Battery Maintenance Charger - Where to Connect?

[mgrlane]

That looks like the correct hex bolt for the negative, mgrlane.
Funnily enough, I was looking at this thread earlier too, as I suspect this cold snap is going to affect my battery a little and I need to break out the trickle charger.

Cheers Inkey. I can't see where else it would go but it does seem a bit of a distance from the positive so I thought I would ask. I am not sure if it really matters where the negative goes within reason.

I got a ctek 5.0. It will do the Merc aswell as the BMW and it appears that Merc, BMW and Aston Martin rebrand the Ctek as their own.

It started fine after not using it for 3 weeks 2 weeks ago but if its sat for a couple of months it would be silly to run the battery down.

 

[Vornwend]

Those are the correct connections. I'm only using the car about once a week at the moment so have it on trickle charge in between. If you disconnect the power to the charger before disconnecting the leads you can see what voltage the battery is at (well at least on my Airflow charger/conditioner)

 

[mgrlane]

Oh. Someone recommended me one from the AA the other day where you plug it into the fag lighter and sit the solar panel on the dash.

It does the job and I think it was 40 odd quid but decided to go for good old fashioned electricity.

 

[inkey$]

Yeah, good to try and keep it in condition with current outside temp. My non-CTEK-branded trickle charger was bought in Lidl a number of years ago. Got me out of a few tight spots over the years.
Earth wise, I'm sure you could just use a bolt on the strut, but that hex bolt is the bespoke one.

 

[mgrlane]

Those are the correct connections. I'm only using the car about once a week at the moment so have it on trickle charge in between. If you disconnect the power to the charger before disconnecting the leads you can see what voltage the battery is at (well at least on my Airflow charger/conditioner)

Cheers Vornwend. Greatly appreciated buddy.

 

[C4Dman]

My local dealer tells me that you should never connect a charger via the cigar lighter socket (the CTEK doesn't have this plug anyway, but having searched the forum have discovered the original BMW one works via the cigar socket.....??) and he said I should connect direct to the battery terminals.

Dealer is an idiot - BMW sells thousands of smart chargers made by BatteryTender for BMW that connect via the 12v.

CTEK do manufacture a lead that enables connection to the 12 volt socket, can someone explain if this is good or bad as I have both the Z4 and a Volvo V70 connected this way. And for information, the V70 has been connected via the 12 volt since November 2019, with no issues at all, starts up fine every 5-6 weeks for a move around etc. no error messages, and everything electrical works as normal.
As some one said, the challenge is remembering to disconnect from the wall :wink:

 

[Argyll Andy]

As some one said, the challenge is remembering to disconnect from the wall

Tie a ribbon/hankie or something to the steering wheel

 

[Mike123]

C-TEK, connected via battery in boot, never had any issues.

Just have to remember to remove when driving off////

 

[ph001]

Would anyone with a SI confirm that this is the correct places to pop a trickle charger on?

I am pretty sure about the positive but just wanted to check on the negative?

This is NOT correct in that the one on the right on the bulkhead is negative, not positive. There is only one positive in your picture and that is the one under the black plastic cover.

In summary, it doesn't really matter if you connect the charger under the bonnet or directly on the battery on the E85 / E86. On the E89 you should always do it on the under bonnet points, otherwise you will corrupt the IBS module information.

 

[enuff_zed]

Would anyone with a SI confirm that this is the correct places to pop a trickle charger on?

I am pretty sure about the positive but just wanted to check on the negative?

This is NOT correct in that the one on the right on the bulkhead is negative, not positive. There is only one positive in your picture and that is the one under the black plastic cover.

I think that may be the labelling? The '+' relates to the circle around the black cover.

 

[inkey$]

I think that may be the labelling? The '+' relates to the circle around the black cover.

Exactly. So as per the direction before. Positive bulkhead, negative right hand side engine bay.

 

[mgrlane]

Would anyone with a SI confirm that this is the correct places to pop a trickle charger on?

I am pretty sure about the positive but just wanted to check on the negative?

This is NOT correct in that the one on the right on the bulkhead is negative, not positive. There is only one positive in your picture and that is the one under the black plastic cover.

I think that may be the labelling? The '+' relates to the circle around the black cover.

This.

The circles were to illustrated where the connections were- I.E the positive under the plastic top that has the + on it.

 

[ph001]

Would anyone with a SI confirm that this is the correct places to pop a trickle charger on?

I am pretty sure about the positive but just wanted to check on the negative?

This is NOT correct in that the one on the right on the bulkhead is negative, not positive. There is only one positive in your picture and that is the one under the black plastic cover.

I think that may be the labelling? The '+' relates to the circle around the black cover.

..oh I see. In that case, the negative terminal right next to the + symbol is where I would connect the negative!

 

[mgrlane]

This is NOT correct in that the one on the right on the bulkhead is negative, not positive. There is only one positive in your picture and that is the one under the black plastic cover.

I think that may be the labelling? The '+' relates to the circle around the black cover.

..oh I see. In that case, the negative terminal right next to the + symbol is where I would connect the negative!

Ha ha- no worries! I can see why you think that- I don't set out to be deliberately confusing, it just happens

 

[enuff_zed]

I use the big hex nut on the wing as negative on the wife's 2.5i, but that is with a solar charger that has a long lead and big croc clips.
If you're restricted by cable length then I'd go for [ref]ph001[/ref]'s suggestion instead.

 

[mgrlane]

I use the big hex nut on the wing as negative on the wife's 2.5i, but that is with a solar charger that has a long lead and big croc clips.
If you're restricted by cable length then I'd go for [ref]ph001[/ref]'s suggestion instead.

What is on that bolt tho? There looks like there is something on it- I wouldn't want to fry anything.

 

[enuff_zed]

I use the big hex nut on the wing as negative on the wife's 2.5i, but that is with a solar charger that has a long lead and big croc clips.
If you're restricted by cable length then I'd go for [ref]ph001[/ref]'s suggestion instead.

What is on that bolt tho? There looks like there is something on it- I wouldn't want to fry anything.

It is common to use bolts onto the chassis/bodywork as earth points. You can attach as many earths there as you like.
Having said all that, wifey's handbook definitely suggests the hex nut.

 

[mgrlane]

Plenty of room to get a grip of both nuts.

 

[Manolo]

Hi all,

So are there 3 options for the Ctek to be connected in a E86? Bonnet, boot or the 12V lighter, with the adapter?

TIA.