Trickle Chargers --- some advice needed

[italporker]

I've recently purchased a 996 C4S with practically no mileage whatsoever (not quite brand new but there or thereabouts). I won't be using it every day and am concerned that by leaving it for several days at a time the tracking system will consume all of (or at least a considerable amount of) the battery power. Porsche have suggested that I get a "trickle charger" to mitigate this. Does anyone have any views on these trickle chargers? Are they effective or just a waste of time ?
Any advice gratefully received.

[Don]

Go buy yourself an Accumate trickle charger. They work.

Accumate will do you one that plugs into your cigarette lighter socket - you just close the door on the (thin) cable and lock the car up as normal.

I have two of them - one for the Porker and one for the Tiv - the Tiv one uses croc clips on special terminals wired into the engine bay.

www.accumate.co.uk/

Having said this I have left my BoxS (with Tracker) without being plugged in for a couple of weeks before now with no problem, anyway. But if you tend to leave the car for several weeks at a time during the winter then the trickle charger will keep it "weapons hot" and ready to go...

[tonyhetherington]

I have the previous version of this little baby. Mine's a work of genius so this must be even better.

I once left a car fully alarmed up for 6 months (stored it properly) and it kept the battery perfect.

www.calamander.co.uk/batteryconditioners/ctek800.htm

[silver993tt]

I use an Optimate, got it from my bike dealer. Looks after my bike and my car.

[yank]

The charger from Porsche works fine, and isn't alot of money. It just plugs into the lighter socket and keeps the battery charged without overcharging it.

[silver993tt]

yank said:

The charger from Porsche works fine, and isn't alot of money. It just plugs into the lighter socket and keeps the battery charged without overcharging it.

yes but my Boxster S and now my 993tt won't charge thru the cig lighter when the ignition is off. Was sold one of these by Porsche dealer when I had my Boxster S, waste of time for me.

[Don]

silver993tt said:

yes but my Boxster S and now my 993tt won't charge thru the cig lighter when the ignition is off. Was sold one of these by Porsche dealer when I had my Boxster S, waste of time for me.

Porsche did change that for later BoxsterSs and also 996s I believe...certainly my car charges up quite successfully through the lighter socket.

[marx]

Can recommend the Draper Battery Master for £18 after 993 died last winter - it works very well now. It connects to the battery. OPC wanted £50 to wire my ciggy lighter up & Porsche unit was considerably more £££'s

>> Edited by marx on Wednesday 21st September 19:56