12V outlets suddenly failed

[kingston12]

I have recently stated using my CTEK charger on my rarely used 987, but then noticed it wasn't charging.

Having tried it in two of the 12V sockets and now tried two USB chargers, it appears both sockets are dead. Are they on the same fuse? Could anyone advise which I need to change?

[kingston12]

It would have helped if I had read the useful leaflet in the fusebox before posting! Apologies for that.

The outlets are fused 7.5a at location A-8 in the fusebox so I will try dropping in a replacement tonight.

It appears that the cigarette lighter has a much beefier circuit (fused 15a), so I might use that for the charger going forward (even though the manual advises not to for some reason)

[ChesterDog]

From memory, some of the outlets shut off after a time. Mind you don't fall foul of that.

[bcr5784]

kingston12 said:

It would have helped if I had read the useful leaflet in the fusebox before posting! Apologies for that.

The outlets are fused 7.5a at location A-8 in the fusebox so I will try dropping in a replacement tonight.

It appears that the cigarette lighter has a much beefier circuit (fused 15a), so I might use that for the charger going forward (even though the manual advises not to for some reason)

Interesting to know - though most common CTEK chargers don't put out more than 7.5amp so it shouldn't be a problem. Incidentally do you have one of their charging plugs indicating the state of charge? I have one - I thought it looked really useful - plug it in and check the state of the battery. Unfortunately it always indicates that the battery on all our cars need charging, so seems like a waste of time.

[kingston12]

ChesterDog said:

From memory, some of the outlets shut off after a time. Mind you don't fall foul of that.

I thought that they ran all the time, but I tried mine with the engine running anyway so it looks like they are definitely not working.

[kingston12]

bcr5784 said:

Interesting to know - though most common CTEK chargers don't put out more than 7.5amp so it shouldn't be a problem. Incidentally do you have one of their charging plugs indicating the state of charge? I have one - I thought it looked really useful - plug it in and check the state of the battery. Unfortunately it always indicates that the battery on all our cars need charging, so seems like a waste of time.

Mine is the Porsche 'Charge O Mat' one which I think is far from being the most powerful, so that is a bit strange. I hope that it is just the fuse!

I don't have a separate plug to check the state of the battery, but the charger itself has the lights on it. Similar to your experience, it always shows the battery needs charging. Even if I leave it plugged in for days and come back to the 'full' indicator, if I switch it off and on again it starts charging again!

It is a good unit apart from that, though. It has been on permanently every winter since I have had the car and I'd buy another immediately if it fails.

[rObArtes]

happened to me earlier in the year. had to replace both fuses. not had a problem since.

[kingston12]

rObArtes said:

happened to me earlier in the year. had to replace both fuses. not had a problem since.

So the cigarette lighter and the 12v failed at the same time? That is a strange coincidence. I have just put the new fuse in and my 12v outlets are back again.