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Using battery trickle charger over winter

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Oakleyextreme

Member
Norfolk
I've bought a bmw charger to use over winter but was wondering do I lock my zed or leave it unlocked as I'm not sure if the charger will set off the alarm?
I would think I should be able to lock my zed without any problems but wondering if anyone else has experience this.
 
Oakleyextreme said:
I've bought a bmw charger to use over winter but was wondering do I lock my zed or leave it unlocked as I'm not sure if the charger will set off the alarm?
I would think I should be able to lock my zed without any problems but wondering if anyone else has experience this.
Click to expand...

my charger is connected direct to the battery, i have a mains cable in the boot and the boot is closed, no problems with the alarm at all
 
Same as Taz, CTEK charger in boot connected directly to battery, mains cable running out under boot lid.

Car is garaged and locked but with the boot lid down but not latched - I don't think the alarm activates until both doors and the boot are shut/latched
 
PerryGunn said:
Same as Taz, CTEK charger in boot connected directly to battery, mains cable running out under boot lid.

Car is garaged and locked but with the boot lid down but not latched - I don't think the alarm activates until both doors and the boot are shut/latched
Click to expand...


Interesting - does the car actually fully shut down if you leave the boot partially open?
For the reason of not trapping the cable I connect my set up under the bonnet on the first catch.
 
cj10jeeper said:
Interesting - does the car actually fully shut down if you leave the boot partially open?
For the reason of not trapping the cable I connect my set up under the bonnet on the first catch.
Click to expand...


The cable does not get damaged when it's trapped under the boot lid, only a slight compression mark is found on the cable
 
Taz said:
cj10jeeper said:
Interesting - does the car actually fully shut down if you leave the boot partially open?
For the reason of not trapping the cable I connect my set up under the bonnet on the first catch.
Click to expand...


The cable does not get damaged when it's trapped under the boot lid, only a slight compression mark is found on the cable
Click to expand...

I get that and have done similar myself. My question was really of PerryGun who indicated he leaves the boot open.
 
cj10jeeper said:
PerryGunn said:
Same as Taz, CTEK charger in boot connected directly to battery, mains cable running out under boot lid.

Car is garaged and locked but with the boot lid down but not latched - I don't think the alarm activates until both doors and the boot are shut/latched
Click to expand...

Interesting - does the car actually fully shut down if you leave the boot partially open?
For the reason of not trapping the cable I connect my set up under the bonnet on the first catch.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure that the car goes into it's 'sleep' state - If I unlock it and turn on the ignition you can hear the pumps prime and the satnav shows the boot screen which, AIUI, it only does if the car is 'waking up' from a full shut-down state. I think it treats it the same as if you pop the boot using the remote, that doesn't seem to wake up all the systems either

Although with the CTEK connected it wouldn't really matter if it didn't fully shut down...
 
PerryGunn said:
Same as Taz, CTEK charger in boot connected directly to battery, mains cable running out under boot lid.

Car is garaged and locked but with the boot lid down but not latched - I don't think the alarm activates until both doors and the boot are shut/latched
Click to expand...

I have the E89 zed so on shutting the boot it electronically latch down.

I was thinking on connecting to the battery terminal leads under the bonnet then dropping the charger cables down to the floor so bonnet close as normal.
 
Oakleyextreme said:
PerryGunn said:
Same as Taz, CTEK charger in boot connected directly to battery, mains cable running out under boot lid.

Car is garaged and locked but with the boot lid down but not latched - I don't think the alarm activates until both doors and the boot are shut/latched
Click to expand...

I have the E89 zed so on shutting the boot it electronically latch down.

I was thinking on connecting to the battery terminal leads under the bonnet then dropping the charger cables down to the floor so bonnet close as normal.
Click to expand...

That would be the best method by far.
 
Taz said:
Oakleyextreme said:
Taz said:
http://s981.photobucket.com/user/T15PVW/slideshow/Ctek
Click to expand...

One thing Taz I would recommend unwinding all of the extension cable when in use.
I know it's only a small current going through the cable but it could get hot coiled up.
:thumbsup:
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for the amount of current its drawing and the fact that its outside i can't see there being any issue at all, but noted thanks
Click to expand...

If you had a long enough extension lead this method could also let you drive to the local shops without disconnecting the charger :rofl:
Regards
 
I trickle charge to the under bonnet points but feed the extension flex (with single outlet ) into engine bay near the wipers so i can close the bonnet properly without it trapping
I don't like the idea of a crushed or trapped lead leading to a possible 240v car :o although it is plugged into circuit breaker as well
 
Smartbear said:
If you had a long enough extension lead this method could also let you drive to the local shops without disconnecting the charger :rofl:
Regards
Click to expand...
:lol:

I used to forget mine was plugged in! :oops: and on a few occasions I have driven out of the garage and ripped the cables apart but luckily each time I managed to fix the connections without too much of an issue.
 
LeeZ4MR said:
Smartbear said:
If you had a long enough extension lead this method could also let you drive to the local shops without disconnecting the charger :rofl:
Regards
Click to expand...
:lol:

I used to forget mine was plugged in! :oops: and on a few occasions I have driven out of the garage and ripped the cables apart but luckily each time I managed to fix the connections without too much of an issue.
Click to expand...

+1 on crashing noises when leaving the bat-cave :oops:

I now hang a red cloth on the drivers door mirror as a reminder when the ctek is fitted
 
LeeZ4MR said:
Smartbear said:
If you had a long enough extension lead this method could also let you drive to the local shops without disconnecting the charger :rofl:
Regards
Click to expand...
:lol:

I used to forget mine was plugged in! :oops: and on a few occasions I have driven out of the garage and ripped the cables apart but luckily each time I managed to fix the connections without too much of an issue.
Click to expand...

Hope you have a circuit breaker :oldman:
 
Ewazix said:
LeeZ4MR said:
Smartbear said:
If you had a long enough extension lead this method could also let you drive to the local shops without disconnecting the charger :rofl:
Regards
Click to expand...
:lol:

I used to forget mine was plugged in! :oops: and on a few occasions I have driven out of the garage and ripped the cables apart but luckily each time I managed to fix the connections without too much of an issue.
Click to expand...

+1 on crashing noises when leaving the bat-cave :oops:

I now hang a red cloth on the drivers door mirror as a reminder when the ctek is fitted
Click to expand...
Yes that is a good idea :thumbsup:
 
Oakleyextreme said:
LeeZ4MR said:
Smartbear said:
If you had a long enough extension lead this method could also let you drive to the local shops without disconnecting the charger :rofl:
Regards
Click to expand...
:lol:

I used to forget mine was plugged in! :oops: and on a few occasions I have driven out of the garage and ripped the cables apart but luckily each time I managed to fix the connections without too much of an issue.
Click to expand...

Hope you have a circuit breaker :oldman:
Click to expand...
Good advice :thumbsup:
 
mr wilks said:
I trickle charge to the under bonnet points but feed the extension flex (with single outlet ) into engine bay near the wipers so i can close the bonnet properly without it trapping
I don't like the idea of a crushed or trapped lead leading to a possible 240v car :o although it is plugged into circuit breaker as well
Click to expand...
+1 this is the best solution in my eyes.
 
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