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997.2 TT
I use the cigarette lighter receptacle between the seats and a 2A Sears battery maintainer.
When I need to 'charge' the battery I use a larger capacity charger connected directly to the battery posts.
Porsche sells maintainers as does BMW and probably others. They work well
The cigarette lighter goes straight through a fuse to the battery. Hooking a charger to one is very little different than the other when you're only passing a few amps. (And if you do charge too fast, all you're going to do is blow the cigarette lighter fuse; protecting against too much current is what it's there for.) Either way all the car's electronics are going to see the charging voltage, which is totally fine.
You absolutely can connect the Ctek charger through the cig lighter in the car. The Porsche charger is a re-branded Ctek and allows you to do the same thing. I use the Ctek and charge my 997.2 TTS this way all winter. I run the cable out the window but I keep the windows up. the ctek cord fits between the window and the molding without issue. This is the simplest setup and it works perfectly.
I prefer running the wire under the door as there is more room for the wire with the weather stripping there than pinching the wire at the window. Actually I prefer running it strait to the battery through either end at the hood.
I used to run a cord through the door on an H2 when charging that way. I found a few weeks later after a bunch of rain ants had crawled up the cord and made a new home in the Hummer. After that I stick with a direct connect to the battery.
I have used a CTEK tender for 5 years. I got the cigarette lighter cord attachment and now run it to the lighter socket in the center console. It works fine.
Should be fine. It’s a plus that one uses standard SAE cables so extensions, etc., will be easy to find. I got a longer cable to use when I have the cover on. That looks like a rebrand of a cheaper Schumacher unit, but the latter doesn’t come with the Cig lighter adapter. The hanger is a nice add nice too.
I have been using CTEK and Porsche chargers for years through the cigarette lighter port. There is no need to run the cable through the window or randomly through the door opening. There are actually specially designed spots to run the cord on both 996 and 997 (and likely other Porsches as well). On the 997, on the left hand side as you face the drivers door, just as the door begins to sweep upward, there is an area that has some slits cut in the rubber (if you didn't know better you might think someone damaged your seal). You run the cable where these slits are and close the door so it aligns with the location of these slits. On a 996, rather than slits there is an approximate half circle of rubber cut out and then you run the cable in the area of the cut out. I have been running my maintainers through these locations for years, with no door seal or maintainer cord issues.
Word of caution, you can definitely use a trickle charger to maintain the battery or charge it slowly, but do not try to jump start the car through the cigarette lighter. I have seen folks try that and it could lead to frying your wires.
I have been using the Porsche battery maintainer plugged into the cigarette lighter since new. Zero issues. I run it out the door and I’ve not had any battery issues.
Car is hooked up from late October through March in storage. I will take it for a drive on a few select days it we get a warm snap in that period over a weekend.
I Change the battery every 5 years just because I don’t want to get stuck. I do this on all my cars as I feel it’s cheap insurance.
12-26-2017, 09:30 AM
