11-11-2017, 06:58 PM | #1 |
Captain
166
Rep 860
Posts |
Connecting CTEK Battery Tender
Looks like I can't use my CTEK with the cigarette lighter as power is cut off to that when the car goes to sleep. Any way to keep the power to it on?
If it's possible it's much easier than having to open the hood every time. Thanks in advance for your help. |
11-11-2017, 08:38 PM | #2 |
Captain
194
Rep 828
Posts
Drives: 2011 X5 3.5i w/ SA Package
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Lincolnshire, IL
|
I’ve been thinking about that myself, but have been unable to come up with anything other than popping the hood each time. One option to explore is to use a connector to the battery in the rear, but I doubt you’d want the connector sticking out of the hatch.
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-11-2017, 09:19 PM | #3 | |
Captain
166
Rep 860
Posts |
Quote:
I guess one alternative might be to leave the connector inside the rear hatch as it's easier to open the hatch versus the hood each time. I would be connecting the tender often, as many days the car only gets driven about 1.5 miles to my wife's office and back. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-11-2017, 11:41 PM | #4 |
Captain
194
Rep 828
Posts
Drives: 2011 X5 3.5i w/ SA Package
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Lincolnshire, IL
|
I actually thought a better idea would be to leave the alligator clips connected under the hood to the positive terminal and ground, and (somehow) snake it through under the front fender well cover so you wouldn’t have to open anything at all. However, that may be a bit ambitious.
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-12-2017, 03:25 AM | #5 |
Captain
346
Rep 728
Posts |
You guys just don’t want to pop the hood? Personally, I pop the hood whenever I get home anyway to release the heat from the engine bay. My CTEK battery tender came with quick connect terminal lines. They are short but if you run longer lines from your ground and positive terminal in the engine bay to the passenger side you can certainly tie them off to the quick connect and push that through the firewall. You could run it through the glove box or in the passenger footwell. It seems easier to just pop the hood though.
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-12-2017, 06:58 AM | #6 | |
Captain
166
Rep 860
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-12-2017, 01:48 PM | #7 |
Captain
346
Rep 728
Posts |
Eek, you put me on the spot. I can look later for a detailed location but if you remove the rain partition in the passenger side in the engine bay then pull out the cabin air filter, and remove the air duct using internal cam buckles you should be able to find a spot to run the wires through. The DME is in that area and you could follow the DME wires into the cabin
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-12-2017, 01:58 PM | #8 | |
Captain
166
Rep 860
Posts |
Quote:
I took a look and I think I'm going to try the idea of connecting directly to the battery and leaving the connector readily accessible near the rear hatch. Much of the time I would be relying on my wife to hook it up when she arrives home, and for her it's less of a chore to open and close the (electrically powered) hatch versus the hood...so it's more likely to happen, if you know what I mean :-) |
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-12-2017, 06:42 PM | #10 |
Captain
166
Rep 860
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-12-2017, 06:51 PM | #11 |
Captain
346
Rep 728
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-12-2017, 07:58 PM | #12 |
Captain
166
Rep 860
Posts |
I did end up connecting the cable with the eyelet terminals directly to the battery, and the cable is long enough that the connector can be accessed without even opening the cargo floor.
Appreciate the input! |
Appreciate
0
|
11-14-2017, 01:46 PM | #13 |
Captain
154
Rep 709
Posts |
I was thinking of leaving one connected to the "jump start posts" under the hood but run the connector to the front where I might be able to reach it between the slats in the kidney grille... But not sure how well it would work.
Since I only throw the C-TEK on once each week or two I just pop the hood. At least I have the C-TEK hanging from the ceiling when I do that so that the connector drops down right over the raised hood... I can't leave it on the floor between my work bench and the X5 cuz the kids will run through there and trip on it or yank it off.
__________________
heatmizr [Todd]
g26 i4 e40 - Clean Machine e70 X5 50i M-Sport "The Boss" Loaded e90 328i - sold e36 M3 - Gone to become a track star |
Appreciate
0
|
11-15-2017, 03:36 AM | #14 |
Lieutenant
388
Rep 521
Posts |
I have ring terminals connected under the hood to the 'jump start' points with the lead tucked away. Had it this way for 3 years, I just pull up outside my garage and the charge lead plugs in no issues. I'll take pics later and post them up.
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-23-2018, 12:06 PM | #15 |
Private First Class
15
Rep 109
Posts |
Quick question, I got CTEK (56-864) MUS 4.3, are we supposed to select snowflake mode on E70 AGM batteries?
But manual is confusing me and selected the "CAR" mode and it gave me error after stage 5..... should I ignore what's on manual and select snowflake mode instead? |
Appreciate
0
|
02-25-2018, 12:41 PM | #17 | |
Major General
4486
Rep 7,528
Posts |
Quote:
If you have a regular AGM battery...AND...the ambient temp is what's in the 3rd column...then use the "car" setting. If you have an Optima or Odyssey AGM battery (a pic of that type of battery's design is listed next to the snowflake)...then use the snow flake setting...OR...if the ambient temps are in the range listed for the snowflake setting and you have a regular AGM battery...then you use the "snowflake" setting which compensates for colder ambient temps. Last edited by Qsilver7; 02-25-2018 at 12:52 PM.. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-27-2018, 11:54 AM | #18 |
Private First Class
15
Rep 109
Posts |
What I'm confused about is X5M's AGM Battery is considered "Power AGM" like Optima or Odyssey? then should be snowflake regardless
Or is it regular AGM? then it depends on the ambient temperature car vs. snowflake. |
Appreciate
0
|
02-27-2018, 01:28 PM | #20 | |
Lieutenant Colonel
1628
Rep 1,727
Posts |
Quote:
Sort of ridiculous, if you ask me
__________________
2017 C63 2012 X5M SOLD: 2015 M3; 2007 X3 M Sport; 2014 X3 M Sport 35i; 2004 X5 4.4i; 1994 325i |
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-27-2018, 02:18 PM | #21 | |
Lieutenant Colonel
3102
Rep 1,734
Posts |
Quote:
Having to trickle charge your battery once a week just sounds like a huge PITA...and it's evident by this thread. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-27-2018, 02:34 PM | #22 |
Private First Class
27
Rep 175
Posts |
We run a Battery Minder 2012 AGM on our BMW in FL. I love their products, absolutely incredible. And I slapped another one on our 2013 MB ML350 BT up north while we're down here. Ain't nuthin' like a good de-sulphation once in a while.
I've revived a few previously-dead batteries with my Battery Minder in either the 2012 or 2012 AGM, have one of each for down here in FL and up in Canada. My 7k watt genny up north has a 2012 on her year 'round. Wouldn't ever consider any other brand. My big bro had a Battery Tender on his outboard battery, damn thing literally solidified the electrolyte.
__________________
2007 FJ Cruiser
2012 X6 35i 2013 ML350 BT 2019 4Runner Last edited by peter2772000; 02-27-2018 at 02:41 PM.. |
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|