Charging a Battery

[Stock4Evr]

Does the battery need to be disconnected for a battery charger to be connected? In other words can I just connect a bettery charger directly to the battery terminals while in the car?

[MightyMouseTech]

Just connect the charger to the charging points under the hood.

[Stock4Evr]

Thank you I will do that.

While I have you do you know if a trickle charge can be continuously connected or should it just be periodically connected. Sometime I do not drive the car for an entire week and want to keep the battery charged.

[MightyMouseTech]

Mine has been connected for 4 months now, so no problems, as long as it is a type that will shut off automatically. Look for "battery maintainer".

[champignon]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Mine has been connected for 4 months now, so no problems, as long as it is a type that will shut off automatically. Look for "battery maintainer".

Often referred to as a "float charger;"

The old style trickle chargers will overcharge the battery and are to be avoided other than when you can watch the charge level or when you need a "jump" as they almost always have that setting as an option also, which the float chargers do not generally have.

[tock172]

CTEK, the manufacturer of the of the genuine BMW charger and that of many other marques actually says it's safest to remove batteries for charging, but modern vehicles and especially BMWs have a pretty advanced ventilation system. As long as you've got some kind of intelligent charger that will shut off before overcharging causes the battery to experience sulfation, you should be fine.

[NorthernDancer]

CTEK is highly recommended as is Deltran who used to make the BMW charger. I could also recommend Scumacher 1.5 amp usually in Walmart.

[Stubbie Blue]

I was reading the internal training manual here: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207437

and under the section for Intelligent Alternator Control (IGR) it says:

In contrast to conventional power management systems, the battery must not be fully
charged at all times but rather should maintain a charge level that is within certain limits.
A fully charged battery cannot accept any more charge.

Does this mean we should not charge it with an external battery charger?

[mackeroni]

Originally Posted by Stubbie Blue

I was reading the internal training manual here: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=207437

and under the section for Intelligent Alternator Control (IGR) it says:

In contrast to conventional power management systems, the battery must not be fully
charged at all times but rather should maintain a charge level that is within certain limits.
A fully charged battery cannot accept any more charge.

Does this mean we should not charge it with an external battery charger?

Not exactly. It is very common to use a float charger, a.k.a. battery maintenance charger for long periods. These devices will keep the battery at an optimum level of charge without overcharging. As discussed above, two of the more popular brands are CTEK and Deltran. Deltran makes the Battery Tender, which is my favorite.

There are some really big battery chargers that are heavy enough to be dragged around on a cart. These are NOT intended for use beyond a quick charge to a new battery by the battery dealer before he puts it in your car.

Peace... Mack

[Vigilante375]

Use a battery tender. It's used by millions of people and it's very good brand.

As said before, just hook up to the connecting parts under the hood and you'll be ok. I've had mine connected for weeks at a time with no issue. Many others leave it sitting for however long the cold season lasts with no issues.

[mr.fabulous]

I have both a Deltran and a CTEK. Not sure if one is really any better than the other... but I generally use the CTEK (I guess the LEDs are comforting). My car takes a lot of short trips... which, it seems, are hard on batteries owing to the way BMW manages alternator control (Google "BMW intelligent alternator control"). I charge mine up (under the hood) once a week.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by mr.fabulous

I generally use the CTEK (I guess the LEDs are comforting).

Same here.

Originally Posted by mr.fabulous

My car takes a lot of short trips... which, it seems, are hard on batteries owing to the way BMW manages alternator control (Google "BMW intelligent alternator control"). I charge mine up (under the hood) once a week.

After my battery fiasco with the stealership, I have my CTEK connected on a daily basis.

[Traf]

Can i charge the battery out of the car ? I don't have a wall socket where my car is stored.

[KNS]

Originally Posted by Traf

Can i charge the battery out of the car ? I don't have a wall socket where my car is stored.

Sure you can.

[Traf]

Originally Posted by KNS

Sure you can.

Is that ironic ?