CTek battery trickle feed connections

[Lodgebaker]

I wonder does anyone know where best to make my Ctek charger connections so I can just hook up each time I put in garage. I am being told the only way in a Z3M is using crocodile clips as battery terminals too big for the connectors that come with a CTek. Is that your experience?

 

[Zephyr]

Crocodile under the hood/bonnet at the specific location. Red on the red plug and black on the round thingy on the wheel arch.

 

[Lodgebaker]

Perfect thanks.

 

[andyglym]

I wonder does anyone know where best to make my Ctek charger connections so I can just hook up each time I put in garage. I am being told the only way in a Z3M is using crocodile clips as battery terminals too big for the connectors that come with a CTek. Is that your experience?

Hi mate, use the under bonnet location with the clips, quick and easy.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

You can get a cigarette lighter plug and an extension lead from Ctek, no faffing about under the bonnet or in the boot

 

[Lodgebaker]

Yes I have one of those connectors so will have a go at that. Thanks.

 

[t-tony]

You can get a cigarette lighter plug and an extension lead from Ctek, no faffing about under the bonnet or in the boot

So you charge in through the Cig. Lighter socket then?

Tony.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

So you charge in through the Cig. Lighter socket then?

Tony.

That's right Tony. Of course it will only work if the socket is permanent live when the ignition is off, as the Z3 is.

 

[Lodgebaker]

Perfect. Thanks for confirming.

 

[Nodzed]

I have permanently connected my C-Tec connections to the under bonnet terminals so I can just connect via the snap connecter on the C-Tec. Makes life a little easier

 

[Lodgebaker]

Nice. Thanks for the picture.

 

[t-tony]

I have permanently connected my C-Tec connections to the under bonnet terminals so I can just connect via the snap connecter on the C-Tec. Makes life a little easier

View attachment 254267

Do you just leave the bonnet on the safety catch Niall with the cablethrough the gap. Just wondering if I should leave my battery conditioner on for 9 weeks.

Tony.

 

[Lodgebaker]

I use CTek and leave it on all the time. Have done for years on cars that only get used occasionally. Don’t think I would be confident to use any other make of trickle feeder in this way. I just know that Ctek has never let me down. (PS I don’t work for them just a very satisfied customer).

 

[hard top]

Do you just leave the bonnet on the safety catch Niall with the cablethrough the gap. Just wondering if I should leave my battery conditioner on for 9 weeks.

Tony.

I thought that your above question was interesting, so I had a look online and found this :-

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Is It Okay to Leave a Battery Maintainer On All the Time?
Unlike standard and trickle chargers, a battery maintainer can be attached to a battery indefinitely without any fear of overcharging. This makes them perfect for seasonal vehicles that will remain idle for longer periods of time.

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But I am not sure if it applies to the bit of kit you use Tony.

 

[Nodzed]

Do you just leave the bonnet on the safety catch Niall with the cablethrough the gap. Just wondering if I should leave my battery conditioner on for 9 weeks.

Tony.

Yes mate as its in the garage, the C-Tec will be fine left on it only runs if a dis-charge is sensed

 

[Zephyr]

Well… until my garage explodes, I can say I am using some cheap Lidl chargers/maintainers for all my cars for years and had no issues so far.
even had a vehicle plugged for more than six months during covid lockdown and the 5 year old battery still is good and strong.

 

[Nodzed]

BMW recommend that the e89 should always be charged via the under bonnet terminals, not direct to the battery. If you connect to the battery then the IBS is not registering the charge and will assume the battery rate is lower than it actually is when the engine is started. I'm sure there is a better nerd description out there.

 

[t-tony]

Mine isn’t a C-Tek but it isn’t a cheap as chips one either. I’ve left it on for 6 weeks before with no problems on my E85, I just closed the boot catch so that the car thought it was locked.

Tony.

 

[t-tony]

This is mine, its made by VOCHE. I've had it and used it since I had my Z3, so approx. 12 years or so.

Still available at roughly the same cost.

Pardon our interruption...

Tony.

 

[Thesurveyor]

I had my CTEK permanently attached to the battery with no problem. The bolts that run through the terminals are a little larger than the holes in the CTEK lead and so a little judicious filing was required. But no issue. The female end just pokes up from under the boot liner and then the bioot can be carefully slammed shut on the lead which fits in the compressible rubber.