Pls recommend a good cheap trickle charger

[rhkumar]

As the subject mentions, I'm looking for a trickle charger that I can plug into the cigarette lighter. Any recommendations duly appreciated. Thx

 

[SteveFeakin]

C tek all the way! Think mine is a 3600

 

[dij999]

Is the cigarette lighter live when ignition off ?
I think I remember not being able to charge that way when I tried a few years ago - though may have been another issue.

Dave

 

[SteveFeakin]

Yes it is. There is another way to connect ro the battery though. Although the lighter is far easier

 

[dij999]

I have a connector inside my fuel flap - copied from someone else on here after I had the 'apparent' problem with the lighter socket.

Dave

 

[DavidL]

I have the other - accumate. No problems here, you just plug it in and leave it.

I believe Aldi do one sometimes which is basically the same thing but a whole lot cheaper.

 

[SteveFeakin]

They sure do and I know that others from here have both and say they do the same.... Although I just have the c tek 3600

 

[rhkumar]

Thx gents!
Steve do you plug the ctek through the cigarette lighter?

 

[SteveFeakin]

Yeah. It saves the messing with the battery and stuff. There is an adapter that you get.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

The CTek comes with a range of options for connecting to the car, including a cigarette lighter adapter and crocodile clips. The point about the CTek and Accumate are that they are battery conditioners - not just trickle chargers, so you can leave them connected for long periods without fear of overcharging.

On (most) pre-facelift 996's the cigarette lighter socket is ignition-switched, whetears on all facelift cars it is permanent feed.

Another vote for the CTek XS3600, but I'm sure other options are equally good. I paid £35 for mine on eBay.

 

[thirteeneast]

+1 for Ctek much better than Optimate.

 

[Frenchy]

Just bought a C Tek 800 from Hamilton Classics via e-bay £38 posted i have adapted the comfort lead so that it is permanently attached to the battery the small plug pokes out from underneah the boot carpet on my 944 t, plug and play.

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

ORIGINAL: Frenchy

Just bought a C Tek 800 from Hamilton Classics via e-bay £38 posted i have adapted the comfort lead so that it is permanently attached to the battery the small plug pokes out from underneah the boot carpet on my 944 t, plug and play.

I do something similar. I attached the lead direct to the battery, and fed the plug up through the plastic panel to the side of the battery. I can connect the charger through the opening along the back of the bonnet, and shut it without any problem.

 

[rhkumar]

Thx all! Purchased a ctek 3600 and the cigarette adaptor on eBay. £53 all in. Thx Roy

 

[jamescharnley]

I use this method too.

ORIGINAL: Richard Hamilton

ORIGINAL: Frenchy

Just bought a C Tek 800 from Hamilton Classics via e-bay £38 posted i have adapted the comfort lead so that it is permanently attached to the battery the small plug pokes out from underneah the boot carpet on my 944 t, plug and play.

I do something similar. I attached the lead direct to the battery, and fed the plug up through the plastic panel to the side of the battery. I can connect the charger through the opening along the back of the bonnet, and shut it without any problem.

 

[thirteeneast]

I use this one, Its an 8 step very happy with it.

I have put it on batteries that other chargers said WTF and it has reconditioned them nicely.

 

[rhkumar]

Very nice, just a bit above my budget. Thx