Trickle charger

[SpyderMatt]

If….. I get delivery of the new GT4 at some point, a recent change of circumstances means I’m not gonna have access to a garage. I do have access to an outside power source so can anyone advise if there’s a way of having a trickle charger connected whilst still leaving the car all locked up and secure.
Cheers

[WG]

I have a CTEK c harger. They come with a lead with a waterproof socket attached which can be left permanently connected to the battery with the socket threaded through the interior boot trim coming out at top of bonnet. The charger is then connected to that socket when needed - simples !!

[edc]

Or just close the door on the cable.

[SlimJim16v]

If I were doing this outside, I'd have to add a fuse near the battery.

[Xfe]

It's easy enough as you can shut the door with the cable in it. I used to set it up like this:

Extension cord plugged into outdoor socket
End of extension cord sits in driver footwell
Charger plugged into extension cord within driver footwell
Charger plugged into passenger footwell socket.

This way the only bit exposed to the weather is the (waterproof) extension cord.

[GRD_72]

SlimJim16v said:

If I were doing this outside, I'd have to add a fuse near the battery.

+1 on this, CTEK should supply this as std.
For now I’m using the socket in passenger footwell, but as I’m away from home for extended periods I’m going change my set up to go directly to battery with an inline fuse. Also going to put a -ve connection post close to the battery (there is empty threaded hole on n/s suspension mount area) as the one on drivers side is too far for a neat install.

[Fulla]

CTEK do a connector with traffic lights so you can quickly see the state of the battery. This has an inline fuse as std.
I have the MX5 and use on an older 911 and modern one. I feed both charger wires through the top of the bonnet and then have the extension cables under the front wheel.
CTEK also sell a long extension lug in for the charger.

[elan362]

If you want to keep an eye on the state of your battery you can use a victron Bluetooth smartbatterysenss for around £30
https://lowenergysupermarket.com/product/smart-bat...
Put it on your battery and you can get a remote battery voltage reading from the house

Edited by elan362 on Monday 14th March 16:29

[bosshog]

I've yet to get a trickle charger for my 981 gt4. How long can they be left before the battery starts getting into trouble?

[p4cks]

edc said:

Or just close the door on the cable.

This, I do it on all of my cars which were kept outside

[braddo]

What about a solar charger that would sit on the dash inside the car? Then there are no cables to worry about.

[Royal Jelly]

bosshog said:

I've yet to get a trickle charger for my 981 gt4. How long can they be left before the battery starts getting into trouble?

If the battery is in decent shape to begin, more or less indefinitely.

I’ve left cars for 10+ months on a CTEK with no issue.

[elan362]

braddo said:

What about a solar charger that would sit on the dash inside the car? Then there are no cables to worry about.

The footwell 12v socket shuts down if there is a current drain detected after a period of engine off. It stays live if there is a positive inflow of current into the car (eg via external charger.
Solar panel would have nil current in at night so the 12v socket would shut down.

[Chubbyross]

elan362 said:

braddo said:

What about a solar charger that would sit on the dash inside the car? Then there are no cables to worry about.

The footwell 12v socket shuts down if there is a current drain detected after a period of engine off. It stays live if there is a positive inflow of current into the car (eg via external charger.
Solar panel would have nil current in at night so the 12v socket would shut down.

I use a Ctek plugged into the ciggie lighter and shut the door on the cable. I house the Ctek in a waterproof cable box and run just the charger cables through the door. The car and charger will happily sit like that throughout the winter months without a problem.

[Wollemi]

braddo said:

What about a solar charger that would sit on the dash inside the car? Then there are no cables to worry about.

Unfortunately a solar charger won't work plugged into the socket in a 718. This is because the socket only stays live as long as power is connected; fine for a mains powered charger (assuming no power cuts) but no good for solar charger.

I used a solar charger for seven years in my 987.2, but on getting a 718 had to get a CTek. Closing the door on the cable works fine

[mathmos]

This is for a 981...but I have the connection direct to the battery, the cteck charger I use will fit under the hood with it closed no problem

[bosshog]

Royal Jelly said:

If the battery is in decent shape to begin, more or less indefinitely.

I’ve left cars for 10+ months on a CTEK with no issue.

I meant without a charger?

3-4 weeks?

[Chubbyross]

bosshog said:

Royal Jelly said:

If the battery is in decent shape to begin, more or less indefinitely.

I’ve left cars for 10+ months on a CTEK with no issue.

I meant without a charger?

3-4 weeks?

My 987.1 will last just over three weeks without a charge and the battery is about two years old. After that the starter turns over noticeably slower. I’d not leave mine any longer than four weeks, otherwise I’d have to faff around plugging a spare battery into the fuse box to open the bonnet.

I recently bought one of these:

https://www.ctek.com/uk/cs-free-portable-charger-a...

It’s a Ctek cable-free battery conditioner and charger. You can charge it at home and plug it into a dead battery and it will charge your battery enough to get it started in fifteen minutes. You can also use it to condition your battery once a week to bring the charge level back up.

I’ve used one to keep my Boxster topped up throughout the winter as I have no power supply where it’s stored. It’s expensive (approximately £200) but a great bit of kit. It’ll hold a charge for up to a year.

[paddy1970]

bosshog said:

Royal Jelly said:

If the battery is in decent shape to begin, more or less indefinitely.

I’ve left cars for 10+ months on a CTEK with no issue.

I meant without a charger?

3-4 weeks?

With a new battery, 6 weeks would be fine.

Have you considered a lithium battery?

[The Mad Monk]

Chubbyross said:

I recently bought one of these:

https://www.ctek.com/uk/cs-free-portable-charger-a...

It’s a Ctek cable-free battery conditioner and charger. You can charge it at home and plug it into a dead battery and it will charge your battery enough to get it started in fifteen minutes. You can also use it to condition your battery once a week to bring the charge level back up.

I’ve used one to keep my Boxster topped up throughout the winter as I have no power supply where it’s stored. It’s expensive (approximately £200) but a great bit of kit. It’ll hold a charge for up to a year.

Why not buy a bog standard battery power pack thingy?

£40 to £80? No? Wjy not?