CTEK Charger Connected via Cigarette Lighter

[BJH_360S]

For those of you out there with a CTEK battery charger (or similar smart charger) do you have any experience of connecting it via the cigarette lighter? BTW, I do not have a battery isolator switch.

Happy Christmas to everyone.

[paul richards]

Works fine if it is live when ignition is switched off.

[Colin_T]

Long as the cigarette socket is connected permanent live and the charging amperage doesn’t exceed the current rating of the wiring and any fuses between the battery and the charging socket then will be fine. 

[Jonathan Kay]

I fitted an accessory socket directly wired to the battery with a fuse. The Seven has an AGM battery. Whenever it's in the garage it's connected to a CTEK charger.

Some suggest that it's better not to leave it connected all of the time.

Do you have a particular concern?

Jonathan

[BJH_360S]

 

4 minutes ago, Jonathan Kay said:

Do you have a particular concern?

I have the standard 'Banner' battery and I was thinking of using the CTEK cigarette lighter adapter rather than having to remove the bonnet each time to connect it to the battery directly. I had no particular concern. I just wanted to check that this 'reverse charging' was feasible and not a dumb idea for the Seven.

[Jonathan Kay]

Not dumb. And I very much prefer being able to plug it in without lifting the bonnet.

Jonathan

[BJH_360S]

42 minutes ago, paul richards said:

Works fine if it is live when ignition is switched off.

Yes, that was part of my question really. I have the 360 and I was wondering if the cigarette lighter is live when the ignition is switched off.

[MattB]

Would one of these be a neater solution?: https://www.ctek.com/uk/battery-chargers-12v-24v/accessories/car-accessories/indicator-panel-1-5m

MattB

[Jonathan Kay]

1 hour ago, BJH_360S said:

Yes, that was part of my question really. I have the 360 and I was wondering if the cigarette lighter is live when the ignition is switched off.

I can't find it on a Sigma wiring diagram. But I'd check on the Seven anyway. If you don't have a male plug you can probably do this with a multimeter  from the engine side of the dash.

And it would be simple to change the socket to unswitched. 

Jonathan

[K7 VCT]

Done this for years, saves taking the bonnet off.

Socket wired via fuse direct to the battery .

[ScottR400D]

I’ve had a socket directly wired to battery since 2015. First battery lasted 3 years with an Optimate.  Since then I always remove from car completely for winter and charge for an hour every 6 weeks or so.  Second battery still going strong after 5+ years. 

[paul richards]

I’ve had my Optimate connected via a socket for 20+ years with no problems and Banner batteries seem to last around 6 or 7 years. I don’t see a reason to remove it from the car or use a regular charger.

BJH360S - do you not have something you can plug in to check when it is live? If not, why not consider buying a USB adaptor. It will allow you to use the socket to charge your phone etc. HERE

[BigCol]

I fitted a connector for my CTEK in the cockpit - so no need to remove the bonnet to access - which goes direct to the battery:

edited to add, if I was to do this again, I’d use the adaptor @MattB references above.

Edited December 23, 2023 by BigCol

[Rich Goddard]

1 hour ago, BigCol said:

….edited to add, if I was to do this again, I’d use the adaptor @MattB references above.

Yes to this. Mounted mine flush in fuse box cover. Looks neat. 

[jbcollier]

Not wild about cigarette lighter/power sockets as a 100% reliable connection.  I use DIN power sockets myself.  It snaps home for a positive connection.  Useful for my heated vest as well.

[Wrightpayne]

I have an FIA switch and the fused Sutars 12v socket is the only thing live when the key is out (other than the battery cable to the FIA switch!)

It is set up like this so I can easily plug the charger in!

Ian

[Jonathan Kay]

8 hours ago, jbcollier said:

Not wild about cigarette lighter/power sockets as a 100% reliable connection.  I use DIN power sockets myself.  It snaps home for a positive connection.  Useful for my heated vest as well.

I've had some with very poor connections, and spent some time bending springs. So the charger status always gets a quick glance.

If anyone is fitting or replacing a socket I recommend using one that also includes one or two USB sockets with at least one of them offering 2.1 A charging. Some also include a little digital voltmeter.

Happy Christmas

Jonathan

[John Vine]

18 hours ago, paul richards said:

I’ve had my Optimate connected via a socket for 20+ years with no problems and Banner batteries seem to last around 6 or 7 years. I don’t see a reason to remove it from the car or use a regular charger.

That's exactly my experience too (Optimate and Banner). 

I fitted a 12v inline fuseholder (with 10A fuse) as close as possible to the +ve battery terminal, then cable-tied the socket under the steering column.

JV

[Graham Hutton]

I do like that panel mounted connector option but I have been using the 12v cigarette lighter socket for 3 years now and it works perfectly.

[SLR No.77]

12 hours ago, jbcollier said:

Not wild about cigarette lighter/power sockets as a 100% reliable connection.  I use DIN power sockets myself.  It snaps home for a positive connection.  Useful for my heated vest as well.

Totally agree. Once you start using a DIN power socket the cheap cigar lighter sockets appear totally naff and they’re definitely unreliable in a Seven.

Some cigar type plugs do have a removable section at the end which then makes them compatible with the DIN sockets.

Stu.

[BJH_360S]

On 23/12/2023 at 15:27, MattB said:

Would one of these be a neater solution?: https://www.ctek.com/uk/battery-chargers-12v-24v/accessories/car-accessories/indicator-panel-1-5m

MattB

Hi Matt, Yes that does look to be a very neat solution albeit quite expensive. Since my 360S already has a cigarette lighter as standard I was hoping to use that rather than run extra wiring. If it is not always live then I may take your suggestion since it is neat and provides the extra benefit of the battery health indicator. Cheers.

On 23/12/2023 at 16:56, paul richards said:

I’ve had my Optimate connected via a socket for 20+ years with no problems and Banner batteries seem to last around 6 or 7 years. I don’t see a reason to remove it from the car or use a regular charger.

BJH360S - do you not have something you can plug in to check when it is live? If not, why not consider buying a USB adaptor. It will allow you to use the socket to charge your phone etc. HERE

Hi Paul, Yes, I should plug something in to check if it is always live. I am ashamed to admit that I was being lazy and hoping for a quick yes/no answer. I also want to know if there was a easy ECU configuration that could switch the 'always live' on/off for the auxiliary power.

A big thanks to everyone for their advice. That has been very useful. Happy Christmas / New Year to you all.

 

[GulfSeven]

On 23/12/2023 at 19:04, BigCol said:

I fitted a connector for my CTEK in the cockpit - so no need to remove the bonnet to access - which goes direct to the battery:

edited to add, if I was to do this again, I’d use the adaptor @MattB references above.

I had this setup on my Elise (albeit under the bonnet). With the Caterham I just use the FIA cut-off key which means it starts on the button in the spring with no need to charge all winter.

[7 wonders of the world]

My. NOCO Genius charger came with a dedicated fused fly lead for permanent fitting which I tuck under the dash in order to plug in on a timer in the garage. 

I didn't want a dash mounted socket of any kind purely from a cosmetic point. 

[BJH_360S]

I am answering my own question for the benefit of other folk who may be interested. The cigarette lighter that came with my 360S is indeed permanently live so my 5 amp CTEK charger can be connected via that without the key being in the ignition. 🙂