Battery Conditioner

[IainCameron]

My Boxster is now coming up to its 4th birthday. I had left it alone in a darkened garage for about 4 weeks and when I came to start her I noticed that the battery was not its usual bright self. The reason for taking her out was to take her for her 4 year service so when I was at the dealership I asked them to check out the battery condition. On picking up the car they said that the battery was still within spec. , whatever that means, so no requirment to replace it just yet. The service engineer did suggest that 4 years was about the time that Boxster batteries lasted but I think it all depends how you look after the battery.

I remembered some people on our Boxster Forum mention a Porsche Battery Conditioner so I purchased one from them. I noted that my car's 12v power outlet (cigar lighter) is not powered when the ignition is off so I have to use the additional crocodile (Cayman?!?) clips to connect on to the battery terminals.

Here is the question>
Does anyone know how to make live at all times this power outlet? Porsche want £40.00 to do it for me and I am sure if I got the correct connections in the fuse rack I can do it myself. I find that opening the bonnet, removing the battery cover and then "frigging the front bonnet release to prevent the light from staying on is a bit long winded if all I need to do is plug the conditioner unit into the 12v power outlet.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Hi Iain,

I use a Carcoon conditioner. (Same as Optimate, Accumate etc).

It has a lead which attached directly to the battery teminals with ring terminals - at the other end is a connector that the conditioner lead plugs on to.
So I have the lead from the battery poke out of the side of the battery cover (I shaved away a small area under the finger grips bu the clips - where it can't be seen - in order to feed the lead through).

So all I do is open the bonnet, and plug the lead on - from the windscreen side - and close the bonnet with the lead poking out the top by the wipers.

Can you not do the same with the one you bought?

 

[IainCameron]

Hi Mark,

I think I understand what you mean. SO you just leave the lead connected to the battery and stow it there ready for use. Looks like I could modify my leads to do the same and give me a tidier job, like yours. I will let you know.[]

Have a good Christmas,

 

[thboxster]

That option is probably easier then reworking your lighter socket. Maplin sell the Cayman clips and the female lighter sockets, so you could always make your own custom adapter. Seems like a fun project for Christmas holidays.

I on the other have the opposite situation. That is, sockets live at all times (although there was talk of one that shut down after some time) which means if I leave the car for a couple of days and forget to unplug the Snooper, I get a dead battery.

 

[IainCameron]

ORIGINAL: Mark Bennett

So all I do is open the bonnet, and plug the lead on - from the windscreen side - and close the bonnet with the lead poking out the top by the wipers.

Hi Mark and a Happy Newy Year.

I have now completed my little project and have "Hard Wired" the leads to the battery and installed an in-line fuse to the positive lead just in case the socket finds any stray earth wire poking into it when its tucked away and not in use.

Your idea of taking the cable from the rear side of the bonnet is great. I don't know why the OPC dealer did not know that this was a clear way to take out the cable and without leaving the the bonnet open.

Thanks again.

Also, I would have loved to come down to the Porsche Cars get together but its just a bit too far for such a short trip. Boo, hoo.[]

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: Bickley

Porsche market one and I know others are available. I am a little uneasy plugging any old unit in and leaving it switched on for weeks so presume a Porsche unit is best. Is it simply a question of connecting it to the battery terminals or are there more sophisticated ways?

My Porsche battery conditioner plugs into my power sockets ie cigarette lighter etc .. Works a treat

 

[Lancerlot]

ORIGINAL: daro911

My Porsche battery conditioner plugs into my power sockets ie cigarette lighter etc .. Works a treat

This will only work if your cigar lighter can be operated without the ignition key being inserted.

