Hi all,
as cold weather came to Poland, my XK8 convertible is going for a 5 months sleep. What would you recommend - should I take the battery out, or leave it in the trunk and just charge every 2-3 weeks?
Thank you 😉

 

Leave it in and use a CTEK conditioner/maintainer.

 

I keep mine in the boot of my 1999 XK8 coupe and have it on a C-Tek battery maintainer ( https://smartercharger.com/ ) throughout the winter months. I found out about the C-Tek on this forum after several other battery chargers failed. So far I am happy with the C-Tek and also got a second one for my 1989 Honda NightHawk 450 motorcycle. Both vehicles have AGM batteries.
I'm not sure C-Tek maintainer are available in Poland.

 

I am using a Maypole 7423 battery maintainer, it is a fair bit cheaper does same job.

 

+1


Fortunately, I do not have to store my car for the winter. However, my wife and I do travel quite a bit, so I use a CTEK when away for a few weeks at a time.


Stu

 

Grab a ProMariner charger. Made for boats, but I've used them for semi trucks and cars too. Excellent quality. And the circuitry and computer in them checks your battery out. Decides whether it needs a full charge, a maintaining trickle, or even a full maintenance routine which will make your battery brand new again. I highly recommend them.

 

CTEK's are available for the European household voltage, so you can always mail order one to Poland. Check to be sure that the one you order conditions the battery. These are great units.

 

I put my car away last week and put the Ctek loader/conditioner on via the leads under in the motor compartment. It will stay like that until spring.

 

it would be very much appreciated if you would check something for me. i noticed that when i connected the Ctek maintainer to the motor compartment leads as opposed to the battery directly it could not complete its maintenance cycle and simply continued to trickle charge indefinitely. to eliminate any confounding variables every connection between the motor compartment leads and the battery were checked as this could have been indicative of resistance. directly to the battery everything is good and the battery is only two years old, never been discharged.

the Ctek lead easily extends through the boot lid gasket and they make connectors that you can permanently attach to the battery and extend into the boot for ease of attachment.

 

Sorry it took a while for my reply.
Your describtion just indicates the good condition of your battery.
Whenever I wait 3 weeks or so to put on the charger after I put the car away, it will take more time to cycle, but when I put it on immediatly after use than I see it jump immediatly to trickle charge.
If you use the leads under the motor compartment, there is a fuse that offers some protection.

 

thank you. perhaps i was not clear. when i directly connect to the battery, the charger does progress to the trickle-charge mode where the final green indicator illuminates and at this point it cycles according to its design. when using the connections in the engine compartment, it never progresses to this stage and remains at charging level. I believe that this is the first three or four yellow lights illuminated. this is a full charging mode to bring the battery to full voltage. regardless of how long i leave the charger, days, a week, this never changes. connecting to the battery directly, everything is normal. same with another identical unit. it is an interesting effect. curious if anyone has experienced the same.