a cut off switch! Not sure if you can se it properly its the right hand side of the front number plate under the spotlight,the silver thing. I fitted this one the P.O. had one fitted as well but that was inside the bonnet bit of a pain so I bought this one & put it there so I can keep bonnet locked & switch it all off by key!!

Here it is !
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Durite-0-605-20-Battery-...
HTH

[m60ddy]

gerradiuk said:

m60ddy said:

Would a battery cut off be detrimental or benefit the car? Where would you put it?

I have a C-Tek straight off the battery not really bothered to use it on the Cerb though as I have a cut off switch! Not sure if you can se it properly its the right hand side of the front number plate under the spotlight,the silver thing. I fitted this one the P.O. had one fitted as well but that was inside the bonnet bit of a pain so I bought this one & put it there so I can keep bonnet locked & switch it all off by key!!

Here it is !
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Durite-0-605-20-Battery-...
HTH

Quite like the idea of that. Looks quite tidy and leaves the rest of the car secure.

Where was that picture taken, Looks like Sheply tractor meet near Holmfirth??

PS VVV Clean, car looks great.

Edited by m60ddy on Wednesday 21st November 16:28

[gerradiuk]

It was taken "The Mark classic show" in Somerset.
TBH it could be a bit tidier but yes it does work really well, as you say all secure etc. The reason I chose that switch is a freind use's these on his boats etc & is quite water resistant.








Edited due to tramadol

[Englishman]

ratboiler said:

I have both they are as good as each other.

+1

Had Accumate for 10+ years, Ctek for 7+, used most days and no issues with either.

[carsy]

Ctek for me and via the cig lighter.

[GT6k]

I use a CTEK connected to the fusebox in the boot. In my garage this is much easier to get at than to the battery and it also means that i can disconnect the battery for maintenance but still keep the car live.

The problem with a battery disconnect is that the ECU and the alarm then have to run off their internal batteries which stresses them and if either is faulty it will cause problems.

[m60ddy]

GT6k said:

The problem with a battery disconnect is that the ECU and the alarm then have to run off their internal batteries which stresses them and if either is faulty it will cause problems.

This is my fear, also when the battery is turned on would it spike the electrics and cause problems?