I recently acquired a 2014 FType v8S and in the manual states that external battery chargers may not be used. Is this correct? Has anyone had experience using one- perhaps a trickle charger?

thanks
steve

 

Plenty of folks use trickle chargers here. Here's a good thread on how to go about it....

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/f...harger-140038/

 

Not a problem on the F-Type, literally dozens of threads and hundreds of posts about using trickle chargers and battery maintainers, search is your friend!
I have regularly used a battery maintainer on my F-Type for the last 4.5 years with zero problems, around once every two weeks on average, and the OEM battery which is over six and a half years old is still going strong.

 

To use a regular battery charger (not trickle) just disconnect the battery terminals, charge in place, then reconnect. It is just a battery!! Jaguar does not want you to damage any of the electronics . Avoid this by disconnecting.
A trickel charger will take a long, long time if the battery is low.

 

I acquired my 2017 this past fall, 2020. My battery TENDER of choice is a Ctek mxs5, available on Amazon. The car is stored in home garage for Wisconsin winter. The Ctek comes with alligator clips and eyelets, for your choice of connection.I used the eyelets. Jaguar tech advised pressing the trunk latch to lock position while running the power cord out the back. Then the hatch can be hand lowered and not mash the cord or damage weatherstripping. Ctek runs through its diagnostics, charges as needed. Series of lights tells you where it is in process. It also can manage a motorcycle battery as well as both AGM and lead-acid batteries.

 

I close (and lock) the trunk onto a 10A mains cable when charging and have had no issues with damage to cable or weatherstrip. Jag tech is being over-cautious.

 

I bought and use a black and decker off amazon. I was an inexpensive option, not why i bought it though. I hook up under the bonnet using the alligator clips at the jumper points the manual say to use.
It has worked very well and the alligator clips are quick and easy. Not that the mounted connections would be difficult. I close the bonnet and rest it on a small box so the cylinders are not having to stay
open completely. Highly recommended that a tender be used if the car is not used for a long period of time.

 

Thanks for the advice everyone - very helpful!

My battery is currently fully charged and I’d like to keep it that way - including the winter layover.

CTEK has quite a large selection. What specs/criteria would you recommend in the selection of a CTEK model?

Thanks
steve

 

CTEK MXS 5.0 works very well

I had an older CTEK US 3300 which didn't work as well (slow to charge). The MXS 5.0 is not expensive and works v well with these cars

I suggest getting their quick socket connector and mounting it inside the trunk lining. Then it's a 10s job to plug in when you want to use it

 

The battery in these cars is an AGM battery which requires a different charging cycle. Not every CTEK charger has the AGM cycle...but those that do have it clearly marked on the control panel.
My F-Type has the CTEK unit wires permanently attached using the "comfort" extension, allowing the weather-proof plug to sit just outside the trunk lid? When the car goes into the garage it takes me perhaps 3 seconds (on a slow day) to connect it. And there is no damage at all either to the CTEK cord or the weatherstripping by closing the trunk fully.

 

Another vote for the CTEK MXS 5.0 - I've got two!

 

Quite a few comments reference the need to be able to close the trunk. Is this to ensure that trunk lighting goes out?

 

I hadn't thought of that - I charge mine on my drive so just leave the car locked securely.

 

If you do not close the trunk, you cannot lock the car. If you do not lock the car, various modules stay active for a considerable period of time. You are thus negating to some extent the benefit of using the charger. But the main thing is that there is no danger to either the CTEK cord or the weatherstripping in firmly closing the trunk and locking the car.

 

Not quite true, you can lock the car, then open the trunk - the doors stay locked. I also believe that the car's modules will shut down after a period of inactivity even if the car is left unlocked, though locking the car is certainly a hint to the car that it should go to sleep..

 

That may be acceptable to you. Never hurt me, my airplane or my race car to be "over-cautious".

 

Well, as I charge my car outside on my drive, maybe I'm being over cautious by locking the trunk.

 

I have 10 of these

 

Zach half of your collection is without protection? For shame

 

Not really, I use this model of C-tek for the AGM batteries, the rest are on Lithium C-tek and the Lead acid are on Shumacher maintainers. All my babies are plugged in.