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Maintenance charging 981 spyder/boxster

PAul73

New member
Hi all

How have folks connected up their CTEK type chargers?

Is it best to leave car unlocked, raise bonnet and connect to battery (while removing the front boot courtesy light) or some other configuration?

Can the car be locked with the bonnet open?
TIA

Paul
 
I have the Battery "eyelet to socket" Y shaped thingy attached to my battery, this is threaded thru the plastic panel so is accessible by simply opening bonnet and allows me to connect in the charger, I then simply close the bonnet with the cable going thru the rubber bonnet edging and lock the car

I have seen some comments re a trickle charger should not be connected direct to battery however I have done it this way since I bought this Ctek for my first 944 in about 1990.. This charger has looked after 3 944's and 6 Boxsters .. still works and does its job and every Porsche has been a happy one, never had an OPC comment on it being incorrect after any service work etc

 
Hi Paul,

There’s an earthing post on your 981 to which the negative lead of your charger should be connected, with the positive lead going to the battery post. I always use the croc clips myself but as noted above you can use the eyelet to socket cable provided instead, or alternatively invest in the cigarette socket cable.

If you’re going direct you can feed the cable through the gap between the windscreen valance and the top of the bonnet (it won’t pinch the cable), so you can close the bonnet and lock the car quite safely.

Jeff

 
I have used both the eyelets connected to the battery terminals and the crocodile clips onto the battery.

Both been fine and both were supplied with the C Tek don't think they would supply them if not safe.

 
I have both Ctek and Lidl ones connected to cars .They say on the 981 you should connect the positive + to battery and the negative - to the chassis not the battery there is a 8mm bolt to attach it to ..I have always just put the clips direct to + - and had no issues ..a tip take a small nick out of the O ring to form a C that way you do not need to disconnect battery leads .

 
kitchens said:
I have both Ctek and Lidl ones connected to cars .They say on the 981 you should connect the positive + to battery and the negative - to the chassis not the battery there is a 8mm bolt to attach it to ..I have always just put the clips direct to + - and had no issues ..a tip take a small nick out of the O ring to form a C that way you do not need to disconnect battery leads .
That is exactly how I connect my CTEK as I was told with stop start battery condition monitoring this can confuse the system if connected just to the battery terminals rather than the earth to a chassis point. I purchased the lead with the larger eyelets rather than cut the 6mm ones.

 
gdavison said:
I have the Battery "eyelet to socket" Y shaped thingy attached to my battery, this is threaded thru the plastic panel so is accessible by simply opening bonnet and allows me to connect in the charger, I then simply close the bonnet with the cable going thru the rubber bonnet edging and lock the car

I have seen some comments re a trickle charger should not be connected direct to battery however I have done it this way since I bought this Ctek for my first 944 in about 1990.. This charger has looked after 3 944's and 6 Boxsters .. still works and does its job and every Porsche has been a happy one, never had an OPC comment on it being incorrect after any service work etc

I have had the same set up for four years and it works perfectly.

 
The charger connection on a 981 battery allows connection / disconnection without disturbing the battery lead ...

 
Hi Paul

I have a recently purchased 981 Boxster. I bought a Ctek charger / maintainer fo mine. I connecteed it to the positive battery lead & the earth terminal on the top of the strut mount. You will need an 8mm bolt for this. I bought a Ctek battery lead from Amazon for about £8, this has an in-line fuse & LED`s showing the state of charge. The `standard` eyelets are 6mm. thast is perfect for the battery but needs to be opened out for the earth. I used a small file, but snipping the ring & opening it out will work. I brought the lead through the near side hand recess in the boot panel. it sits in there nicely when not in use & is easy to access when needed. As i keep my car garaged. i place the charger unit on the bonnet slam panel & rest the bonnet back down on its catch. The car can then be locked.

It is important NOT to connect both terminals to the battery, as it bypasses the cars own battery monitoring system & could result in overcharging once the car is running. By connecting the earth to the strut top, it alows the `car` to see that the battery is being charged & adjusts accordingly. I hope this makes sense.

Paul

 
The simplest way to connect a CTEK charger is through the cigarette lighter or accessory socket in passenger footwell. This is the Porsche preferred connection which is why the Porsche branded charger (made by CTEK) comes with a cigarette lighter plug rather than battery terminals.

You can buy a adapter from CTEK with a cigarette lighter plug on it. The cable from the CTEK is thin enough for the door to close on it without any trouble.

 
I have used the socket in the passenger footwell for a 2 years, and its works perfectly. It also makes it really easy to unplug and plug in if you fancy using the car often.

 
paulrob100 said:
Hi Paul

I have a recently purchased 981 Boxster. I bought a Ctek charger / maintainer fo mine. I connecteed it to the positive battery lead & the earth terminal on the top of the strut mount. You will need an 8mm bolt for this. I bought a Ctek battery lead from Amazon for about £8, this has an in-line fuse & LED`s showing the state of charge. The `standard` eyelets are 6mm. thast is perfect for the battery but needs to be opened out for the earth. I used a small file, but snipping the ring & opening it out will work. I brought the lead through the near side hand recess in the boot panel. it sits in there nicely when not in use & is easy to access when needed. As i keep my car garaged. i place the charger unit on the bonnet slam panel & rest the bonnet back down on its catch. The car can then be locked.

It is important NOT to connect both terminals to the battery, as it bypasses the cars own battery monitoring system & could result in overcharging once the car is running. By connecting the earth to the strut top, it alows the `car` to see that the battery is being charged & adjusts accordingly. I hope this makes sense.

Paul
Exactly the same as mine. I had to snip the rings to get them to fit. Works fine. I also rest the bonnet on the latch and lock the car.

 
Thanks all

I have often wondered about the cigarette lighter option. I recall going to Porsche Solihull and all the ones outside on the forecourt being hooked up to CTEKs, they can't all have been left unlocked ;-)

Will get it sorted

cheers

Paul

 
StuNo1 said:
I also rest the bonnet on the latch and lock the car.

Stu,

Unless you’re worried about not being able to open the bonnet if the battery fails, as I pointed out in a previous post, if you feed the cable through the gap between the windscreen and the top of the bonnet you can close the bonnet without leaving it on the latch and then lock the car. The cable won’t get pinched.

Jeff

 
Follow up question....is the Porsche Banner 70ah battery an AGM one (2015 Spyder) ? My NOCO charger that i am using until i get my CTEK back has a setting for AGM ones

part no is 999-611-070-12

ta

 
Paul,

I’m pretty sure that since you have stop/start (?) it’s an AGM battery, but you can always check with your local Porsche dealer for confirmation.

Jeff

 
Motorhead said:
Paul,

I’m pretty sure that since you have stop/start (?) it’s an AGM battery, but you can always check with your local Porsche dealer for confirmation.

Jeff

Update: although not stop/start, Porsche Leicester have confirmed that they're fitted with AGM type batteries anyway

 
Thanks for your very helpful photo of the correct charging set up.

I have just taken delivery of a 981 Boxster S and have connected it up to my Optimate charger. Looking at your photo and reading advice I see that I did it incorrectly in that I hooked up to the negative battery terminal and not grounded on the chassis. So, flipped up the bonnet but no nut in place. Out of interest I spoke to the dealer who supplied the vehicle. He checked on 3 stock cars - GTS, Cayman and a 987. None have the bolt in place.

I will have a rummage in the shed for something that does the job to secure the negative lead but out of interest, do you recall what you used? M5 bolt?

Thanks

Jan

 
Welcome Jan ...

Positive battery connection is M6 - 10mm / Negative chassis connection is M8 - 13mm

The M8 bolt is not a standard, supplied fitting

 

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