Battery chargers

[Andyh1]

I'm starting to notice something, my car sits for 7-14 days straight depending. When I get back in it, the battery seems to take extra effort to turn the engine. Once I drive it for a good bit and turn it off, it turns on with no issues.

I've been reading on battery tenders as well as CTEK battery chargers. My battery is AGM...
Do I need to be careful which charger I choose?

Edit: looks like the CTEK multi US 3300 will handle (Wet, MF, AGM, GEL and CA)

[schobyb]

I've used Battery Tender brand and currently have CTEK 3300 on mine. Both work great with no issues. I keep mine on the tender unless I know I'll be driving it again within a day after parking it. I have an AGM battery.

[XMetal]

I have the same CTEK multi US 3300 and works perfectly fine on AGMs

[mousitch]

Battery Tender Plus with cig adaptor for the win. Have three for both mowers and car. I love them.


http://www.adventurerv.net/battery-t...source=Froogle

[Andyh1]

I ended up ordering the CTEK 3300 from Amazon... Thanks everyone

[Reborn_]

Where are you guys hooking up the CTEK? I'm thinking the easiest place is to leave the hood ajar and use the 'jump' terminals?

[wdb]

I don't have the CTEK but I leave the hood ajar with mine and use the terminal clips. (One of these days I really need to wire it up to just plug in.)

[schobyb]

I used the jump terminals under the hood with my Battery Tender because I had only the clip ends, it is very easy and convenient, I just pop the hood when I pull into the garage and hook it up later when the engine is cool. With the CTEK I also ordered a cigarette lighter plug adapter and extension cable, also very easy and convenient. Just a matter of preference.

[Reborn_]

Originally Posted by wdb

I don't have the CTEK but I leave the hood ajar with mine and use the terminal clips. (One of these days I really need to wire it up to just plug in.)

Wire what up, exactly? A permanently attached harness? Looks like the CTEK has one, but that's the sort of thing I'm trying to figure out. That's what I'm used to with motorcycles and want to do something similar so I don't have to alligator clip every time.

Originally Posted by schobyb

I used the jump terminals under the hood with my Battery Tender because I had only the clip ends, it is very easy and convenient, I just pop the hood when I pull into the garage and hook it up later when the engine is cool. With the CTEK I also ordered a cigarette lighter plug adapter and extension cable, also very easy and convenient. Just a matter of preference.

Conceptually, I don't like the cigarette lighter. Leave the door open?

[wdb]

Originally Posted by Reborn_

Wire what up, exactly? A permanently attached harness?

Yes. My charger has one, so does the CTEK. Find a place to connect the ring terminals and leave that small harness under the hood. Then just plug in the charger. On my Z4 it's really convenient to just use the clips and the jumper terminals under the hood though, so I haven't done it.

Here's a picture of my battery tender to show what I'm talking about.

[Reborn_]

Yes, perfect. That's what I would like to do. Thanks for clarifying. Seems the CTEK is the way to go for me.

[3798j]

Originally Posted by Reborn_

Wire what up, exactly? A permanently attached harness?

It's not difficult to hardwire a battery maintainer to the Z4. Underneath the positive jump terminal there's a threaded stud to attach the positive lead. On the firewall there's a threaded ground stud. These photos should help to visualize what I described. I have it so the connection is just to the right of the driver's windshield wiper arm...pull the car in, get out, plug in the maintainer...done.

[Reborn_]

Thank you, I can clearly see where you mounted the leads. Very helpful.

[wdb]

Originally Posted by 3798j

It's not difficult to hardwire a battery maintainer to the Z4.

Oh thanks now you've ratcheted up my self loathing a notch.

[3798j]

Originally Posted by wdb

Oh thanks now you've ratcheted up my self loathing a notch.

LOL...think I've read enough of your posts to feel confident your self assurance is still on solid ground.

[schobyb]

Originally Posted by Reborn_

Conceptually, I don't like the cigarette lighter. Leave the door open?

No, you can close the door, the weather seal is thick enough and soft enough to not pinch the cable.

[phickson]

Originally Posted by 3798j

It's not difficult to hardwire a battery maintainer to the Z4. Underneath the positive jump terminal there's a threaded stud to attach the positive lead. On the firewall there's a threaded ground stud. These photos should help to visualize what I described. I have it so the connection is just to the right of the driver's windshield wiper arm...pull the car in, get out, plug in the maintainer...done.

Jay,

Thank you so much for the info and pics - I just installed my CTEK 3300 so easy because of your Z4 forum post.

[HoppysZ4]

I too used the same mounting points that "3798j" shows; two nuts are needed which are metric; M8 - 1.25.

[dazed^]

I have had a CTEK charger for years, with the cig adapter, but that adapter turned out to be a problem. The charger would fairly often go into an error state after some time (hours/days, it varied), which was pretty annoying.

After I hooked it up directly under the hood, using the terminals, the problem went away entirely. So if you experience such issues, the adapter may be to blame.

[XMetal]

Been using mine for years as well - never an issue with the cig adapter

[wdb]

I just went to order a CTEK 3300 and found that CTEK has a new one, MUS 4.3. Virtually the same price on Amazon so I popped for it.

[RobMCoupe]

Originally Posted by wdb

I just went to order a CTEK 3300 and found that CTEK has a new one, MUS 4.3. Virtually the same price on Amazon so I popped for it.

That is the one I have. I have my lead tucked behind and under the weather strip. I bought an extension cable in case I pinch it by accident closing the hood. This way I will not damage the lead wire or the unit itself.