C-TEK wiring help !

[GOOFY]

Hi

Just purchased C-Tek trickle charger/ battery conditioner with connector leads for direct to battery connection.

What is the optimum way to connect these that will allow:

1. outside parking on drive as opposed to garage
2. avoid ingress of water into car/ or bonnet when connected.

I note some have used cigarette lighter option. My concern is that this is will not work assuming the computer shuts down all ancilliaries (including interior lights left on by mistake) after extended period of time. Secondly I note there is no inline fuse and regard this is dangerous especially if wiring snags on body work etc.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[spyderman]

I always use mine with the cigarette lighter adaptor and run the cable through the door. No worries.

 

[keithm]

+1 [] You can close the door with the cable there, it does not foul or damage the seal. []

 

[ScottishSpyder]

I have mine connected to the battery and bring the lead up between the wipers at the top of the bonnet- All locked up and weather proof.

 

[tscaptain]

Yep!
http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/ctek/cigarette-lighter-adapter-xs800-xs3600-and-xs7000.aspx

 

[Hoopster]

The ciggie lighter attachment costs about £10 I think. It's very effective, the power cable can be run under the door, as other have mentioned and it does not cut off after the computer shuts down all ancilliaries. I've been using one and have left a car for up to 4 weeks plugged in and untouched and everything's been fine. During this time the ancilliaries have shut down, but the charger has continued to work.

 

[GOOFY]

Many thanks all - looks like ciggy lighter that best course of action.

BTW - as an excuse to stop battery going flat, took the Boxster out in the snow the other evening (much against my partner's advice !). Drove it immediately to the snow covered (large and empty ! ) car park.

Switched off traction control and had the best fun ever in the Boxster, powerslide, opposite lock, .......all without wearing the tyres out ! (Just need Walter Rohrl over here). One thing I realised is just how good Porsche Traction control is (even in 1999 design). Without it the car will not move forward or backwards. But I also realised that once a Boxster reaches a certain angle, no amount of opposite lock could rescue it from a spin. It was quite good fun exploring the dynamics ! Tempted to take it out again - hope the car park has not thawed out !

 

[Black80XSA]

Before buying the ciggy lighter adaptor make sure your cigarette lighter socket is permanently live, not all 996/986s are. Try the ciggy lighter with the ignition off.

 

[GOOFY]

Black80XSA - thankyou for your very sound advice - albeit a tad late ! Just bought the ciggy lighter attachment and found that it would not work ! The cig lighter does not remain powered with ignition on. I am a bit miffed as I had asked out here on the Forum, but advised no problem - not an issue with those that it does work on who responded, but I am sure there are "engineers" and techy experts who could have pointed out this - but couldn't be bothered. In the meantime I had made up a set of fused extension for the ciggy lighter - I will now pursue the batter connection option !
Thanks.

 

[Hoopster]

you have a couple of ciggy lighter sockets - I've heard talk that each might behave differently - try it in each before discarding this option

 

[keithm]

Correct, it's the rear of the two that is live on my MY2006 car, behind the armrest.

 

[phlize]

ORIGINAL: Hoopster

The ciggie lighter attachment costs about £10 I think. It's very effective, the power cable can be run under the door, as other have mentioned and it does not cut off after the computer shuts down all ancilliaries. I've been using one and have left a car for up to 4 weeks plugged in and untouched and everything's been fine. During this time the ancilliaries have shut down, but the charger has continued to work.

I have been using a CTek for a while now but with all the snow lately the car wasn't used for about 2 wks. When I came to open it the central locking had switched off - like it does in power saving mode. Surely this shouldn't happen with the CTek in use and showing only maintenance mode. I checked the battery & it was 12.2 volts. Anyone any idea of what level the battery gets to for the car to go into 'power saving' mode?? And shouldn't the CTEk keep the battery up at about 12.9v anyway??

 

[spyderman]

Mine does exactly the same. Car goes into power saving regardless of being on charge or not - its not linked to battery voltage.

 

[phlize]

OK, thanks Spyderman - I can stop worrying about having a duff Ctek now!!
So it must be some time thing which is weird, I'd have thought voltage more logical & easier to measure?

 

[spyderman]

That's right - five days I think.