Where to hook up Ctek battery charger?

[Easty-5]

I have just received my Ctek battery charger/maintainer. I bought it as my car will be sitting for a few months whilst I am in Brazil. What is the best way to hook this up? I have just checked the jump points under the bonnet and the bolt connections (not the croc clips) are too small to fit over the + & - bolts. I was under the impression that you shouldn't attach it directly to battery on the Z as there is no surge protection or something along those lines? The car will also be left outside under a cover, just next to the garage door so the power lead will be run up to the car and left, so it would be preferable to have everything fully closed i.e boot & bonnet.

 

[DR-Z]

Just connect it to the battery. It should have come with some leads you can leave permanently attached, then just plug the charger i when you need it. The charger itself has protection built-in.

 

[NeilP]

Just connect it to the battery. It should have come with some leads you can leave permanently attached, then just plug the charger i when you need it. The charger itself has protection built-in.

This is what I've done with mine.

 

[Easty-5]

Okay cool. Is it possible to shut the boot with the power lead connected?

 

[DR-Z]

Okay cool. Is it possible to shut the boot with the power lead connected?

You can close it so that the boot light goes off, but I wouldn't suggest hard-shutting it. Then again, I haven't tried it! Also, worth putting something over the steering wheel to remind you not to drive off dragging your charger when you get back from Brazil!!

 

[Easty-5]

Will the alarm set okay with it just closed enough to turn the boot light off? The car will be covered with a stormforce cover for the 2 months so should be okay for not letting water etc in.

 

[Adam D]

I have the comfort lead hard wired to the battery terminals and then plug in to that as a fly lead and shut the boot so the mains lead pops out the top left rear corner. Doesn't seem to hurt it. The ctek then sits on the boot by the aerial - Ideally I will wall mount it and buy the long extension lead.

 

[DumfriesDik]

What a great thread - just looking at a CTEK masel. Thank you!

 

[johnnnnnnyy]

Okay cool. Is it possible to shut the boot with the power lead connected?

You can close it so that the boot light goes off, but I wouldn't suggest hard-shutting it. Then again, I haven't tried it! Also, worth putting something over the steering wheel to remind you not to drive off dragging your charger when you get back from Brazil!!

Yes its fine, I hard close mine all the time. The rubber seal gives enough room for this..doesn't event pinch the wires.

 

[paddy wright]

After 10 years my battery has died I tried a maintenance charger but still no joy- question is now- do I leave the maintenance charger hooked up to the new battery in the garage or buy a cheaper and simpler version as a new battery should last well without one despite lack of use?

 

[PerryGunn]

After 10 years my battery has died I tried a maintenance charger but still no joy- question is now- do I leave the maintenance charger hooked up to the new battery in the garage or buy a cheaper and simpler version as a new battery should last well without one despite lack of use?

IMO, If you're leaving the car undriven for any period of time it's worth using something like a CTEK or equivalent even on a new battery.

Just because it's new it doesn't mean that it can't be drained by the car while sitting idle and completely discharging a lead-acid battery is a good way to damage it. One of the recommendations for maximising the life of a lead-acid battery is to never let it become more than 50% discharged.

 

[srhutch]

After 10 years my battery has died I tried a maintenance charger but still no joy- question is now- do I leave the maintenance charger hooked up to the new battery in the garage or buy a cheaper and simpler version as a new battery should last well without one despite lack of use?

IMO, If you're leaving the car undriven for any period of time it's worth using something like a CTEK or equivalent even on a new battery.

Just because it's new it doesn't mean that it can't be drained by the car while sitting idle and completely discharging a lead-acid battery is a good way to damage it. One of the recommendations for maximising the life of a lead-acid battery is to never let it become more than 50% discharged.

x2 keep in conditioned isf not suing regularly.

 

[Bing]

You guys all said my car would be fine for 2 and a half weeks without a trickle charger and now I'm really worried :lol:

 

[ZedFourM]

Yes its fine, I hard close mine all the time. The rubber seal gives enough room for this..doesn't event pinch the wires.

I do the exact same, with no problems.

If you were really worried, I guess that you could wrap some bubble wrap or foam around the cable at the point where the boot clamps it, but I have never bothered.