Which trickle charger do you prefer?
. Glad to hear someone else is using one with good results.
12-29-2009, 12:10 PM
#33
Ok...found this at Amazon...along with Cig adaptor plug....before I order.....Does the cig lighter have power available all the time....will this battery maintainer work with a cig plug cord? Sounds like it will but I want to be sure....
12-29-2009, 12:24 PM
#34
Race Car
Ok...found this at Amazon...along with Cig adaptor plug....before I order.....Does the cig lighter have power available all the time....will this battery maintainer work with a cig plug cord? Sounds like it will but I want to be sure....
12-29-2009, 12:26 PM
#35
Drifting
If you get the Ctek and want to use their battery cables with the quick connectors make sure you get the right size. When I got mine the eyes were too small and I had to source their cable set with the larger eyes (10mm??)
12-29-2009, 01:55 PM
#36
12-29-2009, 05:09 PM
#37
Racer
I had a float charger from Harbor Freight (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42292) laying around, modified it with a 'Shack quick disconnect and it has served the purpose well. . . . and only 10 bucks!.
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12-30-2009, 12:17 PM
#41
All set. The car is now charging while not driving. I start it, drive it a couple of times per week, however, with the new year, I'll be traveling and there will be times when it will sit longer. Lately, when starting, it seemed slow, on second revolution, then it would fire up....no problem......battery going bad?
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11-19-2011, 10:57 AM
#44
Rennlist Member
Found this 2 year old thread. I went out to my 01 BMW 740i last night to drive it after it's sat for 2 months and it was dead as a doornail. I jumped it from my 993 and on the 6th try, and after it had been connected up for 30 minutes it finally fired up instead of merely clicking with no start up. I was so happy my tiny little 993 started my big boy BMW.
Though, I get happy when the slightest ordinary things happen to me sometimes so that's not so odd. I thought to myself that if one of my cars is going to sit for many months, I could just jump it like I did last night (a total pain, it took 30 minutes all in all) or I could buy a trickle charger that works with both cars.
I saw the link to the Suncoast one for $57 for the 993. I want one that is SUPER EASY to use, and has nothing to do with a physical connection to my battery. If I can merely buy a long extension cord, connect it to my A/C jack in my garage, then connect it to this Porsche trickle charger and plug it into my cigarette lighter, close the door, and leave my car for 3 months just sitting there if I feel like it, then hell yes - that's the one for me.
Anything involving connecting some tender thingie to the battery and then connecting a quick connect thingie, uh, not for me. Cigarette lighter option? I'm THERE.
So, my question is will the Porsche one work on my BMW if I don't drive IT for 3 months or my 993? If so, that seems to be the one to get. Not too interested in learning about 10 different other options, as my head is spinning as it it.
I drove the bimmer for 20 minutes last night after it started up and hopefully it will start again today. I'll drive it all weekend to keep the battery revved up.
I have to bring my 993 into the shop again to get a bunch of little stuff fixed on it and I'll miss it. Found out the front headlight is out last night so I can't even drive it this way at night. I have no idea how to fix it. It's aftermarket HID. I feared this day would happen eventually. Sunroof doesn't open, hood latch doesn't work again and some other trite stuff.
Thanks folks,
Steve
Though, I get happy when the slightest ordinary things happen to me sometimes so that's not so odd. I thought to myself that if one of my cars is going to sit for many months, I could just jump it like I did last night (a total pain, it took 30 minutes all in all) or I could buy a trickle charger that works with both cars.
I saw the link to the Suncoast one for $57 for the 993. I want one that is SUPER EASY to use, and has nothing to do with a physical connection to my battery. If I can merely buy a long extension cord, connect it to my A/C jack in my garage, then connect it to this Porsche trickle charger and plug it into my cigarette lighter, close the door, and leave my car for 3 months just sitting there if I feel like it, then hell yes - that's the one for me.
Anything involving connecting some tender thingie to the battery and then connecting a quick connect thingie, uh, not for me. Cigarette lighter option? I'm THERE.
So, my question is will the Porsche one work on my BMW if I don't drive IT for 3 months or my 993? If so, that seems to be the one to get. Not too interested in learning about 10 different other options, as my head is spinning as it it.
I drove the bimmer for 20 minutes last night after it started up and hopefully it will start again today. I'll drive it all weekend to keep the battery revved up.
I have to bring my 993 into the shop again to get a bunch of little stuff fixed on it and I'll miss it. Found out the front headlight is out last night so I can't even drive it this way at night. I have no idea how to fix it. It's aftermarket HID. I feared this day would happen eventually. Sunroof doesn't open, hood latch doesn't work again and some other trite stuff.
Thanks folks,
Steve
11-19-2011, 11:28 AM
#45
Rennlist Member
Unfortunately, consumers have nothing more than the manufacturer's advertizing to rely on, be it on the web or on their packaging. And if there is one thing battery charger manufacturers are good at, its not telling you the whole truth and promising you the world.
I use a CTEK 3300 because it has a cold weather mode, which is also used for some "specialty" batteries. For the money, it is very good.
The best by far charger/maintainer that we tested is the Xantrex Truecharge 2. But I doubt many would want to spend $130+ for one. Actually, now that they have the 10A model out, I may just add one to my collection of charger/maintainers.
The other popular brand is Battery Tender. Unfortunately, I find their specifications lacking in detail, for me to choose one.
The question is, how many years are owners getting out of their batteries? That'll tell you how good their on-vehicle charging system is as well as their charger/maintainer. Five years...no big deal; ten years, not bad; I'm now in my 13th year and the last one was in its 16th year when the car was sold.
I use a CTEK 3300 because it has a cold weather mode, which is also used for some "specialty" batteries. For the money, it is very good.
The best by far charger/maintainer that we tested is the Xantrex Truecharge 2. But I doubt many would want to spend $130+ for one. Actually, now that they have the 10A model out, I may just add one to my collection of charger/maintainers.
The other popular brand is Battery Tender. Unfortunately, I find their specifications lacking in detail, for me to choose one.
The question is, how many years are owners getting out of their batteries? That'll tell you how good their on-vehicle charging system is as well as their charger/maintainer. Five years...no big deal; ten years, not bad; I'm now in my 13th year and the last one was in its 16th year when the car was sold.