Battery Maintainer -- How Often Do You Use It?
08-25-2009, 11:52 PM
#17
Rennlist Member
I plug it in all the time. But I'm mostly a weekend driver. Most importantly don't forget to check you battery fluid levels periodically. Especially if you don't drive it on a regular basis.
Jay
Jay
08-26-2009, 06:46 PM
#18
Instructor
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Holy smokes! I only plug mine in when I store the car for the winter. Either the 05 Boxster S or the 09 C2S can sit just fine for weeks on end without use and there's zero impact. I did the same with my GT3, 07 C2S, etc. There's no battery / draw problem with these cars that I've ever heard of or experienced myself. I suppose if I knew I wasn't going to drive either Porsche for say a month, I'd plug it in (I do have 2 maintainers for winter).
08-26-2009, 10:06 PM
#20
Three Wheelin'
However, if you notice the cars that promote them (or even include them)..
Originally Posted by CTEK WEB
Today, Ferrari also delivers a CTEK battery charger with each sold...
08-27-2009, 10:24 AM
#22
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08-27-2009, 01:12 PM
#25
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Bought one when I first picked up my car - mainly because I had to park it for about a month to have my driveway curb removed. Used it once since then when we were on vacation. Other than that, my car seems fine with normal use of 2-3 days per week (more so lately). My feeling is that you only need it for extended periods without driving.
08-27-2009, 01:42 PM
#26
In two years of owning a 996, there were many weeks where I drove it 1 or 2x a week. While out of town, I've had it sit in the garage two weeks at a time without running. I have mild winters however and I don't store the car for any season.
I don't own a maintainer, and have never had a battery problem.
I don't own a maintainer, and have never had a battery problem.
08-27-2009, 01:45 PM
#27
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Buy a good one like Ctek and use it when car is parked for more than two days. Why? The electrochemistry involved in charging a battery isn't simple. Bargain-brand chargers do not take that into account. The car constantly drains current from battery when parked. Why repeatedly discharge and charge the battery? It only leads to "wear-and-tear." Use maintainer to avoid that. Also, remember to check your battery fluids. AFAIK, our batteries are not maintenance free. The screw caps are UNDER the battery sticker which tears off.
08-28-2009, 12:51 PM
#28
Burning Brakes
I have the cheaper Porsche unit and since my Pcar is a third car that gets used mostly as a Sunday driver I use the maintainer every time it's parked and I'm not driving it for 3 or more days.
08-29-2009, 01:51 PM
#29
I don't drive mine much, so it's always hooked up. But you know what? No matter how long I drive the car, without exception when you park and plug in the battery maintainer, it always charges a bit. That says to me that under power there is not enough surplus output from the alternator to keep the battery at a full charge.
If you have one and your garage situation permits, use it all the time unless you're driving your Porsche every day. It is not like it takes much to hook up. Plug into cigarette lighter, turn on. Reverse process when you're ready to drive again.
If you have one and your garage situation permits, use it all the time unless you're driving your Porsche every day. It is not like it takes much to hook up. Plug into cigarette lighter, turn on. Reverse process when you're ready to drive again.
