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CTEK MXS 5.0 Fully Automatic Battery Charger

Motorhead

Motorhead

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Ray,

Although the Optimate seems to work OK, are you sure that the socket remains live all the time with the CTEK? I've no idea why that could happen but I'd try connecting your CTEK direct to the battery/earthing post just to confirm that it's working correctly.

Also, on the 981 don't you have to connect up and power up the CTEK to the socket before locking the car to make sure that the centre socket remains live?

Jeff

 
I have had the same experience, very frustrating. The answer to my issue was to switch off at mains socket, waggle the connection to the car, making sure it is properly seated and not under strain (or affected by shutting door/frunk), switch back on and maybe repeat. Once it settles it's fine.

I have mine connected to the battery/earth for weeks on end with cable out through the frunk but could well be the same issue.

Re Jeff's thought, if you connect it all with the ignition on, then switch ignition off the 12v socket will most likely stay live - I know this to be true for the passenger footwell socket in mine as I left a data logger connected for 3 days and despite the CTEK being connected, it still ran the battery down.

 
Jeff/Ralph,

Thanks for getting back guys. I shall take a look and try some of your thoughts out. I am sure it has worked but as you say Ralph the connection - 12v socket - can be a little hit or miss.

At this time of year I use the Cayman most days trouble is many journeys are only short that's the reason for the charger.

Ray

 
Hi Guys,
I have a CTEK MXS 5.0 Fully Automatic Battery Charger which i plug into the 12v socket in the centre consul of my 2013 Cayman S. Of late the charger lights up and illuminates about 4 of the charging indicator lights but when I return to the charger some time later no lights are lit at all apart from the power light? I plug my Optimate 2 into the Cayman 12v socket and it does what it says on the box but slower than the CTek. The charge light goes from Yellow to Green indicating full charge.
If I plug the CTek charger into my 2001 Boxster S then the whole of the charging lights illuminate indicating battery fully charged and now in the trickle mode.
Any ideas?

Ray

 
Problem looks as though it may be resolved. Ralph, you were very close to the mark when you suggested "waggle the connection". I have a CTek 2mtr cable extension fitted between the unit and the 12v plug/socket. Well the connector between these two does require a "waggle" to secure the connection. As soon as I unplugged and re-plugged the two it came to life and this morning the charger is reading full charge on the scale.

All seems well. Thanks guys.

Ray

 
Spoke too soon the problem persists. I have come to the conclusion that the 12v sockets are not live when the car is locked up. When I lock or unlock the doors the battery charger comes to life. When the car shuts down supplying energy to the interior lights etc the charger also shuts down.

Therefor the sockets must only be live whilst the ignition is switched on. Looks as though I shall have to connect directly to the battery. This method will become a chore with having to remove the trunk liner before connecting, unless someone has installed a CTek battery connector and secured the cable somehow?

Ray

 
Ray,

I don't have a 981 Cayman (the socket remains live on my 987.2) but as I alluded to in my previous post, isn't there some procedure you can use to ensure that the socket remains live (see Ralph's post)?

Failing that you could use the extension cable with the two eyelets connected permanently to the battery and earth post and feed it out round the liner. The 12V supply cable will run through the gap between the windscreen and wiper panel without fouling.

Jeff

 
Jeff,

I tried Ralphs method of keeping the socket live and it didn't work. I am taking the car in for it's MOT next week and I intend to ask the service dept the question. Mt Boxster has a permanently live ciggy socket but the old 911 I had didn't.

Do Porsche believe in standardisation, me thinks not. If I remember to ask I shall relay that info on this thread. In the mean time I shall try a different method and see the results.

This is all down to the fact that I do a lot of short journeys and wish to keep the battery up to it's max.

Ray

 
Jeff,

I have just contacted Porsche Sheffield by email regarding this issue and I shall wait for a reply. Hopefully they will have a solution.

Ray

 
Quote: Just spoken to a technician and he says the sockets will only work when the ignition is on. Helps to reduce drain on the battery in case something is left in by mistake.

The company never mentioned secret ways to keep a socket live and to be fair I cannot/couldn't see how this could be achieved. When I get some time I shall take a look at how to make a connection using the battery terminals and some of the accessories which you receive with these CTek chargers. Constantly removing and replacing the front trunk liner is my biggest issue.

