Will it go up in Smoke?

[jdpef356]

I have been told that someone is charging the battery using a trickle charger via the cigarette lighter connection.
However, I suspect that this is on a US model 993. Im not in a hurry to smoke mine so has anyone used
one of these on a UK car and if so what was the make and where did it come from?

 

[38F3E1]

You can charge the battery through the lighter but only if the wiring has been altered to make the lighter always live. It's usually only live when the ignition is on.

Ian.

PS I use a Halfords automatic battery charger and maintainer connected directly to the battery. Used them for many years and has worked well.

 

[clyde]

My lighter is permanently live and hasn't been altered.

 

[Guest]

ORIGINAL: ian_uk
PS I use a Halfords automatic battery charger and maintainer connected directly to the battery. Used them for many years and has worked well.

Can you use these without disconnecting the connections at the battery? I believe you can avoid this with some, but was always led to believe that this would fry the alternator diodes. I'd like an easy trickle charger that I can leave on all the time too, without disconnecting anything if possible...

 

[tim993]

ORIGINAL: roddylennox

ORIGINAL: ian_uk
PS I use a Halfords automatic battery charger and maintainer connected directly to the battery. Used them for many years and has worked well.

Can you use these without disconnecting the connections at the battery? I believe you can avoid this with some, but was always led to believe that this would fry the alternator diodes. I'd like an easy trickle charger that I can leave on all the time too, without disconnecting anything if possible...

That would be a CTEK then that you are after; v. cheap and Porsche even sell their own logo'ed version as an official accessory. Mine is connected via a simple flying lead / plug connector (supplied with the charger) in the luggage bay. It's always on and has been for over 18m when the car is in the garage. I would not bother with a lighter socket connection if yours is not an always-on socket - easier to go under the bonnet.

tim

 

[Taverner]

As Tim says, I have an Accumate, it is connected directly to the battery via the fly lead that came with the kit. When the car is in the garage it is always connected via the open lid. (Press down the lid locking mechanism to make sure the light is off. I have used it for four years and have never had a problem and the car will always start however long it has been left.

Michael

 

[38F3E1]

ORIGINAL: roddylennox

ORIGINAL: ian_uk
PS I use a Halfords automatic battery charger and maintainer connected directly to the battery. Used them for many years and has worked well.

Can you use these without disconnecting the connections at the battery? I believe you can avoid this with some, but was always led to believe that this would fry the alternator diodes. I'd like an easy trickle charger that I can leave on all the time too, without disconnecting anything if possible...

It operates just like the CTEK, Accumate, etc when the battery is charged and goes into monitor/top up mode as required. All fully automatic. No need to disconnect the battery. Have a couple of them and they have been in use now for 4 years now with no detriment so no negative effect on the cars electronics.

Ian.

 

[38F3E1]

ORIGINAL: clyde

My lighter is permanently live and hasn't been altered.

How do you know it hasn't been altered by a previous owner?

 

[clyde]

ORIGINAL: clyde

My lighter is permanently live and hasn't been altered.

How do you know it hasn't been altered by a previous owner?

I know the two previous owners Ian. The first one just wouldn't have done it, unless it was a side effect of the multi-changer being fitted (can't see why though as it was fitted by the dealer when new) and I know the second owner didn't.

It is a German import though, so maybe this is standard there?

Or ............ maybe there's something wrong with the circuit? [:-]

 

[38F3E1]

That's a possibility. Had heard there was a difference between UK and US models so perhaps EU models too. Great to be able to buy a car where you know all the previous owners.

Are there any big differences between the spec we had in the UK and the typical German spec?

Ian.

 

[clyde]

Are there any big differences between the spec we had in the UK and the typical German spec?

Like today, the base cars were a lower spec in Germany than here. Mine has no sunroof or rear wiper for example. The car's then spec'd up as the buyer wants, although it's not uncommon to see cars with relatively few options as they don't seem to take the same hit as a poorly optioned car does in this country when trade-in time comes along.