Member Since: 29 Mar 2010
Location: Sussex
Posts: 12
Battery charging
Hi all,
I am a new recruit to the D3 after many many happy trouble free years with a Defender, (which I still miss and will one day have again, as well as the D3, I cant live without the D3 now!!).
I dont use the D3 every day, we save her for longer journeys and weekend trips. When I had the Defender 300TDi I kept it on trickle charge all the time, with the battery still in the vehicle connected to the electrical system. It always started first time, no issues at all.
My question is, can I do this in a D3 with all of its electrickery inside? I expect not, and removing the battery is probably as much trouble as finding the engine oil drain plug I expect??
Any advice welcome
Cheers
D
10th May 2010 6:18 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
lots of people use the CTEK chargers.
I have one of the basic ones (£40) and it works great
do a search on +CTEK and there are loadsa threads
this is a good start : http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic45653.html?highlight=ctekDuncan
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10th May 2010 6:44 pm
SHARKYSHARKS
Member Since: 20 Dec 2008
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In the winter i kept mine trickle charged through the towing electrics with a plug i made, and connected it to a battery charger in the garage,MY18 D5 HSE LUX😎
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10th May 2010 6:53 pm
DiscoDarren
Member Since: 29 Mar 2010
Location: Sussex
Posts: 12
Excellent, thanks for that!!
My Wife had a Freelander and it stated in the handbook that the battery must not be charged while connected to the electrical system or severe damage would be incurred!!! very frightening!!
10th May 2010 6:54 pm
DiscoDarren
Member Since: 29 Mar 2010
Location: Sussex
Posts: 12
Quote:
In the winter i kept mine trickle charged through the towing electrics with a plug i made, and connected it to a battery charger in the garage,
Fantastic idea!! That would be through the charge socket on the supplimentary socket?? grey cap??
Solves the wire through the door scenario!! Never was aproblem in the Defender, I could almost push the charger through the gap in the door as well!!!
10th May 2010 7:00 pm
pagoda
Member Since: 13 Aug 2009
Location: Not London Anymore (or the US for that matter)
Posts: 1923
The CTEK I bought came with a plug for just that purpose. You attach the plug wires to the batter and then just plug the charger cable into the plug (I have mine at the front of my grill on an old car). All very easy.PAGODA
10th May 2010 7:11 pm
DiscoDarren
Member Since: 29 Mar 2010
Location: Sussex
Posts: 12
I have a Halfords (yes, mistake I know) trickle charger, automatically switches from charge to maintain mode, whats the difference between this one and a CTEK?
10th May 2010 8:06 pm
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
I have the optimate 4 and its been great!
£35 off ebay too.2014 D4 XS
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10th May 2010 8:11 pm
discoBizz
Member Since: 20 Sep 2008
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1416
Welcome to the site Darren.
Full Ctek range is here and pictures of my XS3600 model here.
The 3600 comes with two battery connectors, one is crocodile clamps and the other is eyelet connectors for a "permanent" fit (though the cable is not long enough to reach the front grille for example, so you may need to modify to use with the car locked and shut). Not sure the connector Ctek is using is standard?
The towing electrics charging option seems to be the neatest though
Cheers
11th May 2010 7:57 am
dick dastardly
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: wiggleigh bottom
Posts: 1112
Taking the volts from +12V to +15V (charge) is not going to hurt the components to be honest aqnd is almost the same as the engine running. however, to be extra safe, turn everything off and wait for the car to go to sleep before charging (no P light, radio not lit up).
I regularly charge mine via the tow electronics (euro connector pin 9 = battery +, pin 13 = battery -), easy to connect. Charger delivers 10A max, car fuse allows 50A max.There's one wheel on my wagon, but i'm still rollin' along, it's the cherokee, they're after me, but I'm singing a happy song
11th May 2010 9:53 am
hensoni
Member Since: 01 Oct 2007
Location: Sleepy Somerset
Posts: 576
Pin 4 on the 12S socket is the permanent live. Pin 3 is the return. It works fine. I read somewhere on here that you should keep the amps below 4A with everything connected.Club missing my D3
11th May 2010 2:30 pm
PaulP
Member Since: 04 May 2007
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 4317
There's some good advice here
As mentioned, the easiest way is to buy a smaller CTEK (or equivalent ) and charge through either the eyelets or the white towing socket.
The CTEK 3600 would be perfect for this as it doesn't give too much juice.
I have a CTEK XS25000 (the big ) and I've used it to charge my D3 overnight. I left the battery connected and had no problems whatsoever...
...but saying this, when I checked the faultcodes with my Faultmate a week or so later, I did have a over-voltage error recorded on one of the ECUs (can't remember if it was the transmission ECU but it rings a bell) and the time elapsed/kms would have put it around the day that I charged it.....I cleared it and it hasn't returned since.
So the moral of the story is:
Low current charging (<4A> 4A) should really be done with the battery disconnected if possible.2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE AutoBuckingham Blue 2007 Golf GT DSG
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) and charge through either the eyelets or the white towing socket.
) and I've used it to charge my D3 overnight. I left the battery connected and had no problems whatsoever...
