3200 Cigarette lighter

[EVOeng]

Morning All,

I may be closer than ever before to getting a 3200 (I will post some update soon).
Can anybody tell me if I will be able to plug a C-Tek Battery Conditioner into the cigarette lighter when the vehicle is in storage - I only ask because 1 of my Porsches was unable to to this, while the other was completely fine.

Thanks in advance,

Ram

 

[hodroyd]

Hi Ram,
As far as I remember, you can plug in to the cigarette lighter socket, I believe it is still connected when ignition is off. I will try and have a look and confirm, unless anyone else is sure? I am not sure if this facility is year dependant though. The 3200 does have a main cut off switch in the boot, which turns off everything apart from the alarm. I use this if I am storing through the winter, but you do have to leave the drivers window down a fraction, otherwise it does not drop when you open the door as the power is off.
Cheers
R

 

[rotorheadcase]

Mine is live even with the keys out. I installed one of the CTEK comfort panels in the trunk near the battery access panel and plug into this instead. It has a nifty little LED battery health indicator so you can keep an eye on the state of the battery.

Regards,

Neil

 

[hodroyd]

Hi Neil,
What do you mean by comfort panel? Is this just an easy sited connector, or does it have special powers like vibrating the seats, or something??
Cheers
R

I have found it, looks good. http://www.ctekchargers.co.uk/ctek-56380.php

 

[conaero]

The CTek Battery Conditioner I have comes with a multi plug, so you hard wire one end to the battery, then you could drill a hold in the plastic boot tub and hang it down by the exhaust.

That way you can simply plug it in and have your car locked.

 

[rotorheadcase]

Ha ha... No special powers, just a convenient way to connect. Here's a link.... http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Ctek-COMFORT-INDICATOR-PANEL-xs-800-3600-7000-xs800-/360275042636

 

[EVOeng]

Thanks all, a great help and very prompt responses considering I just spent an hour in a lecture.
I have several C-Tek chargers lying around so I was hoping they would work.

 

[hodroyd]

Matt, what did you use to re-seal the boot tub, rubber grommet, or sealer and is the socket just dangling by the exhaust, or fixed so it does not bang around, or melt?
Cheers
R

 

[Danny]

I have a Porsche C-Tek charger which worked great on the cigarette lighters of several Porsches but it definitely does not work on my 3200. I now have installed a C-tek in the boot which only needs to be plugged in while stored in the garage. I leave my boot open for just an inch.

 

[hodroyd]

Danny,
Interesting!! Some seem to work some don't, this could be due to changes in model year specs, or the charger themselves? Thanks for the input!
Cheers
R

 

[davy83]

My 3200 is garaged every night any way but i can lock the boot shut over the C-TEK leads, this does not seem to damage the boot or the leads!

 

[alfamaserman]

My 3200 is garaged every night any way but i can lock the boot shut over the C-TEK leads, this does not seem to damage the boot or the leads!

I use this method for my 4200 as well - there's enough 'give' in the seals not to cause any damage. My previous 3200 was charged via the cig. lighter which is live when the ignition is off. My car was a 2000 model and I don't know if the later 3200s were the same.

 

[davy83]

I never tried the cigarette lighter since you have to get the charge cable into the car still, so it seemed to me the boot was the simplest solution and meant the doors were locked properly. Maybe i should test this in the interest of science!

 

[Danny]

My previous 3200 was charged via the cig. lighter which is live when the ignition is off. My car was a 2000 model and I don't know if the later 3200s were the same.

Interesting. My car is a 1999 MY and -as mentioned- the C-Tek doesn't work on the cig lighter. Perhaps indeed a matter of differences between model years.