The Vehicle Care booklet , page 66, states that only trickle charging can be done with battery in the trunk. As there is no definition of what Jaguar means by trickle charging how do I decide whether the minimum rate of 3 amps on my charger allows me to charge in trunk or not. Also, Jaguar says connect +ve to +ve, -ve to -ve but my charger (Motomaster Eliminator Workshop Series, a Canadian brand) says +ve to +ve, -ve to vehicle chassis, DO NOT connect to carburetor, fuel lines, or sheet metal body parts. Do I follow Jaguar wishes or Motomaster?

 

Just go +ve to +ve and -ve to -ve on the battery. The negative battery terminal is connected to the vehicle earth/chassis

 

I have attached photo of my solution to a trickle charge point under the bonnet.
The power socket has the positive attached to the large positive terminal adjacent and powering the RH fuse box and a suitable earth connection to the body.
I have had this in place for many years and it is excellent if your vehicle sees limited use and occasionally just requires a battery top up ( trickle charge )
The power socket also provides easy 12V access under the bonnet.

John Herbert
1996 XJR

 

absolutely love that idea.
i might have to steal that one for myself.

 

Thanks Bill Mac. Re my question about definition of trickle charging, presumably you think the 3 Amp that is, I believe, the lowest output from my newly-acquired charger is less than the Jaguar intended upper limit amperage means that the battery can remain in the vehicle. Also, any thoughts on why the manual for my charger says NOT to connect_-ve charger lead directly to -ve battery terminal.

 

Thanks John. I agree with Spud that your socket installation looks handy as it allows charging without having to move stuff from the trunk to access the battery. However, I do have at the back of my mind having seen a comment somewhere that accessing the power source via the fuse box poses some risk of adverse effects. Can't remember where I saw that but I thought I would mention it. Obviously you have not experienced any such effects.

 

Hi Sheltoncar,

The recommendation to connect the charger negative cable to a body/chassis ground point rather than to the battery itself is a longstanding safety measure to prevent sparks at the battery from igniting the hydrogen and oxygen gasses that are emitted from the battery whenever it is charging.

These combustible gasses, along with poisonous hydrogen sulfide, are the reason your battery is vented via a hose connected at one end of the battery case and running down through the floor of the trunk/boot. I once had these gasses explode in my face when I reconnected the negative cable to a battery I had been charging with the trunk lid lowered (because the lift support struts were shot), only afterward to discover that the owner had left the battery vent hose disconnected! A fireball engulfing my head is something I don't care to ever experience again!

But as long as the engine (alternator) has not been running for awhile, or you leave the trunk lid open for a minute or two before connecting your charger, you should have no problems connecting directly to the battery +ve and -ve posts.

And please be certain your vent hose is connected to your battery and properly routed through the floor of the trunk!

Cheers,

Don

 

I do not see a vent hose going to the floor on my vehicle! Can someone spots a photograph?

 

Thanks Don for your interest and comments. Thank goodness the fireball incident doesn't appear to have caused serious injury to you. Regarding my two queries, namely where the battery can be when doing the charging and what are the permissible connection points for the charger cables, firstly I am assuming that if I select the 3amp setting, which is the lowest output rate from my charger, this qualifies as trickle charging and therefore doing the charging in the trunk conforms to the instructions in the Jaguar booklet, and, secondly I will connect +ve to +ve and -ve to -ve.

Cheers,
Robert

 

Hi Robert,

Yes, you will be fine connecting as you describe.

And aside from having my eyebrows and bangs singed off and my skin cooked to a mild sunburn consistency, I was fine. Fortunately I was wearing my safety glasses!

Cheers,

Don