Got a CTEK battery charge indicator panel like this;

and instead of running the cable through the bulkhead was wondering if it would be OK to connect it to the terminals on the bottom of the relay plate panel behind the dash in the drivers footwell?

I used to have something similar that just plugged into the fag lighter worked well though I never had a flat battery :wonder:

Why don't you save yourself the trouble and get something like this?? My link

Already got the CTEK panel and didn't really want something that goes in the cigarette lighter.

Kool just wondering lol

Should be fine to hook it up there as it doesn't take much power, is one of them a switched live though?

I need to double check but I'm sure one of them is permanent live. Just need to know if it will be OK to charge the battery using a CTEK XS3600 charger through this connection?

Must read posts properly!! Didn't see CHARGER!

Those arn't made for it m8, you are safer connecting to the battery as you could fry a few things

sorry i din't read your post properly

Thought it was some type of battery status indicator

Thought it was some type of battery status indicator

It does have a status indicator built in but also allows connection of a charger.

CTEK also do a cigarette plug adapter to connect a charger to

so if its OK to charge through cigarette lighter wouldn't it be OK to connect to the relay panel?

Really depends on what sort of load it puts out, gotta remember that everything is made as an output and not an input if you know what i mean. Personally i would only ever charge directly to the battery. Theres too many electronics these days and it don't take much to screw them up

Just connect it to the battery and put the plug in the grill then you know if it needs charging when you walk towards the car

Really depends on what sort of load it puts out, gotta remember that everything is made as an output and not an input if you know what i mean. Personally i would only ever charge directly to the battery. Theres too many electronics these days and it don't take much to screw them up

This is the charger I've got;

http://www.ctekchargers.co.uk/ctek-xs3600.php

This is the charger I've got;

http://www.ctekchargers.co.uk/ctek-xs3600.php

Hi Simon

I don't know what you are going to do with that type of charger, but that type is only used if you are leaving the car unused for some time,

it won't charge a battery over night, as its only rated at 3.6A basically a maintenance charger !

Radiotwo

This is the charger I've got;

http://www.ctekchargers.co.uk/ctek-xs3600.php

I have seen Lidl or Aldi flogging those chargers, infact my father has one, seems to do the job, although he just uses the clips straight onto the battery rather than in trickle mode.

Edited 10 December, 201114 yr by mbames

Hi Simon

I don't know what you are going to do with that type of charger, but that type is only used if you are leaving the car unused for some time,

it won't charge a battery over night, as its only rated at 3.6A basically a maintenance charger !

Radiotwo

I have used it a couple of times with my old battery and it was able to charge it overnight so I could start in the morning. Now have a larger battery fitted so maybe I need to invest in a larger capacity CTEK charger.

Can you solder it in under the cig lighter?

At least you know that is a proper charging point?

I think you should mount the plugin unit outside the cab.

My CTEK plugin lead in destined to hang down to the inside of the front bumper, and accessed via underneath or though the front grill.

This is so I can charge/maintain the battery without unlocking the car.

How come you guys need to charge your battery then?

Cold weather and old battery or something?

I've got a brand new batteries in my car & van, and using the CTEK I plan to see If I can make them last even longer.

CTEK's stop the battery building up krud inside the battery by pulse-charging and the like.

Even a brand new top notch battery can take a serious hammering sat in the cold for a couple of weeks, particularly if you then don't drive for enough time to charge it again.

My parents Forester, which lives in a concrete 'bunker' garage in the Alps, has a CTEK attached. Starts every time, even after months at -20

I think you should mount the plugin unit outside the cab.

My CTEK plugin lead in destined to hang down to the inside of the front bumper, and accessed via underneath or though the front grill.

This is so I can charge/maintain the battery without unlocking the car.

I agree with that, they'd be less wiring to do and you can lock the car properly while charging

Charging the battery once in a while with a weak current 5% of the bat capacity is recommended.If you have a 60Amps bat ,3-4Amps charging is the best.

My bat is 3 years old,and started to feel weak(when outside temp was dropping below 5 degrees),after charging 1 moth ago (2 hours at 3Amps) still feels strong now.

I can't see any issues with charging the battery through those terminals. It would be loads better than charging through the fag lighter circuit.

You need to use either of the 30 terminals, but not the 30a or 75x.

30 is from the battery fuseboard to the relay plate. 30a is from the relay plate to the interior fuseboard. 75X is the output from the X contact relief relay. Basically, it powers all the stuff that's controlled by the ignition and disconnects it during engine cranking.

I think you should mount the plugin unit outside the cab.

My CTEK plugin lead in destined to hang down to the inside of the front bumper, and accessed via underneath or though the front grill.

This is so I can charge/maintain the battery without unlocking the car.

I'm liking that idea too. Will have a look and see where it could be accessed from, maybe behind the small lower grill?

How come you guys need to charge your battery then?

Cold weather and old battery or something?

My old battery would go flat if left unused for a week, so bought the CTEK to charge it whilst I was away. Now have new larger battery so hopefully won't need to charge it but just want to be prepared just in case.

I can't see any issues with charging the battery through those terminals. It would be loads better than charging through the fag lighter circuit.

You need to use either of the 30 terminals, but not the 30a or 75x.

30 is from the battery fuseboard to the relay plate. 30a is from the relay plate to the interior fuseboard. 75X is the output from the X contact relief relay. Basically, it powers all the stuff that's controlled by the ignition and disconnects it during engine cranking.

Thanks for that, was sure one of those terminals came straight from the battery. Like you say, much better than charging through the cigarette lighter.

Have you read the stuck in the garage post in the garage Supurb mk2 section? Bet he wished he had a charging point in the grill

Have you read the stuck in the garage post in the garage Octy mk2 section? Bet he wished he had a charging point in the grill

Not seen that one... got a link?

Just seen this one in the superb area: http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/221472-superb-stuck-in-garage/