Some charging questions.

Having just had to replace my alternator I'm now considering all my options when it comes to charging the battery. Thus far I've used a solar charger which I bought form Maplin - ok, but not great. Here are my queries, any ideas would be very much appreciated: (MY 2003 996 C2) My Indi who fixed my alternator (replaced it) didn't seem to think that it was wise to try and charge the battery via the cigar lighter - which I've been doing for some time with my solar charger which probably pushes out 400 mA at best. He said that he wasn't sure that the socket remained "live" after the car had gone to sleep or whether asking the small circuitry to push a charge through to very much larger wires (on the battery) was either effective or safe. Can anyone tell me if the socket is live and if so, what's the best "Optimate" type charger that I can get and how do you recommend attaching it. (I was interested to see the DIY job somewhere on here which pulled the charger wires through to the petrol filler cap area. I'm asking this now because I just don't use the car regularly and don't want to incur further high repair bills due to "lack of use" - and winter isn't a million miles away. Thanks.

On a 2003 the fag lighter socket is live all the time, and that is what the Porsche Battery Conditioner uses for a connection, so it shouldn't be a problem. I believe the Porsche one is a re-branded CTEK unit (or is it the Optimate? I get confused), which you can get on eBay for about £35. Summer has only just started! Winter is ages away yet!

I'm pretty sure its the CTEK. Can't remember the exact price, but I looked at a pukka Porsche one in OPC Silverstone on Friday and I'm sure it wasn't more than £40.

Hi Richard, thanks for your reply. Do you mean this one: http://www.vertar.com/battery-chargers-conditioners/car-battery-chargers/ctek-multi-xs-3600/ "Summer has only just started! Winter is ages away yet!" ...A typical response from from someone young at heart - who's just had a new toy (which can only be used outside!)[ ]

Hi, I use the CTEK charger. It is the same as the OPC one. Have been using it for the last few years since my battery went flat. Have had no problems since. It trickle charges and when the battery is topped up, goes into conditioning mode so that it does not overcharge the battery. The manual can be downloaded from: http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/Store/Product/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=104 Regards, Jason

There is also a previous thread on the subject ...... Jason http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=279424&mpage=1&key=&#279461

Thanks Jason. I think that I'll get the Ctek 3600 - but I'll also look for a cigar connection lead for it too. Regards, Adrian.

I use the Ctek 3600. It come with crocodile clips and also a lead you can leave permanently attached to the battery. I just feed the lead up through the bonnet and use the wiper to hold the wire away from the body of the car then attach to the unit which is attached to the garage wall

My car's outside - so I'll probably get this too: http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/Store/Product/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=287 This way I've only got to run a mains lead through the little cut out in the rubber on my door.

I've used my outside to. The cable that comes with the ctek gets connected under the battery cover. I'm sure that Ctek do some kind of connector that can be fitted to the front bumper as-well. You will not be disappointed with the charger[ ]

I also have purchased a CTEK 3600 and its a great bit of kit. Also charges / conditions most vehicle batteries including motobikes. My garage is a bit on the small side, so I use the jump terminals in the engine bay (as described in the owners manual) to wire mine up to, using the crocodile clips. Much easier than messing round at the front of the car, but if you want to lock the car with the boot open, make sure you press the latch down otherwise the car won't lock and you get the intermittent horn warning. More importantly, make sure you unlock the car before then releasing the latch via the cable attachment, otherwise all hell breaks loose with the alarm! I bought mine from ultimate finish as listed above and would recommend them for the charger. They also have a great range of car care products. Happy charging

Hi Jason. Thanks for that. I think that I'll get mine from the same place as they do the cigar lighter adaptor as well for about £6 - so I might as well get them both from them. Now all I've go to do is drill a bloody great hole in my dinning room wall to get some permanent power source outside![8|]

I use a CTEK3600. I use the permanent eye attachment to the battery which has a lead which goes to a connector. You can run the wire down the side of the wing and out near the headlight. I always try to remember to place something to remind me to disconnect it before driving away - on one occasion I forgot broke, luckily. The CTEK charger itself is waterproof.

Is there any reason that you don't use your cigar lighter..? (I still have a nagging doubt about using it to charge the battery long-term.[8|])

My recently departed gen1 997 was used only in good weather and for long periods of time I had the Ctek unit plugges into the cigarette lighter socket with absolutely no problem. There is an automatic trickle charger when the battery is fully charged. I highly recommend the unit. I think my battery was nearing the end of its life and the unit kept me going until I sold it. Its now the OPC's problem.