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Battery conditioner

colin129

colin129

PCGB Member
Member
I have a 987.1 S Cayman.

I have finally restored the power to my garage and want to hook up the battery conditioner so that I don't spend so much time fretting about having to take it out when it's wet to keep the battery charged up.

I know that if you need to jump start a Cayman, you are supposed to connect one of the leads to a terminal in the little box in the driver's foot well.

Do I need to do the same with the conditioner, or can I connect both leads directly to the battery?

Also, out of interest, what would happen if you tried to jump start the car directly off the battery terminals?
 
Hi Colin,

FYI I’ve always connected my CTEK direct to the battery terminals on my 987.2 CS without encountering any problems for the past 14-years or so, but you could always clamp to a body earthing point instead. Alternatively you could use the cigarette lighter socket if you have the appropriate adapter and cable to power your battery conditioner.

Unlike the 981-series cars the 987-series don’t have a battery condition module which requires the use of a body earthing point when using a battery conditioner, so I would guess that you could jump-start the car directly off the battery terminals, but I’d be inclined to use the established/recommended method of using a body earthing point in this case.

Jeff
 
I used a CTEK MXS5.0 charger/conditioner on my 987.1
Works a treat with the cigarette lighter adaptor and the power stays to it, the charger right next to the handbrake.

I also have a NOCO GB40 booster pack which I used a few times to jump the car when the battery needed replacing.
Connected it straight to the +ve and -ve terminals of the battery.

Two great bits of equipment to own when you don't use a car much.
 
I bought a booster pack before lockdown as a precaution, didn't use it until 2 weeks ago on my CR. Just hooked up to the 5 year old battery terminals with no issues.
 
I just connect to the battery terminals, I did use an adaptor to connect through the lighter socket on my 987/1 but the OPC reported that there was a problem with the socket on the 987/2 and then it didn't work properly although the lighter works as does the phone charger when Imply that in.
 
The tab in the fusebox is not for jumpstarting the car - it is to provide emergency power to enough of the central locking system to get the front boot lid open if the battery is flat, same for Cayman.

It doesn't connect to the charging or starting circuit.

So - conditioner on a 987 either direct to the battery - or via a ciggy lighter adapter - providing you connect it within a few mins of switching the ignition off ( otherwise the ciggy lighter socket goes to sleep)

As to jump start/use a jump pack - usual caveats apply if you need to do it - connect them appropriately to the battery terminals - watch out for short circuits.
 
Buddy said:
I just connect to the battery terminals, I did use an adaptor to connect through the lighter socket on my 987/1 but the OPC reported that there was a problem with the socket on the 987/2 and then it didn't work properly although the lighter works as does the phone charger when Imply that in.
Click to expand...

Back in the day I had the same issue Kevan, and since then have always connected my CTEK directly to the battery terminals without experiencing any problems because the 987.2 doesn’t have a battery conditioner monitor, unlike the later cars.

Jeff
 
For what it’s worth. Both this and my previous 987.2 are fine with the ciggy lighter. The “issue” is the circuitry is smart. If there is no input then the socket shuts down after 20 mins but if you connect up as soon as you switch off the socket stays live. Works for me due to how it’s parked and where the power outlet is.
 
I always plugged-in within 5mins of switching off the ignition. It worked fine for quite a long time and then suddenly failed [or maybe it was just intermittent - I can’t recall], so I opted for the direct connection to the battery and haven’t bothered to check if it’s working again.

Jeff
 
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