Automatic battery chargers

[pcn1]

Need to get one for the 944. I use a optimate on the bike and they are great, but car batteries are to big for them (I use a 650 cold crank amp battery in mine).
Halfords do a unit for about £37. Its kinda big, anybody got one or use something else ?

[drhildr]

This is by far the best product I ever bought - CTEK 3600 Charger and Conditioner - charges from flat and conditions and means I never get that sinking feeling when one of the cars won't start just cos I haven't played with it for w eek or two!

[silver993tt]

pcn1 said:

Need to get one for the 944. I use a optimate on the bike and they are great, but car batteries are to big for them (I use a 650 cold crank amp battery in mine). Halfords do a unit for about £37. Its kinda big, anybody got one or use something else ?

Optimate is great for cars. I swap mine between car (993tt) and bike (ZX12R) all the time

[abarber]

I thought optimate was for bikes etc, i.e. lower amp hours?

[ChrisW.]

I use one and it's fine.

I also keep a charged spare battery and jump leads at home for those horrendous -12C mornings --- used with all the cars / truck and all for the cost of a spare battery which will run a camping light come the odd power cut.

I do find that the Porsche immobiliser can do for a less than perfect battery in less than two weeks ...

[boxin993]

Yep the CTEK is the best IMO, the xs3600 is good for bikes and cars the xs7000 car only but has five stage charge and will recover dead batteries quicker, BTW the xs 3600 is the charger you would find supplied by Porsche, re badged Porsche i think merc use them too.

[pesty]

I see the xs3600 has an option of charging through the cigarette lighter. When my car is in the garage I dont really have access to the battery becuause the motorbike is in the way.
Anyone know if it oks to charge a 964 through the cigarette light socket?

[robbie_toys]

pesty said:

I see the xs3600 has an option of charging through the cigarette lighter. When my car is in the garage I dont really have access to the battery becuause the motorbike is in the way. Anyone know if it oks to charge a 964 through the cigarette light socket?

Depends if the cigarette lighter is wired to accept this. I believe most 996's onwards were wired to support this. I seem to recall that pre-996's could be modified to charge through the lighter.

The chargers are great & hassle free. I've got one for the GT3 , which working away a lot is ivaluable as the car regular goes weeks without moving/