Trickle charger

[ContactName]

New to McLaren ownership, just picked up a 12c

What’s the consensus on charging if the car is outside. Can you close the frunk lid over the charger cable or is there another way to do it if the car is not being used for a couple of weeks?

How long is it safe to leave it?

Thank you

[davek_964]

It closes fine over the cable. My car lives outside - I use it enough that I don't charge it often, but it has been on charge for the last 2 weeks

[cutting42]

I put my 650s on trickle all the time. I only leave for 2 weeks between drive at the most but have heard too many stories on low charge related issues. I installed a waterproof socket out front powered from a timer as the std McLaren charger needs the power cycling regularly (mine does it once a day for an hour)

The charger cable is pretty thin and I can fully close the bonnet

[Bispal]

ContactName said:

New to McLaren ownership, just picked up a 12c

What’s the consensus on charging if the car is outside. Can you close the frunk lid over the charger cable or is there another way to do it if the car is not being used for a couple of weeks?

How long is it safe to leave it?

Thank you

I left my 12C and 675LT on trickle all the time when not using. 9 years in total with no issues. Make sure you have the lithium CTEK charger NOT the supplied one, the original one is old tech and not that good.

I take the lead out at the top of the bonnet by the scuttle, so it exits at the bottom of the windscreen, there is loads of gap there. Hope you are enjoying your 12C, I did mine, they are awesome.

[12pack]

ContactName said:

New to McLaren ownership, just picked up a 12c

What’s the consensus on charging if the car is outside. Can you close the frunk lid over the charger cable or is there another way to do it if the car is not being used for a couple of weeks?

How long is it safe to leave it?

Thank you

From a fully charged battery - 3 weeks, based on actual experience. But to be safe, I always leave the front cracked open on my garaged 650s. Of course if your car is outside may be safer to connect up and shut tight!

BTW my 3 weeks experience was caused by a CTEK Li-ion charger that had a fault while I was away. I’ve stuck with the Mac-sourced one ever since.

[Frankychops]

I've done 5 weeks on my 650s(not by desire), still showed over 90%.

[200Plus Club]

Also worth resetting your trickle charger once in a while to get it kicking back in.

[ContactName]

Thanks, all good advice.

I’ll link it up as suggested and use a smart switch to rebook it regularly.

[Abacus21]

Noco Genius Lithium charger is twice as well built and intelligent in charging cycles.

Ctek is old school period.

[Frankychops]

Abacus21 said:

Noco Genius Lithium charger is twice as well built and intelligent in charging cycles.

Ctek is old school period.

The none branded ctek works the same as the Noco

[ContactName]

I've found a solution to the trickle charger issue: Just drive it every day!

It's bloody brilliant, I had no idea they were such astounding cars, very impressed with the whole package! (12c coupe, carbon brakes, sports exhaust).

[davek_964]

ContactName said:

I've found a solution to the trickle charger issue: Just drive it every day!

It's bloody brilliant, I had no idea they were such astounding cars, very impressed with the whole package! (12c coupe, carbon brakes, sports exhaust).

Yep, that's my solution hence why I said I don't charge mine much. Excellent cars (even if I did briefly want to set fire to mine today!)

[ContactName]

Just ordered some track wheels and semi-slicks.

Can’t wait for a track day to really stretch its legs!

[Streetbeat]

You really find out just how impressive they are when you get them out on track, it opens your eyes to just how much more they have to give that you can get even remotely close to on the road.

[Patgas1]

Old ish thread I know,
I have the original charger or a Mclaren branded.I noticed at times is just power light on and I reset, it goes up to green and stays on the last light. You guys put them on a smart plug to stop this ? Just set to go off for hour or two each day.
Thanks

[Grey_Area]

Patgas1 said:

Old ish thread I know,
I have the original charger or a Mclaren branded.I noticed at times is just power light on and I reset, it goes up to green and stays on the last light. You guys put them on a smart plug to stop this ? Just set to go off for hour or two each day.
Thanks

Smart plug, 4 hours every third day; holds at about 46 days charge on the dash.

[TISPKJ]

just my 2p worth

Factory Mclaren charger constantly connected to a 12c for 10 years without issue - left for max of maybe 2 weeks at a time unplugged if I know I would be using the car.

[12pack]

Patgas1 said:

Old ish thread I know,
I have the original charger or a Mclaren branded.I noticed at times is just power light on and I reset, it goes up to green and stays on the last light. You guys put them on a smart plug to stop this ? Just set to go off for hour or two each day.
Thanks

In essence the charger is supposed to do something like this by itself. The electronics monitor the battery voltage and pulse charge to bring it back up if it drops below the threshold.

[ex-devonpaul]

Another vote for a Smart Plug here, there are tails of some smart chargers getting confused and either over charging or stopping altogether.

Not on a McL but ours comes on for 1 x 24 hours each week. The new Tapo have power monitoring so you can even see how much it tops up each time.

The Maserati used to sit in a lockup on a smart charger, with a 7 day mechanical timer that came on 3 days a week.

[650S]

And another..
Exactly as above

McLaren Lithium Charger got confused or the BMS got confused - same result, flat battery.

I now have it connected directly to the battery, with a 5v safety fuse on the positive wire next to the + terminal, and a mechanical 240v timer set for 1 hour per day.

No problems.