Trickle charger ...

[Chrishazle]

I have 1 car that lives in the garage - with power supply - when (as happens a lot) not in use, and the other (main car, the S204) which lives on the front driveway. For the SLK, when she's in her garage, she's on a Lidl conditioner connected to the emergency jump points under the bonnet, which has worked problem free for at least a couple of years - although I may have to re-set it tonight as we lost Blue phase of our 3 phase supply for a couple of hours tonight, so it may or may not have switched off. For the S204, I have a Lidl battery condition monitor connected full time direct to the battery and visible through the closed tailgate, if it's showing amber and the car gets a bit sluggish to start I can run an extension lead into the boot area and connect my SIP Chargestar Smart 18 Automatic charger, set it to 12V, Wet, Slow charge, close the tailgate over the extension lead courtesy of the thick tailgate seal and leave it overnight, by which time the charger has done its thing and switched off, and the conditioner light is green.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Thank you for your advise it's appreciated.

I imagine it's better to have the extension socket under the bonnet also. As don't really want to leave it exposed to the wet/damp wintery conditions.

Regarding the Ctek, I turn it on, choose the appropriate settings to suit my battery then connect up to the jumper points. And just leave it connected?

I have a car parked outside which is permanently connected to a CTEK MXS 5.0. I prefer to keep the charger outside the engine bay so that it has plenty of air circulating around it, and so that it can be checked or removed without lifting the bonnet, so it’s quicker, easier and cleaner.

I connect the CTEK crocodile clips and run the cable out of the bonnet (at the rear) so that the connector is outside of the bonnet. I then close the bonnet and connect the connector to the MXS 5.0 which I then place on top of my front offside tyre. I run an outdoor extension reel to the front wheel, plug in the MXS 5.0 in to the extension reel making sure that the waterproof seal is closed and intact.

If the crocodile clips supplied with the MXS 5.0 aren’t long enough to have the connector on the outside of the car, then you can buy another from CTEK stockists which is longer and has an LED health indicator built into the connector which is useful. You could do the same as I’ve described above using the eyelet connectors if you prefer.

I use the eyelet connectors on cars with a batter under the bonnet, and I use the crocodile clips on cars with the battery inside the car, for example beneath the drivers seat, which is difficult to get to. The most elegant solution is to fit a Magcode connector to the outside of the car. I still haven’t got round to fitting them yet, but will one day.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

Thank you for your advise it's appreciated.

I imagine it's better to have the extension socket under the bonnet also. As don't really want to leave it exposed to the wet/damp wintery conditions.

Regarding the Ctek, I turn it on, choose the appropriate settings to suit my battery then connect up to the jumper points. And just leave it connected?

Good choice of charger. Everyone has their favourite. CTEK has a good track record and reputation. MB, Porsche, Bently and others rebrand them and sell them as their own. My own unit MXS7 is about 14 years old, has been used and abused but still going strong.

I’m sure the charger manual will tell you to connect the charger (both ends) , power it up and then select the correct battery. It should then remember that setting the next time you use it or if there is a power failure.

Extension socket (220v). Must be kept dry unless it is a purpose designed outdoor unit. A better choice would be to buy the CTEK extension cord (12v side) if it is long enough for you.

 

[ChrisPDuck]

I've been using a Lidl charger for about 6 months, just to keep the consumer battery topped up between uses - a habit I developed while I was suffering from a faulty alternator. The car has been used plenty over the summer, so the charger hasn't really been needed, but I still connect the charger after every use. I'm trying to limit my use of the car to dryer days now, and it won't be long until they start gritting the roads, so it'll be off the road until the spring.

To make connecting the charger a bit easier and more secure I chopped the crocodile clips off the charger and fitted a simple latching plug and socket: Mini Connectors 2.8mm. It's like a cheapskate version of CTEK's comfort connector. In my case it doesn't need to be weatherproof since the connection is always under the bonnet.

I note that CTEK do an adapter for their older 'pre-comfort' chargers, using what looks like a Tamiya connector: CONNECT PLUG ADAPTER. I use Tamiya connectors a lot, but I'm not keen on them for things that are connected and disconnected regularly because the pins tend to wobble in the housing which makes alignment tricky sometimes. I suppose I could have converted my Lidl charger to the CTEK comfort connector with that adapter, but it costs almost as much as the Lidl charger, and like I said, cheapskate!

I then made a little pigtail with a mini connector socket on one end and appropriate ring terminals on the other, and I leave that permanently connected to the battery connection points under the bonnet, a la CTEK's comfort connector. When not in use I just leave it tucked away in the battery bay.

When connected I leave the charger under the vehicle where the rain never reaches it (the original cable is quite long, and my pigtail gives me a bit more length), but I do like Mr Dazzler's idea of putting it on top of the tyre.

I have a few CTEK chargers as well (a trickle charger on the 'sud, an MXS10 in the camper, and an MXS25 for general purpose speedy charging), and my camper van uses CTEK kit, but I also like the Lidl charger a lot, and at £14 they're cracking value. In fact, since they currently have them in the Middle of Lidl, I picked up a couple more yesterday for use with other vehicles.

 

[Wolfie1]

What you need is an extension cable with 2 plug sockets in it, what to do is take your extension lead put it in your boot, connect the charger to your car, plug the charger into your extension, then plug your extension into the second outlet in your extension and then hey presto you dont have a cable running across the ground. But remember and unwind it first so it doesnt get hot and start a fire

 

[ChrisPDuck]

What you need is an extension cable with 2 plug sockets in it, what to do is take your extension lead put it in your boot, connect the charger to your car, plug the charger into your extension, then plug your extension into the second outlet in your extension and then hey presto you dont have a cable running across the ground. But remember and unwind it first so it doesnt get hot and start a fire

I like your style! Have you considered attaching an inverter to your battery to give you a source of power, or is that over-thinking it?

