Mike in CA

Sure, Money. I can't find the thread either so I apologize to all for the repost but it's easier if I just show the pics again. In addition to the CTEK charger (which comes with the eyelet style battery connectors) you'll want a CTEK "comfort extension" cable that will make it so the connector will reach out of the battery compartment and nest in the recess of the compartment lid. There's already a hole behind the recess so no drilling is required. The plug is then "right there" whenever you open the frunk.

The CTEK 3300 is identical to the Porsche charger and is a lot cheaper. That Porsche logo is pricey! The CTEK 7002 has more features and is still priced less than the more basic Porsche charger. I have both; one for the GT3 and the other for the Cayenne.

CTEK 3300
http://www.amazon.com/CTEK-Multi-12-...ords=CTEK+3300

CTEK 7002
http://www.amazon.com/CTEK-Multi-700...ords=CTEK+3300

Extension cable
http://www.amazon.com/CTEK-Comfort-I...ords=CTEK+3300

rockitman

I have had the cig lighter fail to keep a charge over a cold winter...never with the clips. Ymmv.

Money2536

Awesome Mike! Thanks! I just ordered the 7002 and the extension cable.

NateOZ

Thanks Mike - ordered the 7002 as well.

GSIRM3

I agree. I have used the CTEK 3300 with lighter plug for years and never had any problems.

Jimmy-D

Okay - I did not get the "smoking" package so I do not have a lighter where I used to plug the Porsche charger in on my previous cars. Now - on the GT3 there is 12v outlet on the passenger side by your feet. Will that work and be successful keeping battery charged wit the Porsche charger??

Money2536

Forgive me, I only have a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering. Had I had a Master's I might understand this. How does it work having the battery plugged into the cigarette lighter that is powered by the battery? I've been leaning slightly left all day trying to figure this out.

GSIRM3

Matt, You're the EE, not me, but don't the electrons flow both ways in the circuit? Doesn't the charger supply voltage and low amps to the 12V socket which flow to the battery?

GSIRM3

I don't have a GT3, but I use the foot-well 12V socket in my 997.2 GTS and it works fine. I have used it for 3.5 years with no issues.

doubleurx

Just be prepared - the extension cable is really long and you will need to zip tie it in a bunch - you can kind of see it in Mike's picture above. Too bad they don't make different lengths as we only need about 2 feet of additional length at most. I think the cable is 8 feet long.

Mike in CA

Agree. I left enough slack in the cable so I could pull out a couple of feet to make the connection to my charger easier, but you still need to coil up and zip tie some of the extra length. Also, IIRC I had to snip the end of at least one of the eyelets that came with the charger to make a spade clip out of it so it would fit over the battery terminal connection point.

doubleurx

Yes clipping the eyelets is required. Thanks for that tip.

Jimmy-D

GRIRM3-Thanks.

Getting oil change of Friday and by Thanksgiving weekend she is going in to hibernation until March. Very disappointed I only was able to record about 1250 miles on her.

rubbaman

March? Tell me it ain't so!

ADias

Actually... the recommended and safest way to charge a battery is via the cigarette lighter socket. This socket connection is correctly fused and offers the necessary resistance to damp the initial current surge. Where there is no cigarette socket, I am pretty sure Porsche supplies a properly fused 12V socket somewhere in the cabin. This is usually stated in every Owners Manual and follows best battery charging practices.

Connecting directly to the battery terminals is far less safe. Should one prefer a direct battery connection, the negative should not be connected to the battery negative terminal, but instead to a nearby bolt ground connection.