Charge F-Type battery

Cheers scm, I'll tie it up out of the way - never been a fan of cables that just dangle around doing nothing!
 
Hi All

I'm fitting the ctek for first time probably day after boxing day and SORN for a couple of months over winter

question i have is if i put the ctek on a timer so it's only on every night (say 5.00 PM till midnight) is that an issue or should it be on all time?
 
Backofthenet said:
Hi All

I'm fitting the ctek for first time probably day after boxing day and SORN for a couple of months over winter

question i have is if i put the ctek on a timer so it's only on every night (say 5.00 PM till midnight) is that an issue or should it be on all time?
Click to expand...


I swop my charger between car & our caravan battery. Leaving either battery to fend for itself for a week or so, then swopping over again.

Doesn’t seem to make any difference to my batteries so think you’d be ok switching off during the day.
 
Backofthenet said:
Hi All

I'm fitting the ctek for first time probably day after boxing day and SORN for a couple of months over winter

question i have is if i put the ctek on a timer so it's only on every night (say 5.00 PM till midnight) is that an issue or should it be on all time?
Click to expand...
The CTEK is designed to be left on all the time, that way it maintains the battery at optimum condition.
Why would you want to put it on timer?
Mine stays connected for up to 5 months at a time over the winter.
 
Maybe if you are laying up for a few months over winter worth placing a caravan moisture trap in the car also.
I put one in the car and one in the boot.
Surprising how much water it draws in.
 
Just had a dry run for fitting the ctek - found the connection points but it looks like the lugs are bigger than the ctek connections so they won't fit over the lugs for when i come to screw them down?

the crocodile clips do connect to the lugs but i do wonder if they will maintain a good current to the battery - anyone else had the issue with the fittings on the ctek and the F-Type lugs - mine is a MY18 SVR
 
I drilled my fittings out a little so that they would fit, then used a circular file to fine-tune it - always do it a little bit at a time, the less you drill out the better. Mine has been working just fine like that.
 
You can actually buy CTEK leads that have bigger eyelets, if you know what size you need. I've always used the clips to connect mine (too lazy to get round to fitting the lead!) and haven't had any issues.
 
OK - i'll use the clips - they did seem to be putting a charge through - one more question - will the boot shut with the power lead trailing out?
 
Backofthenet said:
OK - i'll use the clips - they did seem to be putting a charge through - one more question - will the boot shut with the power lead trailing out?
Click to expand...

i put the charger in the boot and trail a 10A mains lead out of the boot. It's never caused me any problems so far. Just make sure to avoid the catch!
 
Just don’t do what I did a while ago.....I used to reverse into the garage and connect the charger and then close the boot (no issues with the cable under the boot).

However, one day in a hurry, jumped in the car, started her and drove out the garage.....bang, pulled the cable straight out of the CTEK charger!!!!!.....thankfully no damage whatsoever to the car or paintwork. But boy did I feel stupid :roll:

I now always drive into the garage, so when I open the garage door I see the charger cable attached!
 
Northnoble said:
Just don’t do what I did a while ago.....I used to reverse into the garage and connect the charger and then close the boot (no issues with the cable under the boot).

However, one day in a hurry, jumped in the car, started her and drove out the garage.....bang, pulled the cable straight out of the CTEK charger!!!!!.....thankfully no damage whatsoever to the car or paintwork. But boy did I feel stupid :roll:

I now always drive into the garage, so when I open the garage door I see the charger cable attached!
Click to expand...

I’ve made a little sign that I put next to the start button when it’s on charge, reminding me ( and my Wife) to unplug before going anywhere!
 
OK silly question - can you start the car with the ctek connected?

i have a (very) slow puncture that will need inflating back to 40psi about every other week whilst car is SORN - i've got one of those portable digital tyre inflators that run off cigarette lighter so will start car and inflate every so often
 
I've started mine many times with the CTEK connected. No problems. I did once drive away while it was still connected... but fortunately I fitted the CTEK quick coupler on the cable between the boot lid and the wall charger. That snapped open and disconnected as soon as the cable went taught, so no damage done. Worthwhile mod for all of us with senior moments to handle. And yes I do have a large reminder sign on the centre panel, but I'd previously removed it during valeting and forgot to put it back.
 
Can I add two dumb noob questions to this old thread :(

1) What is the difference between using a regular battery charger from time to time, vs using this CTEK thing ? (which I think is a 'trickle' charger ?)

I don't have an outdoor electricity outlet, so whatever charger I use will involve a temporary extension out through the living room window.

2) Are all FType batteries the AGM type.


My F is a 2018 P380 in UK
 
1) a regular battery charger produces voltage and current at a specific level whereas a CTEK (aka "battery maintainer" not trickle charger) goes through a series of stages to check and then charge the battery in a hopefully optimum way. When it deems the charge is complete it monitors the battery and tops it up when it thinks it's necessary. I charge mine on my drive with a 10m extension out of my kitchen window - the mains lead fits until the boot lid without (so far, after 7 years!) any noticeable issue. The extension socket and the charger all sit in the boot. I generally plug it in in the evening and found that an overnght charge has always resulted in a fully charged battery.

A CTEK won't supply any volts if it isn't attached to a battery whereas a regular charger should.

2) Not sure if the early F-Types are AGM but they definitely are at MY18.
 
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