Battery Charger for Winter

Hey everyone, So since the roads of Chicago are not suitable for driving a '11 Cayman S during the winter, I wanted to store it in the garage. I realize that I need a trickle charger / battery maintainer. The following thread mentions a few different ones. I saw CTEK 3300, MUS 4.3, and then US 7002. So many choices! http://www.planet-9.com/987-cayman-and-boxster-chat/39525-battery-charging.html I was wondering if there is a preferred (non-Porsche) charger for: 1. Handling the cold here sub 20-30 even in home garage for about 5 months 2. Works without the car being turned on for that amount of time 3. Can it work via the cig outlet? Don't know if power still goes reliably with the car turned off for so long. 4. Can come with an extension cord since the spot is farthest from outlet Is the CTEK 7002 enough? I also the CTEK MUS 4.3 Toolbox which seems to have everything. Thanks!

Almost any reliable battery maintainer will do. They aren't the same as a trickle charger. Just check the buyer's comments - look for failures and other problems. 1. A charged battery won't freeze in Chi-town winters. Probably not even at the North Pole. 2. Yup. Just make sure your charger has 110V AC and no one unplugs it. 3. 987 12v outlets are always hot unless the fuse blows. Use the cig lighted since it is designed for high current (although a maintainer doesn't put out many amps). Not all come with the cig plug adapter. But you could also hard-wire the harness to the battery. 4. Check the maintainer's instructions about using an extension cord. However, I can't see a problem if you use a heavy-duty one rated for 15 - 20 amps.

I have the CTEK 3300 hardwired to the battery (I'm cheap and mine didn't come with lighter/adapter plug). I do drive on nice days all year round in Denver, but keep the battery conditioned. 987.1 might differ from 981 as after 7 days no activity the remote control will not unlock car; only key. I keep car locked when not in use so this was a teaching moment for me.

Rschwerer has just given you, OP, all the right answers. Go with the above and you'll be just fine.

I use a CTEK 0.8 Amp tender, bought the cig adapter for ease of use. Well, I know you won't have any problems because I used mine last year for almost 6 months and it was a very very cold and long winter here last year. As a side note, mine is already stored and all the pretty lights are where they are supposed to be. Only five and a half months before it goes back on the road. Goodness me it's great to live in the great white north.

LG uses a hard wired Battery Tender Plus (cheaper than CTEK but it is physically bigger and is best IMO with an outside location). There are many threads on the general issue. One odd issue reported is that if AC power to house/garage is lost for any measurable period the Cig Lighter connection will go dead within car as it needs juice flowing IN (as when charging) to keep some circuit open. Not an issue if hard wired. Others may have more info. See post #27 in this link http://www.planet-9.com/981-cayman-and-boxster-electronics/89072-porsche-trickle-charger-2.html :cheers:

OP has a 987. It doesn't have that defect.:taunt:

Plus one for the CTEK 3300.

I have 2 CTEK 's and 6 Battery Tenders. Several different models. Some of the vehicles are in heated storage, some are not. Both brands of battery maintainers work well, no problems. +1 on RSchwerer's response. He told you everything you need to know.

CTEK 4300 is the one. Complete kit with a storage bag, all connection accys, LV extension cord and protective rubber bumper is available on Amazon for $99 with free shipping. Best charger/maintainer/rejuvenator on the market. Porsche sells CTEK with the Porsche brand on them. Use the mode with the snowflake/ AGM battery symbol. Modern Porsches use AGM batteries that need higher charge and float voltages. I use my CTEK here in FL anytime my Porsche is not being driven for 4-5 days or more. It is what u call the CTEK MUS 4.3 Toolbox.

Thanks Rschwerer and everyone for your input. I should have correctly posted as battery maintainer versus charger. I think I will go with the CTEK MUS 4.3 Toolbox from Amazon or some local place. It seems to be the whole package allowing for cig plug adapter and extension cord.

Just one addition. I had the CTEK charger with the cig plug. Over time one of the two black tabs on the cig plug broke and it would no longer stay firmly in the plug and keep connected to the battery. Since then I just hardwired to the battery. Took 5 minutes and now it's just as easy as the cig plug, especially when the top is up. Otherwise I'm happy with the CTEK . Both the 3300 and MUS 4.3 (have both). I kept my 987.2 on the former all last winter (in Chicago too) and it fired-up no problem in the spring.

+1 I too have the 3300 and 4.3, both are great and I have used them on my 987 and now the 981 's, work great!

I may be about to ask the stupidest question in the history of this site... I was already to go to charge my car up for the 4 months I am taking it off the road, and I have the Porsche branded CTEK with cig adaptor. I thought to myself "I think I'll just check the manual before hooking it up", and now I am completely confused. It sounds as though I need additional hookups to the actual battery? Am I reading this right? I've done plenty of winter car charging with batteries taken OUT of the car, and despite being a neophyte at mechanical work, I have some experience wrenching in and under cars. So so why does this ****ing manual, with steps that appear to be as sensical as an MC Escher painting, have me second guessing the most basic of items? :helpme: EDIT: just realized I posted this in a 987 thread. Sorry, fellas.. but surely the logic is the same regardless, right?

+1 to CTEK . Buy 12v cigarett lighter extention for it and charge through the outlet in elbow cubbie. YOu can close the door on the wire, no prob.