Trickle Charger AC Cord???

[bfenster]

Regarding 2007 Boxster Winter storage:

Anyone know a way to feed the trickle charger AC power cord from the cigarette lighter to the outside of the vehicle without cracking a window?

Doesn't seem to be another option that won't pinch the cord. I saw comments that older Boxsters had a notch in the door bottom but don't see any such feature on my 2007.

Thanks, Bruce

Bfenster, just close the door on it. No problems with mine. I do this every week during the driving season, to keep the battery fully charged.

Did it that way last year too for winter storage. It sat like that for over 5 months.

[rick3000]

I have never heard of earlier boxsters having a notch for a cord. Just slam the door on it. It is impossible to run a cord without pinching it or leaving the door cracked.

Or just run it through the window then lay a towel around the cord to keep dust from entering through the cracked window,

Originally Posted by rick3000

I have never heard of earlier boxsters having a notch for a cord. Just slam the door on it. It is impossible to run a cord without pinching it or leaving the door cracked.

Or just run it through the window then lay a towel around the cord to keep dust from entering through the cracked window,

Rick, here is a picture of the notch and an old thread about it:

http://www.986forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7463&highlight=notch



Don't use the window method. The car should be more sealed for winter storage and I also use several dessicators to further help remove any moisture to protect the wood and leather in my car.

[rick3000]

I had no idea, about the notch. Where on the car is that located? I wonder if i have one. Cool!

Originally Posted by rick3000

I had no idea, about the notch. Where on the car is that located? I wonder if i have one. Cool!

I bet you have one. Look under your driver's door.

[Frodo]

A related question: Last winter (the first winter that I had the Box), once a month or so I just hooked up a standard Sears trickle charger (that I've had for years) onto the battery terminals. I'd leave it on over night. Seemed to work fine.

Anyone know of any potential problems with that approach?

[dj1]

I just bought the $63 Porsche charger. I thought i saw that Porsche makes a more expensive one. It seems like the cheaper one sends a constant(tho low) charge to the battery even after its fully charged, while better ones shut off till the battery calls for more juice. Now i'm a little nervous the cheaper one might damage the battery. Anyone know anything about this?

Originally Posted by dj1

I just bought the $63 Porsche charger. I thought i saw that Porsche makes a more expensive one. It seems like the cheaper one sends a constant(tho low) charge to the battery even after its fully charged, while better ones shut off till the battery calls for more juice. Now i'm a little nervous the cheaper one might damage the battery. Anyone know anything about this?

When the red light shuts off, it is done charging. That's my understanding. I use the less expensive Porsche charger too.

[Tool Pants]

The notch for a power cord is a notch in the rubber seal at the bottom of the door. At least that is the way it was on the 986.

[Frodo]

Quote:

"A related question: Last winter (the first winter that I had the Box), once a month or so I just hooked up a standard Sears trickle charger (that I've had for years) onto the battery terminals. I'd leave it on over night. Seemed to work fine.

Anyone know of any potential problems with that approach?"

Originally posted by Frodo

Hey, this guy's got a legitimate question. Doesn't anybody have an answer for him? C'mon, let's help him out if we can.

[blinkwatt]

The notch is on either door on any 986 and 996(at least c2).

I've used 2 Black & Decker trickle charger on both my 01' 986 S & 01' 996 C2 in the garage,both have done their job and cycle on & off as needed.

http://mike.focke.googlepages.com/batteries

No need to pay for the Porsche name on the charger,unless you want to,they both do the same thing.

[blinkwatt]

Originally Posted by Frodo

A related question: Last winter (the first winter that I had the Box), once a month or so I just hooked up a standard Sears trickle charger (that I've had for years) onto the battery terminals. I'd leave it on over night. Seemed to work fine.

Anyone know of any potential problems with that approach?

To be honest,if your gonna go through the effort to hook it up,just leave it connected. If it works correctly it should cycle on & off as the battery needs.

[Frodo]

Yeah, but then next thing ya know I'm trippin' over the cord. Intermittent use works best for me. Besides, how tough is it to hook up a couple clips to a battery?

Guess I'm not the only insomniac out there...you looked at the clock lately?

[NickCats]

Originally Posted by bmussatti

Rick, here is a picture of the notch and an old thread about it:

http://www.986forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7463&highlight=notch

I took a look at this picture and thought "wow - that looks like my garage".

Then when I looked at the thread link it made sense, that IS my garage

Nick

[markab986]

Originally Posted by dj1

I just bought the $63 Porsche charger. I thought i saw that Porsche makes a more expensive one. It seems like the cheaper one sends a constant(tho low) charge to the battery even after its fully charged, while better ones shut off till the battery calls for more juice. Now i'm a little nervous the cheaper one might damage the battery. Anyone know anything about this?

I have the more expensive one...I am not a battery expert

But if you google chargers, you will find one like the expensive one Porsche sells for about half the price but doesn't come with the cigarette lighter adapter. I quickly scanned the pages, but here are the highlights.

A few of the main reasons are...paraphrasing

Won't overcharge the battery, no matter what construction it is, wet, gel, etc
It's safe to use indoors, because it won't let the battery outgas, and won't cause damage to interiors.
Has a voltage and amp regulator to "soften out" the voltage "ripples" so that vehicle electronics don't get fried or weakened
Keeps the battery from sulfating

etc.

[rick3000]

If you want a cheap battery maintainer, Harbor Frieght sells maintainers for $8. My sister uses one on her Mini Cooper and t works great. And if you want the cigarette lighter funcionality, go to Radio Shack and wire a cigarette lighter on the end instead of the clip.
It will cost like $15 to do, I actually might do this.
Another thing for my list!

[bfenster]

Originally Posted by bmussatti

Bfenster, just close the door on it. No problems with mine. I do this every week during the driving season, to keep the battery fully charged.

Did it that way last year too for winter storage. It sat like that for over 5 months.

Thanks "bmussatti" and everyone for all the input. I decided to use "bmussatti's" suggestion. I checked it out with some lamp cord first. Seems to work fine.

Thanks, Bruce

[986911]

Been using auto charger 1 for 2 yrs now with no problems. After 5 month winter storage,she starts on 1st crank. Plugs into cigarette lighter. Paid about $15 @ Autobarn.

[rick3000]

That looks like a good deal for $15.
Thanks for the pictures of the cord through the door jam.