[grim]

36+ hours and the battery is still not fully charged. I went by the dealer and spoke to the service manager. He said the CTEK can take a really long time (several days) to charge depending on how low the battery is. If by Monday, it's still not fully charged, bring it in and he will fast charge it.

If you bought a Porsche charger, its probably the 3300. Did you read the manual? What did it say? Go download from the ctek 3300 manual from their website. It can take more than 48 hours for the 4.3 if the battery is drained. The 3.3 amp will take longer. The 7000 less time.

Really bad idea to leave anything plugged in these days. The cars eat energy.

 

[rcdancer]

If you bought a Porsche charger, its probably the 3300. Did you read the manual? What did it say? Go download from the ctek 3300 manual from their website. It can take more than 48 hours for the 4.3 if the battery is drained. The 3.3 amp will take longer. The 7000 less time.

Really bad idea to leave anything plugged in these days. The cars eat energy.

Manual doesn't say how long it can take to charge. Also I read online that it takes longer to reach a full charge through the cigarette lighter outlet, as compared to connecting directly to the battery terminals.


I also shortened the time the lights stay on after the ignition is off to 10 secs (shortest allowed).

 

[Guy88]

My MXS 5.0 manual has this page that shows maximum charging times for each phase of charging.

(I would always be a little dubious of the connection through the cigarette lighter outlet - it's not the most reliable connection method! When I plug my cool-box into the socket in the boot ('trunk' in US speak) it often gets very warm which is indicative of a intermittent (sparking) connection.)

 

[rcdancer]

The charts don't seem to make much sense. Car was finally fully charged when I came home - so somewhere between 38 and 48 hours to switch to maintenance mode. (And I had read online that is could take more than 48 hours.)

 

[iconoclast]

It's happily charging.

Another question - a couple of times when starting the car, I had been hearing a warning that the battery was low. Is that something to worry about? (I think it had to do with the fact that I was leaving the radar detector plugged in and the car keeps power to the outlet for 30 mins after shutoff.)

Hardwire your Radar Detector. There are a few threads here on MF with details.
You want a fuse that is OFF as soon as you turn off the ignition.

 

[Guy88]

The charts don't seem to make much sense.

They do to me!! Which bit is unclear?

 

[rcdancer]

They do to me!! Which bit is unclear?

In the sense of giving a time estimate to full charge.

 

[Guy88]

In the sense of giving a time estimate to full charge.

Hmmm. 8 + 20 + 8 + (3mins) = 36 hours 3 minutes! (plus another 2-6 hours if you selected a reconditioning option).


Of course those figures are estimated maximums for a serviceable battery, but of course no charger can guess the state of charge of your battery when charging commences, hence should be viewed as an approximate guide.

 

[rcdancer]

Hmmm. 8 + 20 + 8 + (3mins) = 36 hours 3 minutes! (plus another 2-6 hours if you selected a reconditioning option).


Of course those figures are estimated maximums for a serviceable battery, but of course no charger can guess the state of charge of your battery when charging commences, hence should be viewed as an approximate guide.

Thanks

 

[mountainman]

For years I have had a Battery Tender brand 4 place unit attached to my garage wall with extention wires run up to and across the ceiling and then let them drop down to the appropriate location so that I can drive in and plug it in to the pigtails I have installed on each car, truck tractor and ATV. It really increases battery life and prevents batteries slowly going down when not in use. My tractor battery lasted 12 years.

 

[JoeInBucks]

I found this chart helpful in deciding which CTEK charger to purchase instead of the Porsche charger (made by CTEK)

Charger Selection Chart

Please use our helpful Charger Selection Chart to help you decide which CTEK Smarter Charger is right for you, your vehicle, and your lifestyle. If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to contact us.

smartercharger.com

Although I'm the US, when I searched for CTEK products it seems I was more often than not directed to the European site. Could not find the same chart on that site. Maybe their product line is a little different. This chart does not seem to have the exact Porsche version which includes a Lithium battery option. Maybe its a EU product. All except for two chargers on the chart work with AGM batteries.

I went with the MSX 5.0, works on all size and type batteries, adjusts for ambient temperature, reconditions batteries and has progress indicator lights which helps confirm that if you are charging through a 12v plug outlet that the outlet being used is hot through out the process. It is $72 on Amazon. The 12v plug adaptor is $12.99. Big difference vs the $200 Porsche product.

 

[Reanard]

I already got the CTEK MUS 7002 for my Civic (Summer Tires) when its hardly used in the winter. I haven't used it with the Macan yet, since its basically our main daily vehicle. I'm guessing it will work though.

 

[Memango]

The MSX 5.0 looks like it will be fine. I have the MUS 7002 as @Reanard does. Works fine for my several cars & battery types. It has a Normal mode, a "Snowflake-symbol" mode, and a couple of others for reconditioning or whatever. The Normal mode is for regular 12v batteries. For the Porsche with AGM (absorbent gas mat) batteries it is recommended to use the Snowflake mode.

 

[2015turbo]

For years I have had a Battery Tender brand 4 place unit attached to my garage wall with extention wires run up to and across the ceiling and then let them drop down to the appropriate location so that I can drive in and plug it in to the pigtails I have installed on each car, truck tractor and ATV. It really increases battery life and prevents batteries slowly going down when not in use. My tractor battery lasted 12 years.

My setup is not as slick as yours, I just have several individual Battery Tender Plus(es), but similar experience, they really do work and no issues. It is really great to drive a car for the first time in six+ months over a long winter and it fires right up like you drove it yesterday.

