What are the options to connect a battery maintainer where the car is not going to be used for a period.

Ordinarily I'd just put the maintainer in the boot/trunk and lightly press the lid down (yes I know there is a way to connect to a battery in these cars that is correct and a way that is not) - but I can't run the mains cable into the car in the same way with an XJ - and I can't see any place straightforward where the maintainer can be on the car but the car closed up and locked.

I think this is one of those cases where pictures of what others do would help.

 

BenKenobi, you MUST!!!!!! run it into the trunk and connect directly to the battery. It is not electrically equivolent to do it under the hood. Jaguar put a circuit between the positive battery terminal and the terminal under the hood. This monitors how much current is flowing in and out of the battery. If you put a maintainer on the car and wire it under the hood, the car is going to see tons of power going into the battery and none leaving. This is going to confuse the system.

Like you said, you find a small wire to run under the trunk seal and that will be your best option. I would also find a quality connector that will allow quick install/removal and not having to try and remember which side is positive and which is negative.

 

I read the warnings about charging from under the hood / bonnet, my biggest challenge is that the car is outside in the elements (driveway) and I cannot leave the maintainer outside, so I need to find a way to get the AC power in there without stressing the closure motors etc -

I looked at other options for solar etc in the car but it seems that most of the ports get shut down ultimately, that and I'm not sure solar will keep up with the cars appetite in any case.

I had the same challenge with the XF but that doesn't have an autoclose trunk / boot lid so it is fairly easy to deal with.

I am scouring the web for suitable ways to get past the trunk seal with AC voltage safely but without damaging it or the closure system.

 

Hi,

On DEFA or CALIX you find proper AC cables, sockets and chargers what are made for fix and safe installation for the vehicle use.
https://www.defa.com/product-categor...ers-inverters/
https://www.calix.se/en/products/acc...es-spare-parts
I think 70% of cars here in Finland have at least engine block heater either of these companys, most of an cabin heater as well for winter usage. Parking areas have poles with timer for AC output.
I add the socket on front bumber on the black plastic part on side, for smooth installation. I have an engine block heater (by heating and circulating the coolant) and interior heater mounted on passenger side of central console (footwell end of it) blowing upwards. Been thinking to add an battery charger as well....

Ohh... Wait!! You are in UK. Dammm.. You use different AC socket, so without doung an cable work, these are not suitable for you.

 

Appreciate the thought and I may just get 'creative' we shall see.

 

Everything you need to know about installing a battery maintainer, including photos, is in my old thread from 2014. I recommend the CTEK brand because it is rebranded by many auto manufacturers, including JLR, as an authorized factory accessory. Never leave the maintainer inside the trunk (boot) while charging!
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...lation-130801/


If CTEK is good enough for Koenigsegg, it's good enough for me. Note that the Regera is included with purchase.

 

CTEK are my go to and have been for a long time just don't try to 'recover' one of todays gel / AGM batteries - I learned that the hard way but they don't warn you - just lets say the battery no longer had a flat side and leave the rest to imagination.

I've never understood why not to leave the charger in the car though - I have always done this - on the back wheel is an interesting idea - did the cables in the top of the light fitting before closing the lid leak at all ? makes me wonder if there isn't another entry point underneath somewhere.

 

No leaks anywhere for me, and the attachment points are easily accessible. Quick and simple and I've never had a problem with the alligator clips.

I suspect that risk of explosion is the reason for not leaving a battery maintainer in the trunk while it's charging. All batteries, regardless of type - even AGM - produce hydrogen gas while charging. Sure, there's a vent tube for that gas to be routed outside the car to safely dissipate. Hydrogen gas is colorless and odorless and you don't know if it's there. And it's highly volatile and explosive. So, there's a danger of an explosion, albeit unlikely. That's why the Owner's Manual of every battery maintainer manufacturer includes conspicuous instructions to not leave it in the trunk - it's a defense against potential liability.

 

Bit like California where even breathing can cause cancer - once upon a time car handbooks told you how to set points gap, plugs and such - now it tells you not to drink the coolant ...

 

I do not see what your problem is , or what others have also said , For years I have left a charger in the trunk directly connected to the battery and still do every two weeks or so even with my current xj x351 , my third , I simply run an extension cable into the trunk with the carpet shelf raised I have a metal rod a foot long to hold this up . I then connect the charger I use a normal 8 amp smart Ring charger to battery terminals then plug into extension , manually press boot / trunk lid down with my hand and then lock car , I do this every 2 weeks especially in winter to keep battery in tip top condition. Never had a problem , I have a ctek charger but do not rate them as have been let down by this in past , much prefer the Ring version , works on wet cell and amg batteries great , Ps , go into any jaguar or Land Rover dealers and see the nice new current range of cars on display that sit all day with the new day time lights on how do you think they charge them up ..... by connecting to points under the hood , cars are put on charge every morning if you are in early you will see the cables

 

I don't have a problem beyond I tend to leave for weeks at a time and I like to lock the car up, I also just lay the charger in the trunk, always have because most of my cars are outside. I wasn't sure if it was OK to push the trunk lid down given that it is powered.

 

It will be fine , mine is used the same method on 3 x351 cars and a xkr and an ftype plus my Aston , none have blew up and I still have my fingers and hair

 

It seems Jaguar uses CTEK on the showroom floor too? Last time I was in a dealer every JLR product was connected to a CTEK maintainer.
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Similar to previously mentioned , on a couple of my cars I have just run a regular household extension lead into the boot and plugged the ctek in and shut the boot , if you are concerned about the auto boot shut then just press lightly as you close , on my x351 it just runs in under the bottom edge but on my x350 it goes in the top corner near the rear screen, make a downward loop in the lead outside so if it gets wet the rain will drip off the lower point and not run into the boot, just the same as bringing a cable into a house through a hole in the brickwork, it always should have a downward loop on it before going through the wall.

 

Not seen one todate they seem to use a huge black charger about a foot long , can clearly see it under the front of the car and the thick cable then going under the bonnet / hood