To trickle or not to trickle...

[triguy46]

I've had my 2003 Boxster for 3 weeks and we're getting ready for a winter blast. It is not forecast to be above freezing for 4 days. The battery is 2 years old, non-porsche, 72 month. I have a small, 1 amp trickle charger. Am I being overly worrisome for considering using it?

[Cassiebox]

It's good idea to maintain a battery - trickle charges can cook them - during periods of extended storage. I usually don't hook mine up if it's being stored for less than 3 weeks. Also, if it's not a sealed battery, make sure you top off (w/ distilled water) each cell. Good luck :)

[aron in toronto]

Also keep in mind that the Boxster's central locking/alarm system goes into "Sleep Mode" after 5 days of inactivity. If left longer than that you need to unlock the door by using the key in the door as the remote will not function. Once you have cycled the ignition the remote should regain function. This feature is to conserve power drained from the battery, but often catches people off guard.

[Orient Express]

If my 996 isn't driven for a week or so, I will turn on the trickle charger for a day or so, then turn it back off. I use a 1:7 ratio for trickle charging.

[JFP in PA]

First, battery “maintainers” and “trickle chargers” are different. Battery maintainers are good, trickle chargers are not. A battery maintainer uses electronics to bring the battery up to full charge and then shuts down the current flow until needed; trickle chargers keep charging the battery at a low rate, even when the battery is fully charged. That leads to problems and premature battery failure. Be sure the unit you use is a “maintainer” and not a “trickle charger”.

By all means, use a quality maintainer, it will keep your battery in optimal condition and will also extend its useful life.

[jmatta]

+1 on JFP's advice. Buy a good maintainer (I have a Battery Tender Jr) and you will never have a problem. Funny thing is my 911 has an Optima Red Top with a battery cut switch. When I park it for the winter, the switch is "off" and I don't need to re-energize the battery come spring.

[triguy46]

Thanks to all for the sound advice.

[londoner06]

I use the Porsche Charge-o-mat II (955 044 900 56), as far as I understand it is a maintainer so it should not 'fry' the battery. It monitors the battery and charges it as needed only.

[Cassiebox]

Correct, it is a maintainer and is made by C-Tek.

You can by the same thing under the C-Tek brand for about $60-65. Apply a $6 Porsche brake caliper logo and you'll be good to go ;)

[mikefocke]

Which is still overpriced

There are $20 maintainers that do the same job. Wal-Mart.

[soopster]

Do you leave your maintainer attached for the winter or do you use it just periodically? Just bought a brand new battery and a battery maintainer (Canadian Tire brand) but I'm still nervous to leave it attached even for the rest of the winter.

The maintainer cycles on and off a few times an hour judging by the lights, do you see similar with your maintainers?

Any comments on the cigarette lighter adaptor with the maintainer and a Boxster?

Edited March 3, 2009 by soopster

[RFM]

A battery maintainer (as showed in the pics.) may during long periods attached to the car via the cigarette lighter, without problems.

[jmatta]

Attach them, plug it in and forget about it until spring.

Is it ever going to be spring? This has been a long, cold and snowy winter in northern Illinois.

Edited March 3, 2009 by jmatta

[JFP in PA]

Do you leave your maintainer attached for the winter or do you use it just periodically? Just bought a brand new battery and a battery maintainer (Canadian Tire brand) but I'm still nervous to leave it attached even for the rest of the winter.

The maintainer cycles on and off a few times an hour judging by the lights, do you see similar with your maintainers?

Any comments on the cigarette lighter adaptor with the maintainer and a Boxster?

I put my car away around Nov. and it sits until March-April with the battery maintainer plugged into the cig lighter outlet. The car was designed to be stored this way, it will not cause any problems as long as the maintainter you use is a good one....

[soopster]

Thanks for the advice. The car is plugged in now for the rest of the winter. Only a few more weeks.

It is supposed to hit 55 F tomorrow in the Toronto area and will rain all weekend. Hopefuly that washes away all the snow and salt on roads to make for good spring driving soon.