Smart charger hook up
#1
Smart charger hook up
OK I finally got tired of opening up the trunk and plugging in my smart charger. So I made this hook up after thinking it out and now regardless of what smart charger you use/have all you need is the cigarette lighter attachment. Also I ran the wire through the water drain tube in the spare tire area. There are no holes that needed to be drilled and the marine adapter is held on by the same fasteners as the trim uses (press on clips). I'll see how it holds up and report in the future. Here's pictures.
#3
e-bay for $4 including shipping. It is plastic with a plastic L bracket. I used a piece of alumin. angle to attach it to the rear. I did a test run today because I wanted to see how hot is gets and so far not bad but I may want to add a small heat shield. We'll see. Up until now I have been opening the trunk and plugging in the connector but now all I do is pull the rubber plug and plug in the cig. attachment.
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kj07xk (08-07-2015)
#4
e-bay for $4 including shipping. It is plastic with a plastic L bracket. I used a piece of alumin. angle to attach it to the rear. I did a test run today because I wanted to see how hot is gets and so far not bad but I may want to add a small heat shield. We'll see. Up until now I have been opening the trunk and plugging in the connector but now all I do is pull the rubber plug and plug in the cig. attachment.
I'm looking at this plug on Amazon. It is a bit more money, but, I like the mounting and see just how big it is. Will check with my local marine supply first. All of this can be hidden under the liner, I'm thinking.
#5
#7
While not arguing the sense of putting your car on charge when not in use, was there a bad batch of batteries issued to warrant the need. I am only going on my experience so far and have never found the need to to put the car on charge and so far it has not given me any problems. I only drive the car once or twice a week for short journey. This is not a criticism of the practise, more an observation.
I suppose the problem with forums is that most people are looking for solutions to problems and it gives the impression the cars are unreliable, when so far mine has been very reliable. I may live to the have to swallow my words on reliability but so far the car has not missed a beat.
I suppose the problem with forums is that most people are looking for solutions to problems and it gives the impression the cars are unreliable, when so far mine has been very reliable. I may live to the have to swallow my words on reliability but so far the car has not missed a beat.
Last edited by Jagtony; 08-07-2015 at 11:49 PM.
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#8
While not arguing the sense of putting your car on charge when not in use, was there a bad batch of batteries issued to warrant the need. I am only going on my experience so far and have never found the need to to put the car on charge and so far it has not given me any problems. I only drive the car once or twice a week for short journey. This is not a criticism of the practise, more an observation.
I suppose the problem with forums is that most people are looking for solutions to problems and it gives the impression the cars are unreliable, when so far mine has been very reliable. I may live to the have to swallow my words on reliability but so far the car has not missed a beat.
I suppose the problem with forums is that most people are looking for solutions to problems and it gives the impression the cars are unreliable, when so far mine has been very reliable. I may live to the have to swallow my words on reliability but so far the car has not missed a beat.
#9
#10
#11
Very good, how will it stand up to wet conditions. Have you to get down under the rear a bit to plug it in. Would be a bit of a hassle after a days wet driving with drips and grime from the bumper while putting your hand under there. Still think it is easier to pop the boot.
#12
I agree, and that's how I hooked up my XKR and XJ:
Quick connect leads connected together in my XKR's trunk:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Trunk lid closes over the wire with no problems. For installation details, see my posts ##20 and 21: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...s-73471/page2/
Quick connect leads connected together in my XJ's trunk:
For installation details, see my post #1: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...lation-130801/
I keep both of them plugged in whenever they are parked at home. I haven't had any electrical gremlins in either one and credit that to always locking the doors and keeping them on their battery maintainers.
Stuart
Quick connect leads connected together in my XKR's trunk:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Trunk lid closes over the wire with no problems. For installation details, see my posts ##20 and 21: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...s-73471/page2/
Quick connect leads connected together in my XJ's trunk:
For installation details, see my post #1: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...lation-130801/
I keep both of them plugged in whenever they are parked at home. I haven't had any electrical gremlins in either one and credit that to always locking the doors and keeping them on their battery maintainers.
Stuart
#13
I'm baaaacck!
Finished the charger install to day. In two words, works great!
Was able to sneak the power side beneath the trunk side floor (under the vent) into the trunk. Here, it connects to the CTEK attached (via command adhesive) to the side above the tow hook. The power ca is snaked along the taillight panel beneath the trunk trim to the right side. I did this to, purposely, keep the entire length, in case I needed to add a plug to the ca. Anyway, conveniently located just in front of the inflator pack in the floor, is a weep grommet. I used this to exit the floor and into the charging plug directly below.
Now, I know many of me mates cannot stomach drilling a 2" hole through the valance panel, but, I weighed that against locating the plug in other locations that were more difficult to reach. However, I think the installation is such that it looks neat, clean, and looks like a dealer installed accessory.
Finished the charger install to day. In two words, works great!
Was able to sneak the power side beneath the trunk side floor (under the vent) into the trunk. Here, it connects to the CTEK attached (via command adhesive) to the side above the tow hook. The power ca is snaked along the taillight panel beneath the trunk trim to the right side. I did this to, purposely, keep the entire length, in case I needed to add a plug to the ca. Anyway, conveniently located just in front of the inflator pack in the floor, is a weep grommet. I used this to exit the floor and into the charging plug directly below.
Now, I know many of me mates cannot stomach drilling a 2" hole through the valance panel, but, I weighed that against locating the plug in other locations that were more difficult to reach. However, I think the installation is such that it looks neat, clean, and looks like a dealer installed accessory.
