Trickle Charger Basics

[stephen.robins]

As a new member, I must apologise as this has probably been asked a thousand times.

My 981 Boxster S is in the garage and unlikely to get much use until the warmer days of Spring arrive. I bought the Porsche Charge-O-Mat Pro charger which I'm told can be plugged in to the 12V socket either under the armrest or glove box.

Is is really that simple and are there any precautions that I need to take? I assume that I can lock the car and use an indoor cover whilst charging? Also, is it ok to leave it on all the time?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Steve

 

[Motorhead]

Yes, just plug it in and you’re ready to go Steve. The only thing to watch out for if you’re using the 12V sockets is to make sure that they remain powered-up when you’ve locked the car and left it unattended. I have a 987.2 CS, so someone with a 981 should be able to advise on that point.

It’s a battery conditioner, not a charger, and can be left connected permanently and safely until you want to use the car.

Jeff

 

[BrianJ]

Seems to depend on the age of the 981. My 2013 car maintained charging via the footwell socket provided the charger was turned on before the car was locked. My 2016 car doesn't. I overcame that by buying a CTEK lead to connect the positive connector to the + terminal of the battery and the negative to the spare stud hole on the n/s strut top mount, and feeding the lead under the bonnet. Or you can do this as per Porsche Centre Chester

.

 

[stephen.robins]

Seems to depend on the age of the 981. My 2013 car maintained charging via the footwell socket provided the charger was turned on before the car was locked. My 2016 car doesn't. I overcame that by buying a CTEK lead to connect the positive connector to the + terminal of the battery and the negative to the spare stud hole on the n/s strut top mount, and feeding the lead under the bonnet. Or you can do this as per Porsche Centre Chester

.

Brian,
Thanks for the advice. My 981 is 2013 and has the footwell socket which appears to be the one to use according to Youtube. I have not connected the charger yet as I'm taking the car out on a weekly basis.
I took the car out today and I noticed that the battery gauge was reading 15.1V and almost in the red on the gauge. Is this normal?
Thanks,
Steve

 

[malarcy]

Charging system on these cars are "smart" - you have an AGM battery, that can take a higher charge rate in a given temperature window - the car works out the optimum charging "pattern" based on SOC (state of charge) of the battery, ambient temp etc. Thats why you need to tell the car when it has had a new battery installed - so it can reset it adaptations that compensate for an "aged" battery - and accurately guess how hard to charge it and if it's "safe" to activate stop/start.

In short - from what I have read, 15.1 V is towards top end of an acceptable charge rate for an AGM battery, and is one of the "normal" values when the car thinks thats the optimum thing to do.

 

[stephen.robins]

Charging system on these cars are "smart" - you have an AGM battery, that can take a higher charge rate in a given temperature window - the car works out the optimum charging "pattern" based on SOC (state of charge) of the battery, ambient temp etc. Thats why you need to tell the car when it has had a new battery installed - so it can reset it adaptations that compensate for an "aged" battery - and accurately guess how hard to charge it and if it's "safe" to activate stop/start.

In short - from what I have read, 15.1 V is towards top end of an acceptable charge rate for an AGM battery, and is one of the "normal" values when the car thinks thats the optimum thing to do.

Paul,
Thanks for your reply. I have done a little research and it appears that the reading is affected by both cold temperature and the fact that I had the car in Sport Mode. It looks like I don't need to worry!
Steve