Charging Via Cigarette Lighter ?

[rustoni]

I recently brought an Accumate charger with the cigarette lighter adapter. I used this two days ago for the first time and unfortunately my V8S needs the ignition switched on before the socket becomes live. So ignition on I then checked the accumate charger and it’s showing that the battery is charging so I left it for about 15 hours, Upon checking the car the battery light is still not showing that the battery is fully charged so I switched it off and then on again and left it for a further 6 hours…. still not fully charged. Decide to go for a spin but battery is as flat as a pancake, the car had enough charge to start before I plugged in the charger.
So obviously none of the charge has been going to the battery even though the accumate showed that it was charging? I have two immobilisers, one is linked to the alarm and the other is standalone key transponder type. The alarm was switched of but the standalone immobiliser was armed – could this by why the charger didn’t charge the battery? Even though the cigarette lighter will work when in this state?
Additionally how difficult is it to wire the cigarette lighter to a permanent live so I don’t have to leave the ignition on in future or is there an alternative where I can hard wire the unit to the battery so that I don’t have to take it out the car and leave the alarm off?

Any help greatly appreciated

Ian

[roy c]

Make sure that the cigarette lighter is wired correctly, as it will still work if the wires are reversed - but not as a battery charger!

I have an Airflow Battery Conditioner, which has a wiring kit to enable direct connection (fused) to the battery via a small plug, which I mounted above the inner wing so that the bonnet can close over the wires.

With a V8 (battery in boot), you could you fit an external socket (through the back wall of the cabin or wherever) to avoid any problems.

[RichardR]

If you're having to leave the ignition so that the battery warning light on the dash is on you should be careful as this will mean that power is being sent to the ignition coil which can knacker it after a while if the engine isn't running.

(and I'm sure we all know how risky a knackered coil can be! )

In terms of getting a permanent connection for the charger, you'd probably be better off buying a secondary cigarette lighter style connection and installating it in the engine bay with a direct connection to the battery via an inline fuse (see In-line sockets section on this page). Much easier than trying to navigate your way through the existing wiring loom!

>Edited to add link to sockets page.

>> Edited by RichardR on Thursday 13th March 09:54

[andyf007]

I'm going to have to ask this in a numpty style because it has always puzzled me.

How exactly does this arrangement work? Surely using the lighter socket means that you are charging the battery from the battery. How can the battery charge itself?

Andy

[roy c]

andyf007 said: I'm going to have to ask this in a numpty style because it has always puzzled me.

How exactly does this arrangement work? Surely using the lighter socket means that you are charging the battery from the battery. How can the battery charge itself?

Andy

AFAIK it's just a way of connecting the (trickle) charger to the battery, by using the existing (dodgy) fag lighter wiring, rather than having (straightforward & safe) direct wiring.

[RichardR]

andyf007 said: I'm going to have to ask this in a numpty style because it has always puzzled me.

How exactly does this arrangement work? Surely using the lighter socket means that you are charging the battery from the battery. How can the battery charge itself?

Andy

Andy,

I can't give you all the technical details on current flow etc., but using the lighter socket is simply a more elegant version of connecting crocodile clips to the battery terminal i.e. it's a physical connection between the battery and the charger. The current simply flows from the charger to the battery rather than from the battery to the lighter/phone charger etc.

Richard

[andyf007]

RichardR said:

andyf007 said: I'm going to have to ask this in a numpty style because it has always puzzled me.

How exactly does this arrangement work? Surely using the lighter socket means that you are charging the battery from the battery. How can the battery charge itself?

Andy

Andy,

I can't give you all the technical details on current flow etc., but using the lighter socket is simply a more elegant version of connecting crocodile clips to the battery terminal i.e. it's a physical connection between the battery and the charger. The current simply flows from the charger to the battery rather than from the battery to the lighter/phone charger etc.

Richard

Aha! All becomes clear. There was me thinking that the charger was receiving it's power from the lighter socket, jeez!

Thanks

Andy

[leventech]

There are many different ways of using the Accumate charger depending on the model of car and where the connection can be best made. Rather than try and answer all the permutaions in gassing please call me direct on Tel:[phone] and I can do it on an individual basis.

Simon