Hello,

I just purchased a Ctek 3300 that will be connected directly to the battery. I've reviewed the booklet and I'm not clear as to where to attach the Negative alligator clip? To the negative post on the battery or ground it somewhere on the body?

Thanks in Advance!

 

I dont see how there would be a differance?

Phil is the expert - He will be here shortly with a LONG explanation - followed shortly there after by a host of people making fun of him...

get the - sit back and watch the show

 

My advice is to pay the $10 and get the adapter that lets you plug the charger into the cigarette lighter outlet. It's about 10,000% quicker.

Just my $0.02

 

I considered that, but the charger will fit next to the battery and I can run the cord alongside the weather stripping and out of the body seam next to the headlight. This works better for me because I live in a condo.

 

OK, here goes. You ready??

Step 1: Buy the Porsche Tequipment Battery Maintainer with the cigarette lighter adapter.

Step 2: Insert the connector into the lighter socket on or around November 1.

Step 3: Turn on the battery maintainer

Step 4: Go skiing or do some other fun winter activity

Step 4: Disconnect the battery maintainer on or around May 1

Step 5: Start car and drive it to operating temperature.

Step 6: Repeat step 5 as often or as infrequently as you like.

Step 7: Repeat steps 2-4 annually.

Enjoy your Porsche!!

 

Awe Boy Phil, Thats awesome - but you left yourself WIDE open for all those "pop shots!" LOL

Good write up !!

 

This is probably TMI, but whatever.

My two cents: the only reason for NOT connecting a batt charger clips directly to the battery is that a spark can be produced when connected (depending on how large of a voltage difference between batt and charger), and if the battery is out-gassing (which is primarily hydrogen), the spark can ignite it.

By connecting the + terminal directly to the battery, and the - of the charger to a grounded part of the car, any spark produced should be far enough away from the battery not to ignite anything. This is also the reason for the order in jump starting a car. A dead battery will out-gas quite a bit, and its voltage will be real low, perfect scenario for spark and explosion.

I once drove a friend's car whose batt that ran low on water. When I started the car, there was enough hydrogen gas accumulated inside the battery that when the car tried to start, that big load pulled thru the battery caused an internal spark, and the entire battery exploded like a bomb, sounding like one too (one dude walking by hit the pavement on all fours!! Lol!!), destroying the battery and spewing the remaining acid all over the inside of the engine comp.
If you have a maintenance battery, keep it filled!!

 

Thanks peavynation,

I was going to attach the negative alligator clip to the strut tower support, good or bad idea? I would like to be able to close the lid completely, can you suggest any other places to ground?

 

You'd more than likely be just fine attaching the charger to the battery terminals themselves. This is especially true if the battery has one of the gas-capture-vent-tube kits on it (or if it's a gel cel batt like an Optima). But still, if you want to be real safe then...

I wouldn't attach it to the strut itself, but something unpainted on the chassis, like a bolt would do fine. You're not dumping a lot of current thru this connection, it's just a trickle charge, but still, the better the connection (i.e. less voltage drop before it hits the battery) the better.

 

Will do, thanks!

 

I bought the cigarette adapter but no charging takes place (the battery is less than 6 months old). The power light and the 'normal' light on my CTEK 7000 are on but no other lights light up. any suggestions? fuse blown on the cigarette adapter? I'm going to try the alligator clips directly on the battery tonight.

 

Another option is to access the battery terminal in the engine compartment. It's a lot less awkward than trying to access the battery itself. And any sparking is far from the battery. And if the battery does explode, it's at the other end of the car under the hood.

On the right side there is a little black 1" x 2" plastic box with a "+" on it. Open it and there's the positive terminal. Then just pick any exposed metal for the negative terminal. I like using the bolt sticking up aft of the air box.

 

Nice tip! Didn't even know that little box was there.

 

Does anyone know if pre-2002 996s have this positive terminal as well? I don't recall ever seeing it.