Ray

 
Ray,

You may well find there is no one clear view among Porsche Technicians/experts about which/whether sockets stay on or not to provide power on the 981 series cars. I believe it is all dependent on the ECU Power Management's opinion of battery condition but I thought that they could always accept power.

If you want to check on sockets remaining live to provide power (without confusing is the CTEK working v is the socket live), I used a cheap USB cigarette lighter adapter which had a LED light to show power and left it in the car overnight.

Best reliable connection is to the positive battery post and adjacent earth point on the unused near-side wiper post using a CTEK cable. You can then run a CTEK extension cable into the frunk and then out by the N/S or O/S front corner of the bonnet to connect to the CTEK. This way the only 'wiggling' is of the CTEK extension cable to the CTEK unit's cable.

 
ralphmusic said:
Ray,

You may well find there is no one clear view among Porsche Technicians/experts about which/whether sockets stay on or not to provide power on the 981 series cars. I believe it is all dependent on the ECU Power Management's opinion of battery condition but I thought that they could always accept power.

If you want to check on sockets remaining live to provide power (without confusing is the CTEK working v is the socket live), I used a cheap USB cigarette lighter adapter which had a LED light to show power and left it in the car overnight.

Best reliable connection is to the positive battery post and adjacent earth point on the unused near-side wiper post using a CTEK cable. You can then run a CTEK extension cable into the frunk and then out by the N/S or O/S front corner of the bonnet to connect to the CTEK. This way the only 'wiggling' is of the CTEK extension cable to the CTEK unit's cable.
Click to expand...
Ralph,

This is going to be my next move. I just wanted to get a handle on doing a neat job rather than a lash up. Thanks again.

Ray

 
I use that charger and have it wired to the battery via the battery connector. The only modification I had to make was to alter the connectors by cutting a slot in the rings so they would slide on the battery terminals as I couldn't remove the nuts from the thread on the battery terminals.

 
My 'installation'

IMG_3971.jpg


The black cable tie is to keep the rubber CTEK 'plug' from getting lost

IMG_3972.jpg


IMG_3973.jpg


IMG_3974.jpg


 
Got both a Ctex and the Lidl ones, with the 987 on the Lidl one no problems as the battery cover comes on and off in seconds and just use the croc clips to connect .The 981 is a different story and is on the Ctek you are best to but a connector lead and hard wire in into the battery and have the lead coming through the cover as taking the cover on and off is a faff and just plug in the other end female I think .A tip when attaching to the battery the eyelets cut a small nick out so they look like a C as opposed to a O that way you only need to slacken off the terminals and slide them into place and tighten up.

 
Ralph, I notice that you have connected your earth to the body of the car! I would have connected to positive and negative battery terminals, would this be incorrect?

Ray

PS

Thanks guys for the info.

 
Ray said:
Ralph, I notice that you have connected your earth to the body of the car! I would have connected to positive and negative battery terminals, would this be incorrect?

Ray

PS

Thanks guys for the info.
Click to expand...

Ray,

I had mine set up initially by Exeter Centre with connections as you mention above but was then told 12 months later that it would damage the 'electronics' and was not the approved Porsche method - but I had no problems.

Anyway, I changed the set up to the Handbook method as pictured and it still works OK. I recommend the Handbook (and my) arrangement.

The Handbook has a picture of croc clips, one attached to the positive battery post and the negative to the bolt head on the off side located windscreen wiper pivot. I use the similar point on the near side as my earth, just scrape off some paint and as kitchens says, open up the eyelets and use a ?M6? machine bolt and washer.

 
Ralph,

I shall also be connecting to the chassis. I have noticed this method of earthing in mags and battery literature many times. Still not 100% why but hey-ho no harm no foul.

Ray

 
Hi Guys,

Connected directly to the battery using the plus terminal and as per Ralph's photo I used a spare drilled/tapped hole on the suspension housing. Instead of running a long lead from the battery exiting at the front I used a short lead and ran it to pop out from the back of the trunk cover. Then connect from there to the unit. Works a charm and I can see this being quicker than running my lead through the door gaping and then going around and plugging into one of the two sockets, usually the central arm rest cubbyhole.

Ray

 
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