 

[jimso]

Really? I'm gonna have to check that one. I have a solar panel conditioner thing with a flashing LED that says its doing something. I see what you mean though. All those free solar rays could be going to waste! []

 

[gdavison]

I am just getting one as our Boxster battery went flat due to non use .. I was speaking to the Spares guy at the OPC and was told that porsche do two, one is black and one is silver, the differance being that the more expensive one (the silver one he thinks) can be left plugged in for "weeks on end" and "monitors the battery a lot more intelligently"

He also spoke about the "direct connected cigarette lighter" ..as others have said these cigarette lighter plugin ones only work if the cigarette is directly connected to the battery .. to test see if the cigarette lighter works without the ignition on ..

He also saod Porsche do a wiring loom for "under a tenner" which bypasses all this cigarette lighter requirement .. They did not have one in stock on Staurday but he is order up some for me to have a look at .. if its in Today I'll pop alonf to the OPC and have a look, then will report back

 

[Mark_Bennett]

I believe that power to the "accessory socket" powers off after a set period (after removal of the key) on some cars. This is so that you don't come back to your car to find your sat-nav/radar detector etc has drained the battery whilst you were gone.

This is why some need to have the accessory socket "permanently enabled" as Graeme mentions above.

It does however make it a grey area - you may not be able to tell just by seeing if the power is still to the socket after removing the key - you might need to check an hour or so later (but then you'll need to unlock the car to get in - thereby turning it all on again![&:])

Go for one that comes with a small loom that connects to the battery terminals. Then you just feed the wire from the charger down the top (screen end) of the bonnet, and plug on to said loom. []

 

[Guest]

Thanks for all the useful input but now I am a bit confused as to whether the cigar lighter will work or not. Last evening I confirmed mine will operate without the key but now there is a suggestion that it disables after an hour or so! Surely this cannot vary from car to car or year to year so there must be a definitive answer (he asked hopefully?)

 

[Mark_Bennett]

I'd like to know too []

 

[Monty2]

My 987 S (without Nav) struggled to turn over after a 2 week rest (remembered the last thing I did was raise the roof before turning off the engine) so asked advice of Cambs OPC they recommended the Black Porsche battery conditioner at £39. It plugs into the cigarette lighter with a very long lead which I trail over the drivers seat so as not to forget to disconnect it. When I use the remote to open the door if I need to get something out of the cockpit (without putting the key in the ignition) then click it locked the charger light comes on again. The Boxster had sat for 3 weeks this weekend so thought |I'd better remind the immobiliser that I had was the owner, the car fired into life no problem so I'm happy with the black cheaper conditioning unit, you just have to remember to unplug it from the wall before taking out of the cigarette plug as it states in the instructions.

Hope that helps

Paul

 

[Lancerlot]

ORIGINAL: Bickley

Thanks for all the useful input but now I am a bit confused as to whether the cigar lighter will work or not. Last evening I confirmed mine will operate without the key but now there is a suggestion that it disables after an hour or so! Surely this cannot vary from car to car or year to year so there must be a definitive answer (he asked hopefully?)

It does vary from one model year to the next. I suggest to just suck it and see![]

 

[sailor]

Just get the Porsche one from your OPC. They are only about 50 quid and will do the job.

JohnC
993turbo

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

http://www.accumate.co.uk/

 

[Delbox]

£50 - more like £85 from your friendly OPC. However, you can buy the 'Porsche' charger from CITEK - who make them - for £50.

Del

 

[Rodney Naghar]

Halfrauds do a trickle charger for £29, works well.

 

[BRIANX5]

Buy a CTEK conditioner with the cigar lighter adaptor then close the door and forget about it untill spring,its that easy.

 

[GOOFY]

BTW - just running the engine once / twice a week can't be good. Read somewhere that all this does is introduce moisture into oil/engine. Better to drive it for distance so engine thoroughly warmed up. Interestingly TVR forum recommend warming up at revs 2000rpm, not idle, if not taking car for drive. Failing that engine should be "rotated" even by hand if left stationary for long period. Apparently this reduces the stress on valve springs / camshaft when left for long periods. To me this makes sense and I would say applies to all engines - although I would just remove fuel pump fuse and rotate on starter motor. Something to bear in mind when putting the Porsche into hibernation !