Battery chargers.

I've been thinking about the best way to look after my battery on my MY '03 C2 996. I hardly use the car in the winter and have noticed the obvious discharge effects whenever I start her up. I don't want to damage the battery by putting it under too much pressure. Unfortunately, the car has to be kept on my drive outside under a cover "" so leaving a trickle charger on (which I don't have) could be a bit difficult "" but not impossible as I do have outside power available. I'm also a bit concerned about disconnecting the battery as I'm sure that I'll lose the code (Standard CDR 22 (?) with CD slot). I called my OPC about the code and they said that I shouldn't disconnect the battery "" just get hold of a trickle charger and use the cigar lighter, which doesn't really answer the problem. I'm a bit old-school so I'd prefer to give the battery a complete charge at least once a year anyway "" rather than leaving it all to the alternator. Any ideas would be gratefully received.

Don't get "Trickle Chargers" confused with Battery Conditioners. It's the latter you need. Have a read through this lot --> All about Battery Conditioners Should keep you busy [ ]

I use an "Accumate" battery conditioner - no need to disconnect battery, simply use the clip on terminal connectors, feed the cable up past the wiper blades, close the bonnet and lock the car as usual. I leave mine on for weeks at a time without any problems.

Hi, I use this one: http://www.vertar.com/battery-chargers-conditioners/car-battery-chargers/ctek-multi-xs-3600/ It is the same manufacturer as the Porsche Tequipment version (and looks/operates the same). Again it can be left connected as long as you want, either via the cig lighter or direct onto the battery terminals. Regards, Jason

I have always used a DATATOOL battery conditioner. They are designed for motorcycles and cars. Well made and pretty cheap. Comes with a round spade connector for permament connection to the battery as well as a set of croc clips. One on eBay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DATATOOL-Motorcycle-Multi-Stage-Charger-Maintainer-New_W0QQitemZ170060466425QQihZ007QQcategoryZ9946QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

How long does it take to charge a fairly flat battery?

Since you mentioned Vertar, I should inform everyone that there is a new discount coupon code worth 5% that can be used which is "PCGB" The old code is no longer valid since we upgraded the site. This code can be used against any products on the site including Zymol, Meguiars, car covers etc. Cheers, Phil

Julian, I have never tried to charge a totally flat battery, as I purchased this as soon as I paid OPC nearly £200 for a new battery!! I now make sure that mine is permanantly connected when the car is not being used for more than a few days at a time. The table within the manual states the following bulk charge times: 20 AH battery = 4.5 hrs 50 AH battery = 11.5 hrs 80 AH battery = 18 hrs 120 AH battery = 27 hrs Regards, Jason

If you do decide to charge via cigarette lighter, if you feel along the rubber seal at the base of the door, you should find a notch through which to route the cable to prevent creasing of the seal when the door is shut. Not a lot of people know that and neither did I 'till Tool Pants pointed it out.

Just remember that on some, if not most, of UK 996's the cigar lighter socket is only connected after the ignition is turned on, and disconnected when the key is removed.

That's the way it is on mine.

My cigar lighter is on permamently... just checked...

The lighter socket on my 02 and my 01 was permanently live. Strange how some are/some aren't. I thought they were all built the same - or is this a 'non-smoking option' thing?

Guys I appreciate the tips and hints - where would we be otherwise? But why? When in my case I went for a 50 mile drive only to find two weeks later that my battery was so flat I will have to 'jump' start to open the rear engine cover so that I can then fire it up off the BMW battery (this car used 5 days per week at least). What is causing the drain on the 996? I have heard stories about Road Angel (hard wired but only 'works' when ignition is switched on), sat nav disc being left in situ, cd head unit, etc. If we can stop the drain surely it should be ok after two - three weeks. Machtech fitted Bosch silver top 6 months ago. Why is it we have to endure such features on these cars? D Happy Christmas to all.

Machtech put me onto the idea of a solar powered trickle charger as my car also has to stand outside. Sounds like a winner to me, £9.99 and in time for Christmas!! D Any one used one of these? http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=47902&source=2001&doy=search

Most are on a "time-out" function - to prevent the battery running down when you park it with the tomtom/radar detector still plugged in and running, the power to the socket is shut off after an hour or so (not sure of the timing...) So it's easy to think it's permanently live when it isn't [&:]

How do you know that Mark? Is it in the manual? (not trying to 2nd guess you.) If this is the case, then I've been plugging in a solar charger in vain. And why would Porsche sell you a battery conditioner ? http://www.porsche.com/uk/accessoriesandservice/personalisation/tequipment/911-996/carcare/?focus=porschecharge-o-matii-911-996-pflege&hideintro=true

This is the load switch-off description from a 2003 manual. I'm not sure if the cigar lighter is affected. On mine, it definitely disconnects when you remove the key, so it's a handy supply for TomTom and phone. I believe that on most US cars the lighter socket is permanently connected.

Just received my ctek today and it's busy charging. After filling up in Tesco last week my GT3 failed to start due to a flat battery (I'd had to start it using jump leads), with about 30 people watching I was pushed off the forecourt, luckily the push was enough to start it. What an embarrassing moment, I never want to do that again.

I've used one to keep a 12v battery topped up on a pigeon scarers(gas gun) it cost around £24 two yrs ago and lasted 2 winters, untill being out in the wet and frost finally got to it. That should not happen if it's in the car on the dash top though. I'll get some more now they are that cheap at only £9.99 you cant go wrong. DW

I've read many owners here say they had to get Porsche to make it live in order to use the Porsche charger.

I have one of the Maplin chargers connected to another car and it does the trick. Comes complete with leads to connect it direct to the battery or via the cig lighter. Don't know how it would fare on the Porsche because that lives indoors with minimal natural light.

Mercurial, some useful info on your link: 150mA @ 17 volts. Doesn't sound like much but even at half that, at this time of year with short days and limited sunshine, the solar panel could put out say 450mA per day based on six hrs of daylight. The voltage reduces significantly without bright sunshine but as long as there's ultra violet light, the panel will at least deliver some current and this should help to offset the drain current consumed by the alarm unit when it's in sleep mode. This could mean the difference between being able to start the car, and not after an extended period of non use. In a few days time, I'll be returning from being away and my car will be in sleep mode with the solar panel connected. What I need to do is take the panel out of the circuit and see if I can measure the battery voltage via the wires going to the lighter socket prior to waking up the alarm unit. If I can, then Mark's "time-out" suggestion mentioned prior obvoiusly does not apply to my car. If I can't, then the lighter socket - which on my car remains live when the ignition key is removed - will have powered down together with the other systems mentioned in the manual extract posted by Richard. I'll report back the findings.

As per previous post, here's what I found: Car in sleep mode, disconnected solar panel & measured 12.2V @ battery therefore the lighter socket on my car is permanently live even in sleep mode. Odd how some are live and some are switched.

Have an Oxford 360T hooked up to mine and it works a treat. It's a conditioner as well as a charger.