Advice needed about Correct Way to Jump Start and Charge Battery

[longleydel]

Hi, I’m looking for advice about jump starting and charging a battery (in situ) and hope someone on the Forum had experience in the correct way of doing this. I own a 2005 E85 roadster.
When attempting to jump start, either by donor vehicle or using a battery jump start kit should you always do this via the relevant positive and negative posts in the engine bay?
Similarly, should you also connect a trickle charger in the same way i.e. to the terminals in the engine bay rather than directly to the battery in the boot? I didn’t want to remove or disconnect the battery.
I have searched on-line and looked at the owners’ manual which both indicate using the engine bay terminals (but, nothing about you must use these). While jump starting from the engine bay seems the most logical, would it be safe to connect a trickle charger direct to the battery in the boot without causing any damage to electrical components?

Derek

 

[Dav the wheel nut]

Have a read of this thread
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=70451&hilit=Spike&start=45

 

[longleydel]

Hi Dav, thanks for your response and locating this very old series of postings. Really helpful. I did search the Forum before posting something, but must have missed these exchanges.

From what I have read it would appear sensible to jump start using the engine bay connections given the level of ampage that most of these emergency starters have. I have recently purchased a NOCO GB40 jump starter which has a 1000ah capacity to cope easily with the 3 litre engine. I have had to jump start my Z4 (using a donor vehicle) a few times now (via the engine bay connections). An autoelectrician recenlty checked all the electrics confirming everything was working as it should and recommended the GB40. The problem was not using the vehicle suffuiciently enough resulting in a drained battery (which is new).

I'm planning to get a NOCO trickle charger (2 amp or so, a slow charging rate) to keep the battery from draining too much. From what I have read the general concensus would suggest its fine to connect this direct to the battery in the boot. Its a smart charger and only charges when the battery needs it. These can be used with the battery still connected to the vehicle.

If anyone who reads this forsees any problem connecting a trickle charger direct to the battery, please let me know.

Thanks again.

Derek

 

[buzyg]

Jump start using the engine bay terminals. Mine was going flat in two or three days last summer. Jump started mine using the 1.6 zetec in my little Mazda2. It cost me two batteries, before I found what was killing them. It was the sensor on the fuel filler cap.

 

[Zedebee]

I can recommend a CTEK. Mine has a split lead. One lead is permanently affixed to the battery terminals and the other is attached to the charger which I have mounted on the wall. When I park the car in the garage, I just plug the two leads together in the boot. Been doing this for a year now with no issues at all. Only thing I have to remember is to disconnect before I drive out of the garage again :roll:

 

[Number5]

When jump starting I’ve heard it’s good to allow the cables to be connected to both vehicles for a few minutes before attempting to start the dead car. This is to allow the battery to take on some charge before the demand of starting otherwise you’re more likely to cause more long term damage to the battery

 

[longleydel]

Hi, many thanks for all your helpful comments/advice above. Really helpful. I'll also checkout the CTEK charger mentioned.

 

[Thrustyjust]

Starting a battery and relying on the alternator to charge from flat is a sure way to damage the alternator. It is always best to recover the battery to a sensible level before attempting to start it. Number 5 gives a sensible approach of letting the good battery move power to the dead one before starting. On a trickle point of view. I have just fitted a Ctek and they do an adaptor to fit onto the power point , so thats what I do with mine. Works a treat.

 

[longleydel]

Thanks Thrustyjust, that's helpful. Out of interset which CTEK model are you using? Any charger I buy needs a mains power cable of at least 6 feet as I need to locate the charger in the boot or engine bay and plug into an external weatherproof power socket (only the mains cable is exposed to the elements). CTEK don't seem to poublish main cable lengths, including on their website. Their online chat couldn't help either.

Interested to know a little more about the adaptor you mention.

Derek

 

[Dav the wheel nut]

Always used Ctec mxs 3.8 to charge my 3.0 e85 without any issues for either short or long term charging using connections under the bonnet as there is enough room to put the unit under the hood and close it feeding the cable out. The cable however is only 4 feet long.

 

[longleydel]

Thanks Dav, I was considering the CTEK 3.8, but unsure how long the mains power cable was - until now, thanks. Also own a 3.0 SE E85. 4 foot is too short for my needs so will probably buy a NOCO charger (one has at a least a 6 foot mains cable).

As a matter of interest, do you disconnect the battery whilst charging?

Derek

 

[oldgitdave]

Thanks Dav, I was considering the CTEK 3.8, but unsure how long the mains power cable was - until now, thanks. Also own a 3.0 SE E85. 4 foot is too short for my needs so will probably buy a NOCO charger (one has at a least a 6 foot mains cable).

As a matter of interest, do you disconnect the battery whilst charging?

Derek

I also use a CTek 3.8 over the winter period on mine. I bought an extension lead https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-Conne...M,B002X6DQUA,B00ADIHUUW,B002OHSIEW,B00YBR8PFK & my unit is screwed to the wall near the power point.
The leads connect to the points under the bonnet which means I can close the bonnet, lock the car & put the cover on. No need to disconnect the battery at all. My car sits for 5 months or so on the CTek without issue.

 

[Dav the wheel nut]

As a matter of interest, do you disconnect the battery whilst charging?
Derek

As above, nope

 

[longleydel]

Hi Dav, thanks for your message, a very clean engine bay. Oh I do wish I had a garage. Use a quality weatherproof car cover however. Maybe I can find a way to run a mains extension lead to the engine bay and rest the charger there. The CTEK ones appear designed for weather extremes so long as their dry.

Derek

 

[enuff_zed]

Hi Dav, thanks for your message, a very clean engine bay. Oh I do wish I had a garage. Use a quality weatherproof car cover however. Maybe I can find a way to run a mains extension lead to the engine bay and rest the charger there. The CTEK ones appear designed for weather extremes so long as their dry.

Derek

It's not too difficult to adapt a tupperware box to house the lead connections in to keep them weatherproof.

 

[DMike]

This is my setup, hardwired to the battery shoes with the CTEK 56-261 hardwire lead that came with the charger, plus a CTEK 12v extension lead. The charger stays outside the boot when garaged but would it be parked outside, with an extension cord the charger could be inside the boot to prevent it from getting nicked.

 

[longleydel]

Hi DMike, thanks for sharing and taking time to take pictures. Really helpful.

I'm assuming you live in the US looking at the mains plug. What model of CTEK charger do you have as it appears to have quite a long mains power lead which is what I need? No doubt available in the UK with a 3-pin plug.

Derek

 

[Scooba_Steve]

What model of CTEK charger do you have as it appears to have quite a long mains power lead which is what I need? No doubt available in the UK with a 3-pin plug.

They do extensions for the 12 V side. Or just use an extension.

I have the 7 A charger and it's a good bit of kit, don't see much point in anything bigger.

 

[longleydel]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for your message. I think an extension lead from the external mains socket is probably best. I'll use a marginally thinner cable for the lead so I can close and lock the boot.

Derek

 

[Thrustyjust]

I mounted mine on the wall, so it doesn't get dropped or knocked .

Works a treat . i also bought the ctek extension cable , which allows it to be fed into the door frame and the door shuts on it. Then the ctek power point plug. So easy to use. If I need to push the car out, the charger to extension has a plug and I unclip that and slide the cable under the wiper to make safe from it getting run over. When I want to use the car, next to the charger is a hook, I just roll it up and hang from there. The good thing about being under the door, is the winter cover goes on and doesnt get in the way. No fumbling for cables for connecting up and the power point is permanent live .Also, you remember to disconnect as it is visible, before driving off.