Charging the battery whilst away.

306 Views 18 Replies 10 Participants Last post by TheBoy, 5 h ago

seagull

Discussion Starter · 2 d ago

Hello knowledgeable folk. I have to go into hospital for a big op before too long and the car will be laid up in our garage. Knowing that batteries in our cars are notorious for going flat exceedingly quickly, I am planning to connect my CTEK via an extension lead and carefully closing the boot and leaving it. I know CTEK say this is ok, but is it? Would it still charge if I left the boot open?The reason I say this is because the garage will be used whilst I am away, and it is possible that young grandson or someone else may unwittingly trip over the lead or turn the power off and I am paranoid about coming home to a flat battery and no access to the battery in the boot. If that did occur, can the car be started by the RAC by connecting power under the bonnet to the suitable terminals?
Any advice to this ignoramus would be gratefully received.
Many thanks, Angus.

Reactions: 1

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

JimC64

· #2 · 2 d ago

seagull said:
Hello knowledgeable folk. I have to go into hospital for a big op before too long and the car will be laid up in our garage. Knowing that batteries in our cars are notorious for going flat exceedingly quickly, I am planning to connect my CTEK via an extension lead and carefully closing the boot and leaving it. I know CTEK say this is ok, but is it? Would it still charge if I left the boot open?The reason I say this is because the garage will be used whilst I am away, and it is possible that young grandson or someone else may unwittingly trip over the lead or turn the power off and I am paranoid about coming home to a flat battery and no access to the battery in the boot. If that did occur, can the car be started by the RAC by connecting power under the bonnet to the suitable terminals?
Any advice to this ignoramus would be gratefully received.
Many thanks, Angus.

Hey Angus, perhaps someone like @mac_doctor might be bale to assist vehicle specific, or @Ian D who is usually very knowledgeable on these things.

Hope the op goes well mate

Cheers
Jim

Reactions: 1

seagull

Discussion Starter · #3 · 2 d ago

JimC64 said:
Hey Angus, perhaps someone like @mac_doctor might be bale to assist vehicle specific, or @Ian D who is usually very knowledgeable on these things.

Hope the op goes well mate

Cheers
Jim

Thanks Jim.

Reactions: 1

JimboV8

· #4 · 2 d ago

seagull said:
I am planning to connect my CTEK via an extension lead and carefully closing the boot and leaving it

Perfectly ok to do this Angus.

seagull said:
If that did occur, can the car be started by the RAC by connecting power under the bonnet to the suitable terminals?

Yes they can though they would probably use those terminals in order to open the boot for access to the battery.

Reactions: 2

OBC John

· #5 · 2 d ago

3

Hi Angus.
First of all, good luck with your operation! Keep us updated while you're in there.
Regarding connecting the C-Tek, don't wory about closing the boot. The rubber seal is plenty flexible enough to accommodate the leads without damage.
This is how I have my leads permanently connected . . . +ve to the battery and -ve to a nearby earth. This way, the battery control module is in the circuit.

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Reactions: 5

TheBoy

· #6 · 2 d ago

I often close the boot whilst charging mine. Its fine. Even on the thick cable of a full 13A extension cable.

Reactions: 3

seagull

Discussion Starter · #7 · 2 d ago

Just measured up and the car is about a foot or so too long!
Thought it would fit,damn’ it. Will have to have nose sticking out and the folding door halfway closed. Unless we get absolutely terrible weather no harm should come to the arse end and electrics…….I hope.😱😢

Reactions: 2

nigelrw

· #8 · 2 d ago

I fitted a CTE-56380-Comfort-Indicator-Panel-Adaptor - can get these from Halfords/Amazon/C-tek - the indicator is not accurate but panel is nice and tidy - the cable has not given me any problems out the boot as OBC John says the seal is very flexible just do not lay cable over the lock !

Reactions: 1

seagull

Discussion Starter · #9 · 2 d ago

TheBoy said:
I often close the boot whilst charging mine. Its fine. Even on the thick cable of a full 13A extension cable.
[/QUOTE

Hi Jamie,
Daft question, but is the charger inside the closed boot whilst charging? I’m assuming it is. I only ask because they get quite warm on a few hours.
Many thanks.

mac_doctor

· #10 · 2 d ago (Edited)

2

I connect my CTEK to the terminals under the bonnet,

which closes properly with the cable running out:

If someone disconnects the cables, just reconnect them and wait until it is fully charged before you start the car.

