Member Since: 08 Feb 2010
Location: Skoatland
Posts: 912
Charging battery without disconnecting the leads....
Will it really cause any problems in the D3? (Normal charger on "low" setting..... not a smart CTEK unit or equivalent, and definately not a quick charger).
I've always topped up batteries without disconnecting, but I know the Disco can be funny with electrics. Wifey has used it for lots of short journeys recently and had a "no special programmes available" fault last night...... so it's probably due a little top-up.
22nd Dec 2010 7:07 pm
jonny teflon
Member Since: 02 Dec 2009
Location: staffordshire
Posts: 140
never had a problem myself just wait for the car to go to sleep (satnav screen off) before connecting charger
A number of members have posted of charging batteries via the towing electric socket without mentioning disconnecting the battery prior.Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
Member Since: 20 Dec 2008
Location: Saddleworth Oldham
Posts: 1954
DrLex wrote:
A number of members have posted of charging batteries via the towing electric socket without mentioning disconnecting the battery prior.
Its the easiest way to do it, especially in this cold weather when it may just need a top up, plug mine in every night since the artic weather took, hold no probs so far MY18 D5 HSE LUX😎
MY12 Freelander SD4 HSE
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Club skip ya lockers !!!
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22nd Dec 2010 8:14 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
I do the same with my 12S and CTEK but I guess the question is should you do this with a non-smart charger.
I didn't risk it and retired my old charger for the CTEK 7000 but I have no evidence that a normal charger wouldn't be ok. Kinda went with the charger is cheap, car expensive logic. The wires from the 12S socket are not exactly heavy gauge so the smart charger seemed a little safer. Any autosparky care to comment?
22nd Dec 2010 8:23 pm
NickJ
Member Since: 11 Oct 2010
Location: there's no f in point
Posts: 2137
I have the Halfords 'fully automatic battery charger' and would be eager to know if this is okay to connect up the 12S socket (I've changed my N and S sockets to one 13-pin Euro one).
22nd Dec 2010 8:30 pm
SHARKYSHARKS
Member Since: 20 Dec 2008
Location: Saddleworth Oldham
Posts: 1954
I made a lead from a 12 s socket and just used pins 3 and 4 and the other end ive fitted two battery clamps attached to a spare battery which i trickle charge using an old charger in the garage, as i dont have a ctek 7000 .... YET its on my Santa list MY18 D5 HSE LUX😎
MY12 Freelander SD4 HSE
44 Tonne 12 Litre 6x2 Scania T cab (Current)
Freelander 1 (Wrote off 😫)
Ex D1
Ex D2 GS
Ex V8 D2 GS
Ex D3 S
Ex D4 GS
Club skip ya lockers !!!
Club BAS remote heater !!
Club Duratrac
Club Phillips DRL
Club Prospeed Rack Mk 1
Club Prospeed Rack Mk 2
Club Sankey
Club RLD spare wheel protector
22nd Dec 2010 8:30 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
A fine Santa list indeed as it was he who delivered my first CTEK 3600 which cuddled my bike for a couple of years. I added the 7000 to my collection about 18 months or so ago and I am very pleased with it. Santa should think about delivering one to all D3 & D4 owners, providing they made the 'nice' list of course.
22nd Dec 2010 9:01 pm
Trackman
Member Since: 16 Apr 2010
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 430
The wiring to the 12s socket is 2.5 sq mm (20amps) from the circuit diagram I have.
This line is fused at 15A.
I use a 10amp constant current/voltage charger to keep the battery up without any problems.
HTH.
Ian
22nd Dec 2010 9:51 pm
dick dastardly
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: wiggleigh bottom
Posts: 1112
i charge through the eu tow socket, fused to 50 amps i think. my old charger limits to 10A anyway so little danger of blowing a fuse even if car is awake (draws 30 A !). if car asleep, charger voltage will not exceed 15V so not much different to running the engine, dont think any electronics will get spooked, especially if car asleep. been doing this for 2 years, no probs.There's one wheel on my wagon, but i'm still rollin' along, it's the cherokee, they're after me, but I'm singing a happy song
22nd Dec 2010 10:05 pm
PaulP
Member Since: 04 May 2007
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 4317
I've charged my battery a few times without disconnecting it and upon later reading the fault codes, I've had over-voltage DTCs stored (can't remember which module it was).
No problems were caused by this though
I would personally disconnect the battery if possible, but wouldn't get too stressed about it if not possible - especially if using a smaller charger like the XS3600
If you're using a smaller charger (such as the CTek 3600 or maybe even the 7000) then I wouldn't worry about it. My CTek XS25000 caused a few "ignorable" fault codes when I charged it connected to the D3.
I'm still seriously considering buying a XS3600 and wiring it up to a tow-electrics connector 2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE AutoBuckingham Blue 2007 Golf GT DSG
22nd Dec 2010 11:28 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Not trying to turn this into a CTEK review but I would recommend stretching to the CTEK 7000 over the 3600 for the D3/4 if pennies allow. My 3600 does the job but in very cold weather vs my very tired battery it does seem to run out of puff and takes a rather long time. The 'full' lights appear so much quicker on the 7000 (as it should be as the Disco battery is slightly out of spec for the 3600).
Compared to traditional chargers both appear to achieve miracles; they are a Disco 'must have' accessory & make a great Christmas present (although I wouldn't buy one for the Wife)!
23rd Dec 2010 8:31 am
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
Trackman wrote:
The wiring to the 12s socket is 2.5 sq mm (20amps) from the circuit diagram I have.
This line is fused at 15A.
Thank's Ian, that is reassuring.
23rd Dec 2010 8:34 am
drivesafe
Member Since: 23 Feb 2006
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Posts: 867
Hi mik, you will have no problems connecting directly to the battery ( or via the trailer plug ) even if your charger is running at a bit of a high voltage, initially, the battery itself will control this and keep the voltage under the limits.
It’s only when the battery is getting close to fully charged that the voltage can run away, so if your not sure about your battery charge, connect it up and just keep checking the charge voltage.
BTW, if you use the rear trailer plug ( the 12S ) because the cable ( wire ) is so thin, if your do get a run away charge voltage, the load the battery will apply to the cable will actually cause a decent voltage drop that will protect the battery from over charging, as long as the battery charge is not a huge current type.
For anyone thinking of setting up to top up their cranking battery, if you are not in a hurry, use a small current charger, while these will take longer for a low battery to be fully charged, they are still much friendlier on the battery than a high current charger is.2008 TDV8 RR Lux + 2009 D4 2.7
23rd Dec 2010 9:58 am
mik
Member Since: 08 Feb 2010
Location: Skoatland
Posts: 912
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(Normal charger on "low" setting..... not a smart CTEK unit or equivalent, and definately not a quick charger).