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kj07xk (08-14-2015)
#14
I'm baaaacck!
Finished the charger install to day. In two words, works great!
Was able to sneak the power side beneath the trunk side floor (under the vent) into the trunk. Here, it connects to the CTEK attached (via command adhesive) to the side above the tow hook. The power ca is snaked along the taillight panel beneath the trunk trim to the right side. I did this to, purposely, keep the entire length, in case I needed to add a plug to the ca. Anyway, conveniently located just in front of the inflator pack in the floor, is a weep grommet. I used this to exit the floor and into the charging plug directly below.
Now, I know many of me mates cannot stomach drilling a 2" hole through the valance panel, but, I weighed that against locating the plug in other locations that were more difficult to reach. However, I think the installation is such that it looks neat, clean, and looks like a dealer installed accessory.
Finished the charger install to day. In two words, works great!
Was able to sneak the power side beneath the trunk side floor (under the vent) into the trunk. Here, it connects to the CTEK attached (via command adhesive) to the side above the tow hook. The power ca is snaked along the taillight panel beneath the trunk trim to the right side. I did this to, purposely, keep the entire length, in case I needed to add a plug to the ca. Anyway, conveniently located just in front of the inflator pack in the floor, is a weep grommet. I used this to exit the floor and into the charging plug directly below.
Now, I know many of me mates cannot stomach drilling a 2" hole through the valance panel, but, I weighed that against locating the plug in other locations that were more difficult to reach. However, I think the installation is such that it looks neat, clean, and looks like a dealer installed accessory.
#15
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Naperville, Illinois USA
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I'm baaaacck!
Finished the charger install to day. In two words, works great!
Was able to sneak the power side beneath the trunk side floor (under the vent) into the trunk. Here, it connects to the CTEK attached (via command adhesive) to the side above the tow hook. The power ca is snaked along the taillight panel beneath the trunk trim to the right side. I did this to, purposely, keep the entire length, in case I needed to add a plug to the ca. Anyway, conveniently located just in front of the inflator pack in the floor, is a weep grommet. I used this to exit the floor and into the charging plug directly below.
Now, I know many of me mates cannot stomach drilling a 2" hole through the valance panel, but, I weighed that against locating the plug in other locations that were more difficult to reach. However, I think the installation is such that it looks neat, clean, and looks like a dealer installed accessory.
Finished the charger install to day. In two words, works great!
Was able to sneak the power side beneath the trunk side floor (under the vent) into the trunk. Here, it connects to the CTEK attached (via command adhesive) to the side above the tow hook. The power ca is snaked along the taillight panel beneath the trunk trim to the right side. I did this to, purposely, keep the entire length, in case I needed to add a plug to the ca. Anyway, conveniently located just in front of the inflator pack in the floor, is a weep grommet. I used this to exit the floor and into the charging plug directly below.
Now, I know many of me mates cannot stomach drilling a 2" hole through the valance panel, but, I weighed that against locating the plug in other locations that were more difficult to reach. However, I think the installation is such that it looks neat, clean, and looks like a dealer installed accessory.
I'm not sure I'd want to run 120V into the back of my car, so I kind of like jagtoes solution a little better.
But yours does have 2 advantages:
1) you can 'plug in' anywhere, as you've always got your maintainer with you, and
2) if some prankster opens up the socket cover, they can't drain or short out your battery (at least I don't think you'll get reverse flow through your maintainer), unlike the jagtoes solution, where the contacts are 'live' connections to your battery.
#16
I see no difference of running 120V into the trunk this way or with an extension into the trunk for the plug-in. In fact, This might be safer, as overtime isn't there half a chance of the extension being cut in some way by the closing of the trunk lid? In reality, I don't think this possible no more than this direct connect going bad, as the receptacle, if shorted, is in the non-conductive plastic trim diffuser panel.
If any inconvenience be perceived, I need to pull the trunk well liner out to insure the CTEK is still operational? the plug when capped is, pretty much, hidden, as well.
If any inconvenience be perceived, I need to pull the trunk well liner out to insure the CTEK is still operational? the plug when capped is, pretty much, hidden, as well.
#17
I'm baaaacck!
Finished the charger install to day. In two words, works great!
Was able to sneak the power side beneath the trunk side floor (under the vent) into the trunk. Here, it connects to the CTEK attached (via command adhesive) to the side above the tow hook. The power ca is snaked along the taillight panel beneath the trunk trim to the right side. I did this to, purposely, keep the entire length, in case I needed to add a plug to the ca. Anyway, conveniently located just in front of the inflator pack in the floor, is a weep grommet. I used this to exit the floor and into the charging plug directly below.
Now, I know many of me mates cannot stomach drilling a 2" hole through the valance panel, but, I weighed that against locating the plug in other locations that were more difficult to reach. However, I think the installation is such that it looks neat, clean, and looks like a dealer installed accessory.
Finished the charger install to day. In two words, works great!
Was able to sneak the power side beneath the trunk side floor (under the vent) into the trunk. Here, it connects to the CTEK attached (via command adhesive) to the side above the tow hook. The power ca is snaked along the taillight panel beneath the trunk trim to the right side. I did this to, purposely, keep the entire length, in case I needed to add a plug to the ca. Anyway, conveniently located just in front of the inflator pack in the floor, is a weep grommet. I used this to exit the floor and into the charging plug directly below.
Now, I know many of me mates cannot stomach drilling a 2" hole through the valance panel, but, I weighed that against locating the plug in other locations that were more difficult to reach. However, I think the installation is such that it looks neat, clean, and looks like a dealer installed accessory.
#18
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