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TheBoy

· #11 · 2 d ago

Yes, charger in the boot. Charger may heat up when actually charging, but when in trickle/maintenance mode once fully charged, it will generate less heat. Even Ctek junk,

What will have more impact on heat in the boot is if its parked in the sun.

As you need to lower the boot floor to close the boot, you might want to remove the boot floor (just 2 Torx screws, in the recesses of the luggage net pertaining hooks), as although you could wedge the floor up with a block of wood, removing should allow better airflow.

If long term charging, absolutely ensure the batt venting hose is secure in the battery, to prevent a build up of hydrogen in the sealed boot.

Reactions: 3

jberks

· #12 · 1 d ago

I’m sitting on a sun bed here in Cyprus. Back home my XF is parked in my garage with my Ctek MX5 in the boot connected with a quick connector and the power lead running over the seal of the locked boot, to an extension lead on the floor next to the rear bumper.
It’s fine. Even if someone were to accidentally disconnect it, it’ll just pick up where it left off when reconnected.
I just need to remember to unplug it before I head off on Tuesday morning and not back over the lead.

Reactions: 3

TheBoy

· #13 · 1 d ago

Oooo, Cyprus, one of my favourite places. Where about?

jberks

· #14 · 1 d ago

TheBoy said:
Oooo, Cyprus, one of my favourite places. Where about?

Khlorakas just outside Paphos- not done much touring this trip, the Mrs wanted a sit by the pool break but looked nice on the way in.

Reactions: 1

chris-b

· #15 · 1 d ago

I bought a CTEK extension lead (I think you can get different lengths to suit) so that the charger can sit outside the car (and I can see the state of charge without opening the boot).

www.tayna.co.uk

CTEK 56-304 2.5 Metre Comfort Extension Lead

The CTEK Connect Extension Cable is convenient the solution if your CTEK charger needs the longer length. Simply connect the 2.5m cable to your charger and attach the other end to the sockets on your other CONNECT accessories.

www.tayna.co.uk

I also put a warning tag on the dashboard, to remind me to disconnect it before I drive off. Yep, done that before and tore the leads out of my previous CTEK!

Reactions: 3

JimC64

· #16 · 23 h ago

chris-b said:
I bought a CTEK extension lead (I think you can get different lengths to suit) so that the charger can sit outside the car (and I can see the state of charge without opening the boot).

CTEK 56-304 2.5 Metre Comfort Extension Lead

The CTEK Connect Extension Cable is convenient the solution if your CTEK charger needs the longer length. Simply connect the 2.5m cable to your charger and attach the other end to the sockets on your other CONNECT accessories.

www.tayna.co.uk

I also put a warning tag on the dashboard, to remind me to disconnect it before I drive off. Yep, done that before and tore the leads out of my previous CTEK!

That's a good call Chris

Jim

JimboV8

· #17 · 23 h ago

chris-b said:
I also put a warning tag on the dashboard, to remind me to disconnect it before I drive off. Yep, done that before and tore the leads out of my previous CTEK

Very sensible idea.

Reactions: 2

MarkFY

· #18 · 23 h ago

chris-b said:
I bought a CTEK extension lead (I think you can get different lengths to suit) so that the charger can sit outside the car (and I can see the state of charge without opening the boot).

CTEK 56-304 2.5 Metre Comfort Extension Lead

The CTEK Connect Extension Cable is convenient the solution if your CTEK charger needs the longer length. Simply connect the 2.5m cable to your charger and attach the other end to the sockets on your other CONNECT accessories.

www.tayna.co.uk

I use the ctek extension cable too... well I did with my X-Type, I haven't needed to use the ctek with the XF.

It only comes as a 2.5M extension and you can only use one extension cable. Any longer and the charger will not function correctly (according to CTEK support)

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TheBoy

· #19 · 5 h ago

jberks said:
Khlorakas just outside Paphos- not done much touring this trip, the Mrs wanted a sit by the pool break but looked nice on the way in.

We normally stay a little further on when we go to that end, the other side of Coral Bay.

A bit of drone footage from last year's visit

-

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