Trickle charger query

[Retman]

Not the sexiest of topics I know but just I decided to swap the trickle charger over to the V8V to give the battery a bit of help. I have connected it to the lighter style socket in the boot but I don't know if I dare/should shut the hatch fully for fear of cutting the cable. If I leave it ajar the car will be unlocked which even with it garaged I'm not keen on. Any advice would be gratefully received otherwise I can see me only charging it when I'm around.

[Big Brin]

I have the battery conditioner on my DB9 plugged in all the time when it's in the garage, and the boot lid is left ajar (and yes the boot light goes out!). The car is locked and as there is no entry point through the boot to the car this is not an issue. Not sure about the V8V though? Is there entry to the car through the boot?

Rgds, Brin

[peterr96]

On our V8V I always use the socket in the centre console as there is no chance of my driving off with it still connected!
I always slam the door on the lead which on the C-Tek charger is small enough to clear the panel gap at the lower rear edge of the door. I leave the conditioner outside the car, so it's only the 12v lead going past the door seal.
In 5 years (although admittedly I only tend to use the conditioner in winter) there is no damage to cable, door seal or door.

[George H]

The manual for the DB9 says not to close the boot:


Not sure about the V8V as you can get into the cabin via the hatch, but I presume you can lock the doors and arm the alarms:

[EpsomJames]

I connect my battery conditioner to the power socket in the boot (V8V).

The unit itself lives on the parcel shelf with the boot fully closed so I can see the charge status. I feed the power cable (with plug) carefully past the rollcage and out through the passenger side window which I leave fractionally open (less than a cm). The power lead stretches easily to a power reel on the floor of my garage which has a circuit breaker in case of overload.

The car is locked and alarm on. It's never triggered the alarm and I've left it for weeks that way without any problems.

HTH

[Retman]

Thanks for the quick and useful information guys. Car now locked with boot ajar. The idea of dragging the charger down the road isn't good so I may change to the door option next time. Ah the manual -why didn't I think of that?

[V8 Animal]

My cable is connected and boot shut the wire is pliable enough not to damage it,i then lock the car.
V8VR

[alxce]

I have mine connected to the V8V now and the boot is fully closed. Just loop the cable over the rear light cluster, there is plenty of room for it.

[BingoBob]

This from the manual:

V8V manual said:

Insert the mains plug (B) into the mains supply.
Gently close, but do not latch, the trunk lid. This avoids
possible damage to the trunk lid water seal from the battery
conditioner power cable.

With the trunk lid left open the vehicle doors can be locked
and armed (Refer to ’Leaving the Trunk Lid Open While the
Vehicle is Locked’, page 2.9).

Hmm. I have been closing the boot on my roadster with the 12V cable protruding. I can't see it doing any damage to the seal, but there's no good reason for completely closing the boot, I suppose.

[BingoBob]

Looks like you won't get deadlocking, interior monitoring or tilt detection with the boot open, just like the DB9:

V8V manual said:

If the vehicle is locked while the trunk lid is open, the vehicle
will lock and arm (deadlocking, tilt (option) and interior
movement (option) sensors will not activate).
If the trunk lid is then closed (latched) deadlocking, tilt
(option) and interior movement (option) sensors will activate
and the whole vehicle will be locked and armed.

Not sure how happy I am with that.

[SLacKer]

I connect mine to the under bonnet +ve terminal and the alternator earth. That way I can never drive off as the bonnet is up and I lock the rest of the car. When done I just close the bonnet with no need to unlock the car.

[Jockman]

I've never used mine. Even leaving the car for 19 days with tracker on, I always return to a healthy battery.

Fingers and toes crossed, eh

[Tturbo]

I've been thinking about getting a trickle charger after the battery went flat over Christmas - do you all use the Aston Martin one or is there a good aftermarket solution?

[alxce]

Try Amazon or eBay - Ctek 3600 is what I am using, very similar to the AM one without the logo. You should make sure it includes the cigarette lighter adaptor or you will have to buy it separately.

Edited by alxce on Thursday 16th February 15:14

[V8 Animal]

I use a Accumate but Ctek is just the same really.

[BingoBob]

Aston originally used a rebadged Ctek.

I bought an MXS3.6 which is the new name for the XS3600 and the cigar lighter adapter.

If you want to use the special conditioner socket (later vantages just use the cigar lighter socket in the boot) then you can use this:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/3-pin-xlr-plug-1025

This is the conditioner I use:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-Multi-Functional-4-St...

with this adapter:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ctek-CTE-56263-Cigarette-L...

HTH

Edited by BingoBob on Thursday 16th February 17:30

[George H]

I use the Aston one, was £189.44

[BingoBob]

Is that the Deutronic one?

[BingoBob]

Or the Ctek one?

[Lunablack]

George H said:

I use the Aston one, was £189.44

That's a lot of money for an AM sticker...... About £130 quid by my reconning....