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Post by mikeluxy on Oct 6, 2017 10:26:25 GMT
I have no battery problems but I like to keep the battery topped up.
I usually leave it on trickle charge in the winter by connecting direct to the battery.
I expect many are aware though that the battery is in the boot and to get access ye have to remove the spare tyre...and lift up the lid of the battery box to gain access.
I have a 12 volt cigarette lighter socket wired directly to the 12 volt supply....are there any issues in trickle charging directly through the 12 volt plug...?....It would be a lot easier as well as quicker than having to fart around with removing the spare tyre etc...?
Basically then...is it safe to trickle charge via the 12 volt cigarette lighter socket....?
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Post by bondbug750 on Oct 6, 2017 13:55:13 GMT
I think it'll be OK ...I put a connection socket through the boot near side wheel arch; on the vertical flat area at about the 11 o'clock position with respect to the rear wheel ...the wires from the socket go through to the battery. I can reach that easily behind the rear wheel to plug in the battery charger when needed without opening the boot. The +ve wire to the battery has an inline fuse - I wouldn't use this socket to draw power out but for charging it works fine
I didn't use a ciggy lighter but a similar 12v plug and socket that has a waterproof flap to close over the socket when the cars being used and the trickle charge not plugged in
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Post by cdb15 on Oct 6, 2017 18:14:33 GMT
It might be worth putting a meter on the output from the charger at the charger, and also on the wiring at the battery (battery disconnected) to see what the voltage drop is across the wiring in the Bug. If it drops too much then you might not get the charging effect that you are looking for. There's another question here which is, is it sensible to keep a battery on trickle charge for months on end? I believe I wrecked a battery that way, within only about 15 months from new, using a £7 charger from eBay - oops ! So I now use a CTEK from time to time. If the engine is started every fortnight or so, and run until warm, the battery is likely to last a lot longer. Continuous charging leads to steady evaporation of the water inside and when the plates are exposed to air the exposed area not only no longer participates in the energy storage function, but also corrodes and the debris from the corrosion spalls and falls onto lower areas of the plate, under the surface, preventing those areas too from functioning properly. Eventually the battery capacity gets too low to crank the engine. There is a lot of debate about whether a battery can be restored, but in my experience it can't, and it's not economic even to try.
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Post by bondbug750 on Oct 7, 2017 7:37:58 GMT
I too once fried a battery with a trickle charger that I'd left connected for a long time ...but these modern ones that have the self adjusting charging profiles like CTEK ought to be much better. I've never found anything that will restore a battery once its failed
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Post by ady on Oct 9, 2017 15:03:06 GMT
The proper trickle chargers will take the battery through a charging cycle where they will take the charge in the battery up and down, but always keep it in a healthy range. These are good to keep connected all winter and can improve the health of a battery. They cannot repair a damaged battery though only a flat one. As stated above there will be a voltage drop if you plug into the lighter socket, this will probably affect how the charger monitors the battery and could lead to it doing the wrong thing. I have a short lead with a socket sitting close to the battery within the boot, but easy to get to, that I plug my charger into.
The cheep chargers that produce a low amp output but keep it constant are not safe to leave connected for a long period. They will eventually fry the battery.
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Post by Biggles on Oct 13, 2017 12:58:52 GMT
This is mine.... i use The Datatool Motorcycle one   |
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Post by sd1 on Oct 13, 2017 21:26:46 GMT
That's Like the one I have
I always plug my Cortina back in after I have been out in the car
and I have been using it for years
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