trickle charger install

[RossDagley]

As winter is coming up, I will be storing the car a little more for longer periods. I'd like to leave my optimate charger connected for longer periods like this.

To where would people suggest hard-wiring the cables? (I'm using http://www.optimate.co.uk/sae71.htm). (And for reference sake, can you charge on the jump points in the engine bay or just to the battery itself? (Might be daft, I've never thought about it in depth!).

If I hard wire the optimate cable to the battery I'd have to have the connector in the boot and I'd rather it was in the engine bay that's all

Cheers!

[SuprSi]

That'll be fine Ross once it's charged there'll be next to no current and there's always voltage there anyway so connecting there won't cause any probs.

[marc1]

I think I read that you have to connect in the engine bay, but not sure. I'd definitely get proper confirmation first. It maybe in the manual though too.

[esp_mm-270]

Just as an option for other readers of this thread I went this way. £8.99 from maplins....

[SuprSi]

I guess that'd work if you were keeping your car outside, not much use inside.

[Paul-RS]

With my Ctek and permanent powered 12v cig sockets, I can charge it there which is handy as on the RS3 the battery is buried deep in the boot,although there are jump starting points under the bonnet.

On cars, with switched ignition fed 12v sockets, we have hard wired quick connect leads to the batteries.

[esp_mm-270]

I guess that'd work if you were keeping your car outside, not much use inside.

Yeah, I have windows at the back of Ruby's bedroom (garage) so picks up light from there.

[Deano_123]

With my Ctek and permanent powered 12v cig sockets, I can charge it there which is handy as on the RS3 the battery is buried deep in the boot,although there are jump starting points under the bonnet.

On cars, with switched ignition fed 12v sockets, we have hard wired quick connect leads to the batteries.

Tell me more of how you have connected your Ctek as I have one but havent considered how to connect it to my RS4

[Paul-RS]

Hi, if you have a permanent feed on your cigarrete lighter/12V sockets you can buy this adaptor for the Ctek.



I have the MXS 5 which outputs 5 Amps, so well within the cigarrette lighter/12V sockets current rating. I have the luggage pack, so have a 12V socket in the boot, no need to lift the bonnet, or mess about with crock clips and greasy battery terminals.

If you havent got a permanent 12V on your cigarrete lighter/12V sockets you can buy this adaptor instead of using the crock clips, ( i think one comes in the kit)


that bolt onto the battey, you can get them with 6mm, 8mm or 10mm eyelets to match your battery posts. it then plugs straight in, with no chance of crossed wires. if your missus can manage to plug a vacuum in, they could plug the Ctek in! its that easy.

http://www.ctek.com/gb/en/accessories/