 

[190]

What you need is an extension cable with 2 plug sockets in it, what to do is take your extension lead put it in your boot, connect the charger to your car, plug the charger into your extension, then plug your extension into the second outlet in your extension and then hey presto you dont have a cable running across the ground. But remember and unwind it first so it doesnt get hot and start a fire

You just invented perpetual motion, I'd patent it quick.

The typical mains current of 200mA or so and the heating effect resulting from plugging in a battery charger would never require the extension lead to be unwound. The extension lead would only overheat if it was passing something much closer to it's rated load.

 

[Wolfie1]

You just invented perpetual motion, I'd patent it quick.

The typical mains current of 200mA or so and the heating effect resulting from plugging in a battery charger would never require the extension lead to be unwound. The extension lead would only overheat if it was passing something much closer to it's rated load.

But safety first and all that, wouldnt want to put your car on fire

 

[Deleted member 126251]

I've been using a Lidl charger for about 6 months, just to keep the consumer battery topped up between uses - a habit I developed while I was suffering from a faulty alternator. The car has been used plenty over the summer, so the charger hasn't really been needed, but I still connect the charger after every use. I'm trying to limit my use of the car to dryer days now, and it won't be long until they start gritting the roads, so it'll be off the road until the spring.

To make connecting the charger a bit easier and more secure I chopped the crocodile clips off the charger and fitted a simple latching plug and socket: Mini Connectors 2.8mm. It's like a cheapskate version of CTEK's comfort connector. In my case it doesn't need to be weatherproof since the connection is always under the bonnet.

I note that CTEK do an adapter for their older 'pre-comfort' chargers, using what looks like a Tamiya connector: CONNECT PLUG ADAPTER. I use Tamiya connectors a lot, but I'm not keen on them for things that are connected and disconnected regularly because the pins tend to wobble in the housing which makes alignment tricky sometimes. I suppose I could have converted my Lidl charger to the CTEK comfort connector with that adapter, but it costs almost as much as the Lidl charger, and like I said, cheapskate!

I then made a little pigtail with a mini connector socket on one end and appropriate ring terminals on the other, and I leave that permanently connected to the battery connection points under the bonnet, a la CTEK's comfort connector. When not in use I just leave it tucked away in the battery bay.

When connected I leave the charger under the vehicle where the rain never reaches it (the original cable is quite long, and my pigtail gives me a bit more length), but I do like Mr Dazzler's idea of putting it on top of the tyre.

I have a few CTEK chargers as well (a trickle charger on the 'sud, an MXS10 in the camper, and an MXS25 for general purpose speedy charging), and my camper van uses CTEK kit, but I also like the Lidl charger a lot, and at £14 they're cracking value. In fact, since they currently have them in the Middle of Lidl, I picked up a couple more yesterday for use with other vehicles.

Is all that ^^ because it is difficult to connect charger crocodile clips to the jump start points (or battery) ? Seems pointless to me.

 

[ChrisPDuck]

Is all that ^^ because it is difficult to connect charger crocodile clips to the jump start points (or battery) ? Seems pointless to me.

It's a bit difficult to connect croc clips in a 'low profile' and secure way. I have a two battery setup - a small starter battery under the bonnet and the main consumer battery hidden away in the boot - so next to the starter battery there is a small vertical charging post for the consumer battery. The only way that the croc clip fits securely to that (because of the small diameter and the plastic housing around that post) is with the croc clip vertical, which then doesn't allow the bonnet to close without putting pressure on the cable.
It's no different from CTEK's Comfort Eyelet approach, so I guess I'm not the only one with this issue.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

It's a bit difficult to connect croc clips in a 'low profile' and secure way. I have a two battery setup - a small starter battery under the bonnet and the main consumer battery hidden away in the boot - so next to the starter battery there is a small vertical charging post for the consumer battery. The only way that the croc clip fits securely to that (because of the small diameter and the plastic housing around that post) is with the croc clip vertical, which then doesn't allow the bonnet to close without putting pressure on the cable.
It's no different from CTEK's Comfort Eyelet approach, so I guess I'm not the only one with this issue

Are you sure the small battery is the starter and not the other way around?

I use a CTEK which has good size crocodile clips and connect it directly to the jump start posts under the bonnet (as recommended in my owner’s manual).

Whatever works.

 

[ChrisPDuck]

Are you sure the small battery is the starter and not the other way around?

Yes.

 

[W1ghty]

It's a bit difficult to connect croc clips in a 'low profile' and secure way. I have a two battery setup - a small starter battery under the bonnet and the main consumer battery hidden away in the boot - so next to the starter battery there is a small vertical charging post for the consumer battery. The only way that the croc clip fits securely to that (because of the small diameter and the plastic housing around that post) is with the croc clip vertical, which then doesn't allow the bonnet to close without putting pressure on the cable.
It's no different from CTEK's Comfort Eyelet approach, so I guess I'm not the only one with this issue.

Can you connect a fly lead to the battery terminals for quick easy connection ?

 

[ChrisPDuck]

Can you connect a fly lead to the battery terminals for quick easy connection ?

Yes, that's what I've done - I was merely explaining to Rory why I'd gone to the trouble.

Trickle charger ... | Electronics and Audio

I have 1 car that lives in the garage - with power supply - when (as happens a lot) not in use, and the other (main car, the S204) which lives on the front driveway. For the SLK, when she's in her garage, she's on a Lidl conditioner connected to the emergency jump points under the bonnet, which...

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