Looking for some feedback on this charger please? Anyone that has one - do you recommend it? It just plugs into the cigarette lighter or in my case the power outlet in the glove box and trickle charges the car - correct?

I'll be out of the country for a month soon so my car will be sitting in my cold Wisconsin garage and I don't want to return to a flat battery.

 

its a good idea. works just as described on my 997 3RS.... on my car, i can store it for a max of about 4 weeks before the battery goes flat. so if youre storing for bout a month, a battery maintainer is a good idea.

if you dont want to spend extra $$$ for the "porsche" model, just look up the ctek charger... it looks something like this but is a lot cheaper than the "porsche" one, which is basically a re-branded ctek charger.

http://www.amazon.com/Multi-12-Volt-.../dp/B000FQBWCY

 

I've got one and it works great. Yup plug it into the lighter socket and you're ready to go.

I've left my previous P cars on it for a few months at a time with no issues. Def worth getting.

 

You sure would want to get one. I use Battery Tender and it works great. You will have to order the cigarette adapter separately though, otherwise battery hookup.

 

MyPorsche (CTEC) works just fine using the plug port on the passenger side of the console under the glove box.

 

The Tecmate above works really well

 

I use a battery tender and hook it up at the battery under the hood. I like it better because I don't have to leave a window cracked. Just personal preference. Same result.

 

In your case, don't you have to leave the hood up or open a crack? Or do you close the hood on the wire?

 

There are many times I don't get to drive for a week at a time and I used to have worry about battery charge with my 997.1 but it turned out the alternator voltage was set on the low side. When I got the 997.2 it charged at a higher voltage and I never had any problem. The 991 also charges at a higher voltage and to date I haven't had to use a trickle charger.

ChuckJ

 

If you haven't had any problems with that, then I guess there are no issues. But I think that circuit has a lower amp rating fuse in it than the cigarette lighter, so you could blow the fuse using the circuit you describe, IF the battery tender puts out too many amps. I think Porsche recommends the cigarette lighter be used. I know they do if you are using the portable air pump to fill up a leaking tire. If you use the one under the glove box for that, you will blow the fuse.

Again, if you haven't had any problems, then I guess you are OK.

 

I have let my previous 2 997.1, and my current 997.2 GTS sit for as long as two weeks with no problems, although I have been worried about it. But in every case, the car fired right up, no hesitation or slow starting at all.

 

I don't have a cig lighter outlet and have used the charger I bought at the dealership (a Porsche branded CTEC) with no problems.

There is a power outlet in the between-the seats compartment- will check the owners manual to see what it says. Thanks or the tip.

 

+1 for the cteck linked above on amazon. Same as porsche one without porsche written on it. Make sure you get the extra cigarette plug adapter for another 10 bucks as the default 53.00 one doesn't come with that.

Used it all winter and it's done perfect. Car starts perfectly everytime.

 

I don't have the smoking pkg so I don't have a cigarette lighter outlet. Is it best to use the power outlet in the glove box or in the center console (between seats)? Any difference between the two?

 

Not sure. It might not matter. I just mentioned it above because on a 997, Porsche says to use the cigarette lighter outlet for the portable air pump. I know some people have used other outlets for that and blown a fuse. The battery tender may not produce enough amps to be concerned. Check your owners manual to see if it says anything about it. You could also read the specs on the battery tender and check on the amps it produces when charging and compare that to the fuse in the circuit you are using to charge.

Probably an even more important consideration is to make sure that whatever outlet you are using to charge the car with is "hot" when the ignition is off. I am pretty sure that if you don't use a "hot" circuit to charge with, you won't be charging the battery. I think that is why Porsche recommends using the cigarette lighter to charge because it is "hot" with ignition off. That is on a 997, not sure about 991.

One poster above stated that he had been using the outlet under the glove box for charging and had no issue, so it might not be a problem. I just haven't checked out the details because I don't have the battery tender.