CTEK chargers via the lighter socket, a couple of questions

Due to resurfacing of the blocks garage area for the past 8 weeks I havent been able to take the car out of the garage (originally it was supposed to have taken 4 weeks start to finish). This past weekend was the first opportunity to take the car out. Erm, as you may guess no joy on trying to start her although alarm is still bloody loud and the cabin and dash lights all work. I've ordered a CTEK XS3600 charger and the lighter adapter as I dont want to mees around with disconnecting battery, reinputting codes into the PCM etc. So my very simple question is...as I can't quite belive this is so simple.... 1) is that with the charger do I just plug into the wall socket and then into the cigarette lighter and wait until its charged? 2) Is there anything that I need to be aware of/risks when doing this....flammable gasses emitting from the battery?Do I need to keep an eye on the charge daily to make sure there will be no risk of explossions? 3) Do you think that my battery can be recharged? I hope to take delivery of the charger tomorrow, plug it in and by the weekend be able to take the car out....as long as the drive surface permits.

Re: CTEK chargers via the lighter socket, a couple of questi 1) Yes, but I suspect the 996 will need permanent live connection installed to the cigarette lighter. Simple way of checking this (maybe someone else can since your battery is flat) is to connect a mobile phone car charger with a light on it. If the charger works when the ignition is on, but then stops as soon as you switch off and remove the ignition key you will need a permanent live wire installed. It's simply a wire connecting the cig lighter to the positive terminal of the battery (with an in-line fuse). A OPC or Posrche specialist can do it for you. Alternatively connect the charger to the battery terminals direct. 2) No, the CTEK is a great piece of kit. It will charge the battery (from flat if needed) and once charged switch to maintenence mode where it trickle charges the battery to keep it at full charge. It won't over charge it, or cause any issues for you. 3) Your battery can be recharged, but depending on it's age and how long it's been flat, it might not recover (a cell could be knocked out) meaning the battery will not hold the charge the CTEK is providing. The only answer here will be a new battery. Best to give it a go and see how you get on.

isn't there also the option for hooking up 2 eyelets to the battery that the charger plugs into?

I believe so - makes it alot easier as you don't have to get to the battery each time.

That's how mine is connected.

So, am I right in thinking that one can leave the yelets attached to battery even when Im driving? Or is it a "disconnect evrerything before you start the car" job?

The two eyelets join together at a plug, the CTEK is plugged into this plug when charging and removed when finished, so to answer your question you don't have to disconnect everything, just remove the connector from the plug.

996's are all wired from the factory so you can charge the battery from the cigar lighter socket, same with boxsters all the air colled cars however need a positive live feed to be wired to the cigar socket so just plug in and leave it

I would suggest plugging a phone charger or tomtom into the cig lighter, turning off the car and alarming it - look through the window and if its still going, you are fine. I am note sure if all 996's cig lighters are wired to accept a charger - mine certainly wasnt, as I found out the hard way. 1hr labour to rectify.

Agree. My friends '99 996 C4 wasn't either.

Cheers everyone, I will check the lighter socket with the phone charger tonight. It was mentioned that the preffered method is attaching the eyelets connector to the battery and just plugging the charger into that. When the charger is unplugged you can leave the eyelet connector connected to the battery? Is this safe?

Yes, it's got a rubber seal to protect it from the car's metalwork and water ingress.

lighter socket Took delivery of the charger yesterday, plugged it into the lighter socket last night as it seems to be the easiest solution. Set the device to car mode and the light on the "half battery" is on. It states 27 hours for a complete charge but via the eyelets or croc clips, I wonder if via the lighter socket the time will be longer. Oh and the lighter is live in that I managed to light the lighter without the key in the ignition. Thanks for your help will report on any probs for future ref.