Connection for CTEK Battery Charger | FerrariChat

Connection for CTEK Battery Charger

Discussion in '360/430' started by Monsoon, Dec 4, 2016.

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  1. Monsoon

    Monsoon Rookie

    Sep 7, 2016
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    Austin, TX
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    Matt
    #1 Monsoon, Dec 4, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I have a CTEK (56-864) MUS 4.3 battery charger for my 2004 360 Spider. I figure the battery charger is worth using if I'm driving once a week. I haven't used the charger yet, because I had a few questions. Any thoughts on either of these items would be appreciated.


    1) I went ahead and got a cigarette plug to allow the CTEK to charge through the cigarette lighter. To me, connecting through the cigarette lighter seemed more straightforward than all the various ways I'm reading from other posts that folks connect the charger to the battery.

    Is there anything wrong connecting through the CTEK through cigarette lighter to charge the battery? Is there any way that is preferred for connecting the battery charger to the car?

    2) Behind the driver's seat, near the door there is a small wire coming out from interior that is very similar to (but doesn't fit with) the wire from the CTEK charger. Does anyone know what this wire is? Image of the wire coming out is below.

    Thanks much!
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  2. LorenzoR

    LorenzoR F1 Rookie
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    Sep 26, 2015
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    #2 LorenzoR, Dec 4, 2016
    I have that in my f430 to. Its for a battery maintainer. I thought those maintainer hook ups were standard
     
  3. I'm 360 Canuck

    I'm 360 Canuck Formula 3

    Nov 21, 2015
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    Ontario, The Real One in Canada
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    Lars!
    #3 I'm 360 Canuck, Dec 4, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    #2, looks like a quick connect for another brand trickle charger/maintainer....maybe Battery Tender Plus or something. Here's a pic from my battery tender plus.



    On Aldous Voices site, he recommended putting the quick connect where you describe it...ie. behind the drivers seat in the electrical panel. Get out your screw driver and remove the panel and check if you like.
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  4. LorenzoR

    LorenzoR F1 Rookie
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    #4 LorenzoR, Dec 4, 2016
    I have a Save A Battery maintainer and that hookup is the same
     
  5. Alden

    Alden F1 Rookie
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    Apr 25, 2010
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    #5 Alden, Dec 4, 2016
    I have seen posts saying that it is NOT a good idea to go thru the lighter plug. Better to go as directly to the battery as possible.

    I build adapters to go from CTEK to that type charger/maintaner plug.

    Shoot me a PM.
    Alden
     
  6. KatMan

    KatMan Formula Junior
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    #6 KatMan, Dec 4, 2016
  7. espvh

    espvh Formula Junior

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    #7 espvh, Dec 5, 2016
  8. mkzhang

    mkzhang Formula Junior

    Oct 5, 2009
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    Philadelphia
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    #8 mkzhang, Dec 5, 2016
    What you have there, as the posters above me correctly linked, is an SAE connector that brands like deltran (?) uses. Just buy the SAE to ctek converter (like the link above mine) and you're good to go.... if the original connector is wired in properly

    As for plugging into the lighter, a lot of car when the key is pulled the cig lighter circuit goes off means you wont be charging the battery. My previous Aston Martin had a special cig lighter plug in the trunk specially for the battery as the one in the cabin shuts off.
     
  9. mike32

    mike32 F1 Veteran

    May 13, 2016
    5,835
    Isle of man- uk
    #9 mike32, Dec 5, 2016
    To go through the *** lighter you would need the ignition on, as its normally dead as far as i know- plus it will be fused so if your charger exceeds the rate, bang goes the fuse. Tha cable conne tor is an off the shelf charging connector with a safety cover.
    If u remove the cover you should find the cable ends attached to the positive and an earth point- just connect your charger up to it, a lot easier than getting to the battery terminals. Usefull if you have a flat battery as you can charge up here at a much better fate than the trickle charger
     
  10. eyeman1234

    eyeman1234 Formula 3
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    Dec 25, 2006
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    Boca Raton, FL
    #10 eyeman1234, Dec 5, 2016
    Mike32 you are rounding this out to be a great thread from a- I'm sorry to say- mundane
    start.
    Let's just say I wish to have a better fate than a trickle charger!
     
  11. eyeman1234

    eyeman1234 Formula 3
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    Dec 25, 2006
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    #11 eyeman1234, Dec 5, 2016
    Got it... I understand it better if I change all your F's to R's.. probably keyboard problem

    JK
     
  12. mike32

    mike32 F1 Veteran

    May 13, 2016
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    Isle of man- uk
    #12 mike32, Dec 6, 2016
    Cig lighter can be called *** ligher in uk speak. My american english is not that great, i see some text on here i dont understand either.
     
  13. Alden

    Alden F1 Rookie
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    #13 Alden, Dec 7, 2016
    A "***" is a cigarette in Brit speak and means something else in the US.

    Same with "fanny pack" when going from the US speak to British.
    Alden
     

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