 

[JoeInBucks]

My setup is not as slick as yours, I just have several individual Battery Tender Plus(es), but similar experience, they really do work and no issues. It is really great to drive a car for the first time in six+ months over a long winter and it fires right up like you drove it yesterday.

Might be moving off topic a little. Another storage issue that may relate more to items like generators, snow blowers, lawn tractors, etc. that may see longer periods of no usage is the use of fuel stabilizers. An alternative to fuel stabilizers is using marine gas like Valvtect if it is available in your area. Its ethanol / alcohol free and already include stabilizers. It's also a good idea to run stores equipment occasionally just to exercise them a little. I try to run everything at least four times a year around the solstice/equinox dates, roughly 3/20, 6/20, 9/20 and 12/20.

 

[grim]

Might be moving off topic a little. Another storage issue that may relate more to items like generators, snow blowers, lawn tractors, etc. that may see longer periods of no usage is the use of fuel stabilizers.

That is a real problem as ethanol is a killer for small engines. Its also a reason why electric small engines is becoming more and more viable and is real. No need to have a gas/oil trimmer, blower, chain saw, etc anymore nor a gas snow blower or lawn mower for small jobs. They are not come into their own for larger engines yet but they will. No need to even touch gas, store it, go get it, just plug in the battery.

While much of what CA does I think is strange, in this case I agree with them

California considering statewide ban on gas-powered gardening equipment

Some 60 cities in California already have some form of ban on gas-powered garden tools including Berkeley, Los Gatos, Mill Valley, and Sonoma.

abc7news.com

The freedom of not having to store gasoline feels good. Its just a matter of time before for small engines, they will all be gone.

 

[Canuck]

Doing some research on this topic ahead of delivery of my 2020 GTS. It looks like there is not too much of a premium to be paid for the Porsche Charge-O-Mat Pro, which allows for use with both traditional and Li batteries, and the current version is 5.0 amps. Below is from the Porsche Canada website (so cost in CAD). Have also been on the CTEK website and looked at the MSX 5.0, the MUS 4.3 and the 7002 units. If you buy any of the CTEK units, you also have to buy the cigarette lighter adapter which adds an additional cost whereas the pic below shows that the Porsche Unit comes with this connection already. Given the capability to use also with Li batteries, it seem worthwhile to go with the Porsche branded unit. Happy for advice to the contrary as I have no experience using one of these battery maintainer units.

 

[grim]

Doing some research on this topic ahead of delivery of my 2020 GTS. It looks like there is not too much of a premium to be paid for the Porsche Charge-O-Mat Pro, which allows for use with both traditional and Li batteries, and the current version is 5.0 amps. Below is from the Porsche Canada website (so cost in CAD). Have also been on the CTEK website and looked at the MSX 5.0, the MUS 4.3 and the 7002 units. If you buy any of the CTEK units, you also have to buy the cigarette lighter adapter which adds an additional cost whereas the pic below shows that the Porsche Unit comes with this connection already. Given the capability to use also with Li batteries, it seem worthwhile to go with the Porsche branded unit. Happy for advice to the contrary as I have no experience using one of these battery maintainer units.

There are so many reasons why not to get a CTEK rebranded charger I'm not sure where to begin.

• You know how much the Porsche lithium battery cost? Be prepared to get an equity loan. And its not for the SUV. Its a lightweight battery for the Weissach sportcars. Antigravity sells lithium starter batteries, but not for the SUV. Macan batteries are 92 or 105 Amp hours, not a measly 60. I dont know if there are any others out there but whats the point? Porsche battery prices are outrageous to being with now quintuple the price? To lose 20 lbs on a two ton SUV?
• I think Amazon is an authorized reseller if sold by Amazon. Price is a lot cheaper than from the CTEK website.
• About the cigarette plug. What are you going to do when the hardwired plug breaks? And I can guarantee you the plugs break. Its just a piece of plastic. Now what are you going to do, buy another $245 unit?
  See the open spring and plunger? That plunger pushes down and make contact closing the circuit. That's supposed to be covered with plastic. They can break. Meanwhile, a new plug is $10 on Amazon.
• If you leave it hooked up for a while, and the power goes out, then what? AFAIK it won't restart charging. People have come back to dead batteries.
• Does the 95B.2 have jump point under the hood? I presume so. How are you going to hook it up to the jump point without the alligator clips?
• Someday, you might decide to hardwire it directly to the battery. Read through the website and some people have done that. Then what? You need the ring adapters.
• What if you need more length? How do you hook up the extension piece to get another 10' of length?

With the CTEK, you get a "system". With the Porsche rebranded CTEK, you get to pay the Porsche Tax and are locked into a closed system with no adaptability for other cars. What if one day you decide to charge another car at the battery posts and the cigarette lighter isn't hot? I don't think Japanese cars are hot. You can't charge them that way. If you go with any of the CTEKs, you've bought the system. If you go with paying the Porsche Tax, you've limited yourself.

Maybe that helps?

 

[Canuck]

Great advice. Just what I needed. Any thoughts on which unit to purchase?

 

[grim]

Any of the 5 Amp and higher should do it. But, the 7002 has a mode for supplying power with the battery out, if that is something you need. It should also be charge quicker. I have both an older 4.3 and the 7002 but only use the 7002 now. If you want to do the battery analyzer thing, I would avoid something like the test and charge and get a real battery analyzer. Many people get the MXS 5.0. But if it get cold, than the Polar unit might be best for you.