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      08-23-2009, 10:36 PM   #1
MerlinMc
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Trickle Charging

My vehicle often sits for long periods unused. What's the best procedure for trickle charging? If the trunk is left open, the trunk lights use some of the charge. If the trunk is closed, is there risk of battery gases igniting?

Thanks.
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      08-23-2009, 10:44 PM   #2
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You can hook up under the hood too; where the jumper connections are. This avoids connecting in the trunk.
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      08-23-2009, 10:53 PM   #3
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Thanks and question

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Originally Posted by Addict...Nah Im A Junkie! View Post
You can hook up under the hood too; where the jumper connections are. This avoids connecting in the trunk.
Thanks. Where is the connection under the hood?
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      08-23-2009, 10:57 PM   #4
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There is a red cap over the positive terminal to your left when looking at the car and a ground knob/lug looking thing near it. That's how I hook mine up. Then I put a couple of pieces of cardboard over the wire near the latch and semi-close the hood.
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      08-24-2009, 07:34 AM   #5
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The CTEK MULTI US 3300 charger/maintainer is the one sold by Porsche. It comes with an adapter to plug into the cigarette lighter socket so you don't even need to open the trunk or hood.
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      08-24-2009, 10:23 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m_thompson View Post
The CTEK MULTI US 3300 charger/maintainer is the one sold by Porsche. It comes with an adapter to plug into the cigarette lighter socket so you don't even need to open the trunk or hood.
I use one like that for my M-roadster. But then you need to have the a window open. I'd rather have the hood popped a little than have the window open just incase there was a leak or something that could get water into the car.
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      08-24-2009, 11:34 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Addict...Nah Im A Junkie! View Post
I use one like that for my M-roadster. But then you need to have the a window open.
Is there enough give in the door gasket to close over a thin extension cord?
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      08-24-2009, 10:15 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m_thompson View Post
Is there enough give in the door gasket to close over a thin extension cord?
I wouldn't want to chance fraying the cord, and would be annoyed if there was an indentation in the gasket when cleaning. Yes I am that spastic.
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      08-25-2009, 03:01 AM   #9
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I don't think the cigarette lighter socket is permanently live so will only allow charge when ignition is on. A feature of modern canbus cars which can be a pain in the ass.
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      08-25-2009, 06:23 AM   #10
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You could also use a solar flat panel trickle charger - if your car is visible to sunlight during the day. You could leave the flat panel on the rear parcel shelf and run the cable through the rear seat direct to the battery. These are small amperage (5 watt, less than 1/2 amp) trickle chargers, and would not cause any gas build up.
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      08-25-2009, 12:57 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca916 View Post
I don't think the cigarette lighter socket is permanently live so will only allow charge when ignition is on. A feature of modern canbus cars which can be a pain in the ass.
Correct. Unlike the old E30, E36 and E46 cars, the new 3-series and the 1-series no longer have a live power socket when the car is off. I suspect people were leaving their cell phones, iPods and other junk plugged in and running down the battery. So BMW "fixed" the problem by not keeping the socket live when the ignition off.

You need to connect the trickle charger to the posts under the hood. In the owner's manual look for the section on how to jump the car. That will show you a picture of where to connect the clips.
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      08-26-2009, 06:36 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nordique14 View Post
You need to connect the trickle charger to the posts under the hood. In the owner's manual look for the section on how to jump the car. That will show you a picture of where to connect the clips.
......
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      05-18-2016, 08:43 PM   #13
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For those of us with the Ctek charger- I believe it needs to be connected directly to the battery. Is anyone using this under the hood? I ask because the cord itself will not stretch between the posts - it's meant for the size of a battery. I miss my Z4M which used the cigarette lighter option!
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Last edited by etr2016; 05-18-2016 at 10:09 PM..
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      05-18-2016, 09:44 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by etr2016 View Post
For those of with the Ctek charger- I believe it needs to be connected directly to the battery. Is anyone using this under the hood? I ask because the cord itself will not stretch between the posts - it's meant for the size of a battery. I miss my Z4M which used the cigarette lighter option!
I use the Ctek under the hood without any problems that I can tell.
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      05-18-2016, 10:10 PM   #15
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Admittedly, I haven't looked under the hood much - but on my Z4M the charging ports were so far apart the CTEK wouldn't reach. Clearly I need to take another look under the hood...
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      05-18-2016, 10:53 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ayao View Post
I use the Ctek under the hood without any problems that I can tell.
+1.

My setup:
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      05-21-2016, 09:01 PM   #17
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Do you leave that attached while driving? I had these clamps which seem to work...

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      05-21-2016, 09:06 PM   #18
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Some people prefer a "hard wired" solution but I use the clamps like you have pictured and have had no issues.
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      05-21-2016, 09:09 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MerlinMc View Post
If the trunk is closed, is there risk of battery gases igniting?
Use some common sense dude. Your car charges the battery while it runs. If you can't work out the implications of that, then I'll tell you that the battery has a tube attached that vents any gas outside the vehicle.
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      05-21-2016, 09:20 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes View Post
Use some common sense dude. Your car charges the battery while it runs. If you can't work out the implications of that, then I'll tell you that the battery has a tube attached that vents any gas outside the vehicle.
Too late. He died 7 years ago shortly after posting what you're trying to debate...
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      05-21-2016, 10:18 PM   #21
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Quote:
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Too late. He died 7 years ago shortly after posting what you're trying to debate...
loolol damn it should have looked at the date on the op
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      05-21-2016, 11:49 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by etr2016 View Post
Do you leave that attached while driving?
Yup.

I think it's a more positive connection than using the clamps... And the quick disconnect on the cable has a waterproof cap on it.
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