Trickle charger
I just bought a Ctec 5 for my 85 Targa. My previous battery only lasted 4 years because I don’t get to drive it as much as it’s my weekend fun car and sometimes weather and life get in the way. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone here has experience with using a trickle charger for a G body as I’m not sure I should connect to both the positive and negative terminal or if I need to find a place to connect the ground in the frunk. Thanks
I use the battery tender on all my cars. They come with a wire that can be connected to the battery terminals, and the other end has a plug so you can easy plug and unplug.
You cannot charge a drained battery, but it does a great job maintaining it. Last year I replaced the battery on my 82 SC. The battery was from 2011.
I always plug it in when I don't drive the care for a while. They always drain some power.
Cheers
Engelbert
- tender.jpg (42.49 KiB) Viewed 208 times
I always plug it in when I don't drive the care for a while. They always drain some power.
Cheers
Engelbert
LED lights for classic Porsches http://carmagic.us/
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Tom
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I had an '85 back in the day. Sure wish I still had it. 
When I was a kid, it was common for batteries to last a very long time -- a decade or more with no special effort was common. These days not so much. The industry points to higher electrical loads and more parasitic drain on modern cars, but it sure seems like the batteries themselves just don't have as much life in them. I had one die after 3 years in my 944, which has very (very) little parasitic drain. A smart trickle charger will definitely help extend the life.
Like Carmagic, mine is hard wired to the battery terminals with that little pigtail hanging free (up by the windshield wipers for easy access). If you do it that way, hooking up the charger is just a matter of plugging into the pigtail and turning it on. If you use the alligator clips, be sure the engine's off and key is out, and the trickle chargers is off/unplugged, then (for cars without a remote power post) clip the red cable to the positive battery post and the black to a chassis ground away from the battery. Gloves and eye protection are a good idea too. I'd guess most are way less careful, just putting the clips on the battery -- and you rarely hear of problems -- but no one ever regrets being too careful.
When I was a kid, it was common for batteries to last a very long time -- a decade or more with no special effort was common. These days not so much. The industry points to higher electrical loads and more parasitic drain on modern cars, but it sure seems like the batteries themselves just don't have as much life in them. I had one die after 3 years in my 944, which has very (very) little parasitic drain. A smart trickle charger will definitely help extend the life.
Like Carmagic, mine is hard wired to the battery terminals with that little pigtail hanging free (up by the windshield wipers for easy access). If you do it that way, hooking up the charger is just a matter of plugging into the pigtail and turning it on. If you use the alligator clips, be sure the engine's off and key is out, and the trickle chargers is off/unplugged, then (for cars without a remote power post) clip the red cable to the positive battery post and the black to a chassis ground away from the battery. Gloves and eye protection are a good idea too. I'd guess most are way less careful, just putting the clips on the battery -- and you rarely hear of problems -- but no one ever regrets being too careful.