same here...works great, I just leave the passenger side window open just enough for the cord...

 

It is simply a question of wiring and connectors. The cigarette lighter's wiring was designed for a moderate load in short bursts. The wiring for a battery charger is designed to carry a designated load over a longer period of time.

A small charger trickle charging a good battery will likely not overtax the cig lighter wiring. A slightly larger charger and a battery on its last legs can easily create a situation where more current is flowing than any OEM cig lighter wiring can handle. When connectors heat up, they tend to oxidize at the connection surface which then creates a greater resistance causing even more heat, etc.

Add to that the fact that if you do any damage to the original wiring harness, it becomes very expensive to repair very quickly.

I have always disliked cig lighter chargers. A dedicated charging connector is a much better way to go IMO and it's not like you are discussing a $1000 mod (or even $100). And the connector harness from Ctek is fused for the load it was designed for. But then I also worked in an auto electrics garage for a number of years and have repaired way too many damaged harnesses. You have a page and a half of advocates in this thread. You pays your money, you takes your chances.

 

All good points Steve. How / where would you run the wires into the battery compartment?

Thanks.

 

I'd try to make everything as OEM as possible and run the wires up the battery cables with zip ties. And I'd cut a hole in one of the corner panels next to the battery. You'd have to check where the plug would fit with the trunk lid "leaned" closed. This is actually the biggest issue: older cars had a push button switch for the trunk light that you could easily incapacitate. The 996 and 7 have the trunk light switch integrated into the hood lock. You either install a switch in the wiring to the lock to simulate hood (trunk lid) closed or buy a trunk lid latch plate from your friendly neighborhood dealer. When the car is charging, you push the latch plate into the lock and rest the trunk lid on it. Porsche recommends service technicians using a latch plate to check trunk and engine compartment lock operation anyway. :-p

I would install a switch in the wiring to the lock and locate it next to the ctek panel. As OEM as possible :-))

 

Ended up swapping out the battery and now all is well with charging through the cig lighter. Lit up green within a couple of hours.

 

I feel that the cigar lighter solution IMO is more of an pain and does not provided indication of state of charge.

I purchased an CTEK Comfort indicator (56-384) that has an 5 foot / 1 Meter long cable

http://www.ctek.com/gb/en/chargers/C...cator%20Clamps

I hard wired it onto the car by removing the battery clamps and replaced them with 6mm eyelet connectors.

When I get home, I open the hood and pull out the wire and close the trunk with the LED indicator end exposed. If the LED light indicates yellow, I plug in the charger.

It also makes moving the car easier, unplug the charger @ the LED socket connector, move the car, and plug it in again. You don't have to deal with the cigar charger and wiring it thru the window, etc.