Technical Ducato Battery Info Please

[philstoke]

Havn't really looked much under my bonnet since I got my 2003 Ducato Rapido Motorhome, but recently I was having a look at the battery to see the terminals for connecting crocodile clips to for a tyre pump.
After lifting off the plastic cover I found that instead of just a terminal as in my car there is a plate with all sorts bolted to it, I suppose I just clamp the positive crocodile clip to one of the two large nuts in the left forground.
Also there is a bent strip of metal sticking out on the right, is this to disconnect the circuit in an emergency.
Thanks

 

[varesecrazy]

hi, and welcome,

this "manifold" effect is common on many modern vehicles,
I assume your car isn't a modern FIAT,,
mine all look similar - just so much electrical demands nowadays,

unsure of the strips purpose,
not clear enough in the photo,
charlie

 

[philstoke]

my car is an 03 Mondeo Ghia x so the same year as my motorhome, has a few electrical extras but just the single pos. and neg. cables to the battery

 

[sumpplug]

on my ducato m/h it has terminals in engine compartment for jump starting etc, check if yours has something simular

 

[moodrater]

The metal strip is the clip that holds the fuse/terminal assembly onto the battery, you should be able to get the crocodile clip onto the positive terminal just about. If you're going to a nut make sure its not on the wrong side of the fuse, you don't want to jump start via a maxi fuse.

 

[shurms]

I have a similar fitting on my 2005 2.8. My battery is flat, probably due to me leaving the alarm on during a long period of non-use. Can I connect an "intelligent charger" without disconnecting the battery. If not, how do I disconnect the positive terminal and plate assembly so that I can remove the battery for charging; Thanks in advance;

 

[varesecrazy]

hello , and welcome,
I suspect your battery still has tapered LEAD poles / terminals,
there Should be a clamp-screw around the terminal pole area,
remove the Negative lead 1st, and see how it looks,
then try and do simlar to the positive,
you may find that the majority of connections are on 1 "busbar" and this is demountable from the actual Positive battery clamp,

I would recommend charging with the vehicles wiring disconnected.. make sure you have the radio code and KEYS outside the vehicle.. in case the doors lock..!!, Charlie

 

[shurms]

Thanks for that, I'll give it a try;

 

[shurms]

managed to remove terminals and charge battery. Couldn't see how to separate plate from positive terminal so hope I never have to. Would like to know definitively if I am able to leave a trickle charger connected with battery reconnected, as its on a Camper which is laid up for several weeks during winter. Thanks for the help.

 

[Olympus]

You would be better placed to use a battery tender of optimate type conditioner
Trickle charging over the sort of period your saying will boil it dry

 

[shurms]

Thanks Olympus. I have a CTEC 4 stage "intelligent" charger. I think it does the same job as the Optimate. It's just this Terminal plate attached to the positive battery terminal that has me worried.

 

[teal]

My CTECH has one lead into the lesuire battery and when I want to charge the engine one up I just use clamps.I do not disconnect anything. This is on my Mobilvetta Driver 2003. I should mention this is when its laid up for a while on EH, the CTECH charges up the batteries far more that ordinary charges do.