Trickle charging

[Anonymous]

Wishing all owners a happy christmas and a great new year just one question I have a Optima battery charger that I will connect as going away is it best to connect to the connectors under the bonnet or the battery as I used to do on the motorbikes
Thanks in advance

 

[Kev]

Connect to the positive distribution busbar and one of the negative posts in the boot well. DO NOT connect to the battery terminals otherwise the battery monitor won't know the battery is charged

 

[mickjaguar]

Examples of battery connections are shown on this post:

https://www.ftypeforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=4379&start=30

Just search for Ctek and you'll find posts with more pictures of connections for different model years and coupe/conv if the above isn't helping.

You can also connect to the charging posts under the bonnet, which does the same thing. Although it's less of a faff to have a permanent connector installed in the boot.

The storage 'bucket' in the coupe boot is made of thick plastic. I just made a hole in it using a wood drill bit, for the Ctek connector to come through.

 

[scm]

Some people have used the underbonnet terminals for charging and haven't reported any problems.

 

[Stu67]

Some people have used the underbonnet terminals for charging and haven't reported any problems.

Can confirm this, jump start tab/post for the +, and the fixing bolt for the jump start 'Box" for the -

Stu.

 

[mickjaguar]

Some people have used the underbonnet terminals for charging and haven't reported any problems.

Yep. I use the charging points under the bonnet when using my Ctek on our XE occasionally. it's just easier, as the car is always parked that way around. The car is a 2015 and I've only replaced the original battery about a month ago. So, I can confirm that connecting in this way is just as effective.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all your help

 

[Moss]

Tip when using the under bonnet method - make sure your croc clips don’t make contact with the bonnet, if you close it shut during the process. Sorry, I’m not trying to tell grannies how to suck eggs.
I subsequently fitted a charging spur to the battery/busbar, as described above and lead the supply through the boot lid.
Works a treat, and I share the charger with the motorcycle.

 

[Jaguandy]

I used the front post to charge with my Optimate. I have a small crock clip on a wire I clip to the + post route the wire so I can close the bonnet, and connect the bigger Optimate croc to the dangling wire. The - crock I just clip to wheel nut. It worked fine for me through the pandemic when the car wasn't used for months at a time.

 

[scm]

One of the Aussies on the US forum drilled a hole through the positive underbonnet terminal to fit the connector, then dropped the lead down to the wheel well. To charge, he just pulls the lead down through the wheel well and plugs the CTEK in. He tucks the lead behind the wheel well trim when not in use.

 

[paddy1000111]

If you prefer an easier to reach version I installed it in the boot on the liner underneath the opening