What’s the approved method of battery trickle charging.

Technical Advice, Faults and How-To Information.
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Tel
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Post by Tel »

As I've mentioned before, it's a common connection, so the busbar is at exactly the same potential as the pos pole on the battery, so it matters not.
JLR's procedure calls for external connections to be made to the busbar.
My only thoughts on this are for tidyness possibly.

The designs are changing as my busbar has about nine or so connections to it.
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steviegtr
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Post by steviegtr »

I have used the motorcycle OPTIMATE chargers for many years. Have one on the bike. But had one on a 911 for over 6 years & on my Skyline GTR for 7 years. Hardly used those cars & the batteries were always fully charged. They are not a charger as such only a optimiser. Also I have always connected them directly to the battery. Some say do not connect directly to the battery negative as it will give false information to the Alternator. That is not strictly true as when you have the optimiser on you are not using the car, hence the alternator is doing nothing. When you run the car then disconnect the optimiser before doing so.
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Tel
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Post by Tel »

steviegtr wrote: Thu Oct 17, 2019 11:23 pm Some say do not connect directly to the battery negative as it will give false information to the Alternator. That is not strictly true as when you have the optimiser on you are not using the car, hence the alternator is doing nothing. When you run the car then disconnect the optimiser before doing so.
I've never heard of that before?
The alternator is not intelligent, however the BMS and its components are on the F type, they are what control the generated output both V and A when the engine is running.

They are that sensitive to external change for example, when you swap for another, newer battery, the BMS system requires hooking up to SDD to be reset!

Like you I have the my bikes on Optimates, the very first design that was clunky and brick like, but it still works all these years later.
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Chipper3
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Post by Chipper3 »

Until yesterday I've always attached my CTEK as the pic below, which I found on here previously. When I put it on yesterday the power light on the CTEK kept flashing and wouldn't work right. Anyone offer a suggestion as to why? I've ended up putting it directly to the battery and it appears OK.

CTEK_after_v1.jpg

01286p
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Post by 01286p »

I am about to fit a Ctec charger to my 2016 coupe.
The "How to" article suggests that I disconnect the negative battery cable before starting installation.
I am sure that will lose ALL settings etc., on the Car. Is there any reason that the Negative Cable HAS to be disconnected BEFORE installing?
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scm
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Post by scm »

Just to avoid the possibility of creating sparks that might destroy sensitive electronic modules.
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01286p
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Post by 01286p »

Thank you SCM.
I was going to connect as per Chipper3 (Monday 28th October) but now concerned by all the previous posts that this may not be the best - anyone with electronic experience /advice.
I am going to use the CTec extension socket so that I can easily unplug the unit, so presumably, as there will be no power to the extension there should be nothing to make it spark.
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scm
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Post by scm »

01286p wrote: Sat Mar 21, 2020 1:40 pm I am going to use the CTec extension socket so that I can easily unplug the unit, so presumably, as there will be no power to the extension there should be nothing to make it spark.
Correct, the only spark risk is when the extension socket is connected to the car in the first place.
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Jaguandy
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Post by Jaguandy »

I'm another one with an Optimate 4 battery conditioner I use on my m/c. Now the Jag isn't being used, I want to connect the Optimate, temporarily from time to time with crock clips. As I have two batteries with stop start, what's the best way? A few days on each? Or is there a better way to do both together? Clarity on where to connect also appreciated, so far I think pos on the battery and neg to chassis?
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scm
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Post by scm »

Jaguandy wrote: Thu Mar 26, 2020 11:47 am... I think pos on the battery and neg to chassis?
I'd think that'd be okay. I don't have the two battery system but I'd assume that the charging circuit would do both batteries at the same time.
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