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Info on chargers, please

pse_SC

pse_SC

PCGB Member
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I know a lot of people use C-Tek chargers (or the like) on their 993.
Can someone give me the lowdown on the best method they've found for using such a charger, please?

I always, and will continue to, use my car regularly all year round (at least every two weeks or so) and the charging has never been an issue, but the option would be useful to know about.

On the same subject, should the battery ever run down low enough for the doors not to open, presumably the alarm would go off first?
I say this as I've never experienced any problems... just wondered what to do in that eventuality - I hear there is an emergency manual bonnet release (inside front n/side wheelarch liner?), if you can't get to hood otherwise?

I have a Porsche Thatcham 2 (key to open doors only) factory alarm on it, so have never heard the alarm go off, anyway (thankfully)[:)]
 
Hi Paul,

I have a C-tek unit, it comes with a flying lead plug kit so you can attach the lug end to your battery terminals and leave the plug end in your bonnet. The charger comes with a socket on flying lead so couple the two together and hey presto chargng, very quick and easy. A point to remember is the C-tek unit also conditions the battery by automatically discharging and charging the battery which should prolongue its life. Im sure other units do exactly yhe same! Used one for 10yrs and never had a battery issue even though she only does a couple of thousand miles per year. ( just given myself the kiss of death)
 
Paul, There is an emergency bonnet release but it is intended for use in the situation of "main release cable snaps" scenario - not power failure because our cars can be opened with the key only when there is no power in battery. Just insert the key into lock and turn. That door only will unlock if no power in battery.

I left interior light on because I must have knocked it retrieving a bag from the rear seats when I arrived at airport. Two weeks later I returned to find a completely drained battery. Alarm sounds as soon as you attach a jump start kit but you can then use the remote to deactivate it.

Like you I tend to use my car through the winter. I connect the CTEK if I have not used it for a few days and suspect I will not be out for a few more days. That way if it gets tough to reach due to snow I don't have to worry about it.
 
Thanks for your replies, both...

Mike - when connected up, do I presume you can then close the bonnet sufficiently to make sure the courtesy light is inaffected?

Mark - With my Thatcham 2 (no "˜blip' fob), I always have to use the key (at one door or other) to unlock the car anyway, but good to know it should be accessible in the event of a power loss.

With enough "˜exercise', I've never had any issue with it, even after around 2 weeks inactivity.
I know that the battery's about 6 years old now, however - just trying to hedge bets[;)].
 

ORIGINAL: pse_SC

Thanks for your replies, both...

Mike - when connected up, do I presume you can then close the bonnet sufficiently to make sure the courtesy light is inaffected?

Mark - With my Thatcham 2 (no "˜blip' fob), I always have to use the key (at one door or other) to unlock the car anyway, but good to know it should be accessible in the event of a power loss.

With enough "˜exercise', I've never had any issue with it, even after around 2 weeks inactivity.
I know that the battery's about 6 years old now, however - just trying to hedge bets[;)].
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The cable is only thin gague copper so i pull it over the wing and gently fully close the bonnet, the cable is absorbed into the rubber seal and easilly clears the gap between the wing and bonnet plus the bonnet has rounded edges so wont damage the cable!
Click to expand...
 
I have a Halfords combined charger and maintainer as I wanted the ability to charge a battery as well as maintain it. It automatically flips mode between the two as required. It is about 5 litre bottle of oil sized with a handle and I hang it from the ceiling in the garage to the right height with crocodile clips attached to rope when not in use. I drive up, open the bonnet and attach to battery. Manually flick the bonnet catch down to put the interior lights out and rest the bonnet back onto the closed catch which means it sits a couple of inches open.

When ready to go, disconnect and with the bonnet open pull the lever in the car to open the catch and then bonnet down. It has been a good simple system for the last 10 years.

Ian.
 
I use the Ctek 3600 and have for ten years plus. The unit is a "smart" charger and conditioner which will recover the 5% or so of battery capacity which will not ever be possible through charging via the alternator or a standard charger. I have found it to be a very reliable device, and I connect it via the cigarette lighter socket.
 
Great - thanks for all your detailed experiences on this - I'll investigate further and will make a decision on this soon[:)]

(If any "˜doubters' of the club are watching this post, THIS is how to get the best out of the forum (and the club) - friendly help and advice, always reciprocated.[;)])
 
I threaded the lead from my CTEK through to the NS wing area (via the headlamp area) and then into the front bumper/PU, finally emerging from the grill beneath the numberplate and fixed very neatly out of sight with velcro. 'also fitted a connecting block at the top of the boot area just before the wing grommet to allow easy disconnection when the bumper needs removal etc. It works a treat and is very convenient to connect/disconnect without leaving the bonnet open etc.
btw I don't think the CTEK actually discharges the battery, but the blurb certainly shows a graph implying some kind of voltage cycling to reduce sulphonation/deterioration. I'm not sure how much I believe it but at that price it ought to be something special; one wonders if the Aldi/Lidl equivalents claim the same battery reconditioning performance?
 
I've got Halfords own 'Maintenance Charger' and it's never been a prob.

I have ign cut off in the Cup so the only load is on the battery and 'Dis-Car-Nect -http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richbrook-DIS-CAR-NECT-Battery-Cut-Off-Switch/dp/B002RXMHVI - on another car.

The Halfords unit came with croc clips and a permanent lead that one can bolt on to the battery -prob useful in 993/964 where the carpet etc covers the battery leaving a wander lead exposed above.
 
I use the chargers Porsche offered ages ago, the one that works through the cig lighter. They always worked great, I´ve been using them for my 964 and my 993 for many years now.

So, no playing with leads and battery, just plug and play. That should work with any maintenance charger, if you replace the croc clips with a cig lighter plug.


Rgds,

Hacki
 
I was under the impression that the cig lighter in a 993 was not live with keys out of the ignition. If this is the case, surely a trickle charger will not work though it?
 
That's right, you need to do a small change to the wiring to make this work. I've not bothered because I've wired a permanent CTEK connector to the terminals on the battery. But I do worry that one day I'll jump in the car and drive off with it still connected. Using something inside the cabin makes this less likely.
 
Mark, I did this last week! I actually unplugged the charger from the mains but forgot ro battery side! Fortunately nothing shorted out just snapped the cable inside my make shift plug n socket arrangement and was a 5 minute fix!
 
The solution I decided on to stop this happening was to leave the little plastic booklet which came with the charger resting on the top of the steering wheel and dashboard. The tag on the booklet does not fit around the stering wheel. Got the idea from a warning triangle which my father bought in the 1960s prior to taking a Morris Minor to Belgium as European traffic laws required a triangle to be carried if the car did not have hazard lights. The triangle is lying in the boot of my car now and the plastic cover has writing on it to tell you to clip the cover over the steering wheel when in use, obviously to stop you driving off and leaving your triangle behind. That was in the days of clipping yellow plastic covers over headlights to change the direction of the dipped beam. And foot operated dip switches for headlights. Starting to feel old now.
 
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