CTEK charger question

[marinaman]

getting confused myself !  can you connect it to the pos in boot. but the neg not on battery direct due to this module, but ok to mount on some other earth point

[Smeeagain]

of course you can, it just depends where you want your charger lead. If you put it in the boot then the chances are that you still need to clear the boat of contents and lift the floor to access the comfort connector if it is connected to the battery as the comfort leads aren't usually very long. If you have them under the bonnet, which is where I suspect the 'comfort' element comes in as it is quick and easy to open the bonnet and connect and off you go.

Basically you have the option to put it in either. personally I have it connected under the bonnet.

Although there is a very detailed post about intelligent battery sensors, I think (no offence) that the poster is forgetting that the CTEk charger itself is a very intelligent battery sensor and knows when to charge and not charge, regardless of where it is fitted. IF you are to take the battery out and charge it say on your garage, then on the other poster's argument you could overcharge it that way and I don't accept that.
Just my humble opinion.

[snrbrtsn]

Sorry, I should have stated, I have the comfort leads with the 6mm eyelets & extension cable.
The extension cable is quick fit to the comfort leads and interchangeable with the crocodile clips should I opt to use the charger on A N other car

The extension leads remains tucked up in the cubby hole, out of sight!

[X5Sport]

You can on the E53 (or any other car) but BMW state in the manual that chargers and jump starting kit should only be done under the bonnet.

@ttr - yes they just undo as they are just a large nut on a threaded post 

[ttr]

X5sport

Ehup from Yorkshire.

Cheers for confirming, I'm glad I asked the question it's a result for me as I'm happy going direct under the bonnet.

I may even do a how to although it seems so simple once you ask the questions.

Electrics , however simple, are not my strong point so always ask the "stupid questions " it usually saves me time and patience.

Cheers for everyone's inputs on this.

[marinaman]

so. to route through to cabin , where is there an access point through the bulkhead ?

[X5Sport]

[quote="marinaman"]
so. to route through to cabin , where is there an access point through the bulkhead ?
[/quote]

Not trying to be silly with a question, but why would you want to?

I have mine just as a flying lead under the bonnet (same on the E46) that tucks away In the engine bay when not in use. The connector is not small (roughly 20mm square by 40mm long) so not easy to feed through anything, or you would have to remove the eyelets, feed the wire from cabin to engine bay, refit the eyelets. 

The connector has a rubber sealing cap and is water resistant enough to be left permanently connected under the bonnet.

When in use I just connect the extension lead between the CTEK and Comfort lead, shut the bonnet and lock the car.  The lead exits safely and doesn’t get trapped anywhere - it has a built in fuse anyway.

[marinaman]

As car is not used a lot and have twice now had the nearly flat  i saw these comfort things with the traffic lights on.

if under bonnet i cant see the lights, so the 2 options were to connect to battery direct and put the plug end in the window where i can see it  or route through and have it in the cabin on dash or nearby where i can see it

Think that makes sense , they also do a fix in type that you would mount permanent

see link
its all about seeing the lights to let me know when to charge,  i see they also do a bluetooth one, a module transmits to your phone the battery status but at £42 a bit pricey.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... 1OLE&psc=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-CTK-40-14 ... ooth+cteck

[ttr]

Marinaman,

I had the first link in your email in my shogun for exactly the same reason, ran it from the battery direct just so I could monitor the level and put it in the cabin area., looked good actually.

I then had a second quick connect direct to the battery under the bonnet for charging only, I did not want a charge cable running through the door to the point in the monitor device, even though you can with the kit.

The level monitors worked a treat so I can see your logic, it just prompted me to charge up in plenty of time.

Greater minds on electrical issues will better assist but you may have to somehow run the monitor device from the battery into the boot area so you can see it somewhere but run a second charging connection direct to the points under the bonnet. Not sure if that would work for you, the parts are cheap enough but it boils down to practically and what you want to try and achieve.

Not sure if the above helps but I can vote for the level indicator kit.

Cheers

[Smeeagain]

[quote="marinaman"]
As car is not used a lot and have twice now had the nearly flat  i saw these comfort things with the traffic lights on.

if under bonnet i cant see the lights, so the 2 options were to connect to battery direct and put the plug end in the window where i can see it  or route through and have it in the cabin on dash or nearby where i can see it

Think that makes sense , they also do a fix in type that you would mount permanent

see link
its all about seeing the lights to let me know when to charge,  i see they also do a bluetooth one, a module transmits to your phone the battery status but at £42 a bit pricey.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... 1OLE&psc=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-CTK-40-14 ... ooth+cteck
[/quote]

Unless Ive missed it the first link doesnt state the eyelet size??

[marinaman]

thats 1st link was with M8  ,  so to finish,  looking at this , as i need to see the status lights i am going to put in dash area as it seems to be safe the front underbonnet lugs are the best place to mount it,

so where is there an easy access hole to get through,  or is that a daft question  :xmasgrin:

or are we saying i can safely , attach to the battery in the boot and run the lead up to where i can see it as long as i connect the earth well away from the battery terminal

[X5Sport]

There is an electronics box on the back right side of the engine bay (looking from the front) that might allow you to connect in from the engine bay to the passenger compartment.  From memory it comes out above the glovebox and front fuseboard.

On my E53 I ran that permanent lead through to just behind the grille and mounted it on a bit of bent Ali.  I could see the battery indicators through that and just lifted the bonnet to plug in.

[marinaman]

thats an even better idea,  from charge points to grill and peep through that, should save a lot of time. Thanks ,
what about clipped to grill so no need ro even open bonnet, would that work ?

[X5Sport]

You would need to run the wires onto the bonnet, which is why I did it along the inner wing and made a plate up which I bolted into something convenient.  Doing this from memory now so can’t remember the exact details.

[marinaman]

Decided to buy a ctek bluetooth battery monitor as well,  any ideas on whether i should attach to pos neg of battery direct, or  pos battery and other earth point  or  to the under bonnet points,  wondered if the length of the cable run to those may affect the accuracy of the device

this device listed here

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01 ... UTF8&psc=1

also bought this option for charging,  bargain at moment on Maplins only £9.00,  over £22 on Amazon

https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/ctek-volt-in ... able-a13tj