Member Since: 03 Nov 2022
Location: Oxford
Posts: 4
Battery Trickle Charge
After some advice please, new to the brand and the idiosyncrasies of this model (66 plate). All ready the 'low battery' warning is being displayed, but I'm sure that is down to the lack of real use at the moment. The manual suggests charging the battery is quite a complicated procedure involving its removal and not upsetting the battery management. My question is, can I just clip a trickle charger to the two terminals and leave it or will that cause problems?
Many thanks
24th Nov 2022 10:23 am
Froogle-Yorkshireman
Member Since: 28 Oct 2010
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 302
The simplest way is to charge with an adapter plugged into the towing electrics. That way you don't disturb the main battery or upset any of the software management.
Then from time to time give the smaller start-stop battery a top up in situ.
24th Nov 2022 11:03 am
Crawford
Member Since: 03 Nov 2022
Location: Oxford
Posts: 4
Thank you for such a swift reply. The adapter, is that something commercially available?
I'm not permitted to send you a pm as yet.
Cheers
24th Nov 2022 11:18 am
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14409
They also do a good range of accessories and cables.D4 HSE EU6 (Known as Jeeves)
New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!) Sold
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
The Cetek is an excellent charger & the price is good at the moment.
You don't have to charge via the towing socket. I use a CTE-56261 Ctek Direct Connector Adaptor (8mm) under the bonnet, and when I need to charge I attach to the charger via a CTEK 56-304 Connect 2.5M Extension lead.
NJSS
24th Nov 2022 2:05 pm
Disco4Chris
Member Since: 11 Oct 2022
Location: Reading
Posts: 36
I have a CTEK charger and it's very goodCheers
Chris
1999 D2 TD5 Manual
2015 Discovery 4 SDV6 HSE Luxury
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15264
I had an issue with my C-tek mX7 charger and my MY14 D4.
Was on trickle charge through Covid, long story short .... it ended up discharging and ruining my newish Yuassa battery.
D4 was checked and all fine, C-tek working and now trickle charging my summer runabout.
I put it down to the C-tek and D4 not talking to each other correctly....... always on the road less travelled 🚧
24th Nov 2022 4:22 pm
riverblanche
Member Since: 31 Aug 2010
Location: retford'ish
Posts: 2227
Hi,
Think lidl have some of their smart chargers in at the mo?
£15 ish have an AGM mode as well
Istr connect to poss on battery and earth point on chassis not direct to battery
Member Since: 04 Jul 2008
Location: In A World of My Own!
Posts: 2890
I’d avoid the cheap supermarket chargers I recently had one cause one of my spare D3 batteries to burst by overcharging
Must stop buying shiny toys....
24th Nov 2022 10:29 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14409
Buy cheap, buy twice.D4 HSE EU6 (Known as Jeeves)
New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!) Sold
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
24th Nov 2022 10:36 pm
Crawford
Member Since: 03 Nov 2022
Location: Oxford
Posts: 4
Thank you all for the sound advice, charging via the trailer electrical socket is the most convenient option for me so, having a chat with the Mobilecentre.
25th Nov 2022 10:10 am
darrind
Member Since: 04 Jul 2008
Location: In A World of My Own!
Posts: 2890
Moo wrote:
Buy cheap, buy twice.
Absolutely agree - I have 2 x Ctec MX10 chargers but had to buy a cheap one as Some idiot left the fridge running in the D3 at a holiday cottage (that idiot is me) so i bought one of the Aldi/Lidl specials (Ultimate Speed) a year or so later I used it over a weekend to charge up a bettery I had been using to run a 12V Winch and this was the result
Give them their dues they did replace it and would have replaced the battery but I couldnt find the receipt fo it so just had a free replacement of the charger.Must stop buying shiny toys....
25th Nov 2022 3:29 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15264
Froogle-Yorkshireman wrote:
The simplest way is to charge with an adapter plugged into the towing electrics.
Is that really the easiest way?
Surely you've got to get down on your knees and remove the tow hitch cover using a wide flat blade, then stow it away .... which can be a bit of a pain.
You can always leave the cover off, but on the Disco it does look a bit of a mess.
Or does it work in another way ?
Conversely, I use the C-tek battery connetor plug.
I simply open the bonnet, plug the C-tek into the connector, route the cable out of the bonnet then close it.
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/battery-...hgreferral...... always on the road less travelled 🚧
25th Nov 2022 3:48 pm
Pedros
Member Since: 25 Jun 2011
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 454
Firstly, look at the rolling adverts at the top of the page, there's a link to battery chargers and towing electrics. Any trickle charger will do the trick. I have a motorbike that I use one on, an Optimate and if the Disco needs a charge, then I just put the towing electric plug onto it, plug it into the tow electric car socket which is parked adjacent to the garage door. The charger is in the garage and there's only a lead from the garage to the back of the car. Simples, no need to have the bonnet up, you just need to remember that it's plugged in at the back before you jump in and drive off.
25th Nov 2022 4:00 pm
Gary_P
Member Since: 03 May 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 1668
I haven't got a tow connector. It takes me 5 minutes to remove the battery compartment cover and connect the charge connectors from my CTEK .
Just remember to connect the Neutral to a good earth point in the engine compartment (there are a couple of bolts very near the battery compartment that can be used. This method is perfectly fine without the need to remove the battery from the car.
If you buy a CTEK (I have an MSX 7 which is quite powerful and comes with a lead to enable you to permanently connect to your two terminal points (live and body earth) and have the connector sticking out the battery box so you can simply plug into it. Some people have even secured it poking out of the bonnet or grill so there is no need to open the bonnet. (I just haven't got around to doing this yet). That way you get similar benefits to the tow connector.
Good luckGary
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