Hi,

Engine cranking speed seems to be a bit on the slow side…suspect battery on the way out (5 years old). Before replacing it I thought it best to give it a charge up with a battery charger. (CTEK MXS 7000).

My question is: Is it advisable to disconnect the battery from the car when charging it or can the charger be used with the battery in place and still connected?

Cheers



Ron

Hi Ron,
From what I know it's best to take it off the car for this type of charging, but keep in mind that if you have the factory stereo you will need the code to bring it back to life if you disconnect the battery.
Also when my battery died, it went without any signs (on a 1.3Mj panda), perfect one they, dead the next, not even jump starting worked.

Cheers,
Dan

Thanks Dan,

I wasn’t sure as these “Smart” type battery chargers have a “Reconditioning” setting which boosts the charging voltage from 14.4V to 15.8V.



I imagine that the 14.4V wouldn’t do any damage to the car electronics but how about the 15.8V. Would this voltage blow anything up?

Cheers

Ron

Automotive electronics are built to take a beating. So theoretically you should be OK, but sometimes stuff doesn't go as planed...and I don't think it's worth the risk.

If it's a matter of losing the car's setting or radio code, you might want to do this:

Only difference is that you need to ire it up to the battery terminals, since the cigaret lighter is only on when the key is turned to MAR.

You might want to read the recommendations of the manufacturer of the charger, see what they say, if you don't have the manual, try google.
Defensively do not try to start the car with the charger connected to the car!

Cheers
Dan

Hi Dan and thanks again,

Charger instructions were not clear about this, better safe than sorry so I disconnected everything from the battery and then gave it the full recondition charge. (Radio isn't standard and there's no code...removable front cover job)



We’ll now have to see if that’s enough to put off buying a new battery…time will tell!


Cheers


Ron

Ive charged my doblo many times using the ctek 3600 without disconnecting the battery. Ctek sell them on the basis they can be left connected indefinitely.