Battery Charging

[NWHighlander]

I want to lay the car up for extended periods through the coming winter. In the past I have hooked an RSQ3 and a Polo GTi up to an OPTIMATE 5 and left them for a week or so without any issues.

On the R under the bonnet on the bulkhead I recognise the -ve tang and next to it a back plastic 'banana shaped' cover which l am fairly sure  hides the +ve access point. I've read the handbook, and it's not helpful except to say take it to a VW garage.

Two questions :-

Is this the access point for the +ve, if so how are the two small plastic clips securing the cover released without damaging them ?

I propose to use the Optimate 5 again, does anyone know of any issues that an Optimate 5 might cause, if so what is the recommended safest charger ?

 

There are so much more electronics on this car and given the  GREMLINS post seems to be the most subscribed to I don't want a problem, (which VW will disown). 

Thanks

Mike

[NRW]

CTEK MX5.0 works a treat for me.  About £70.

[AHG]

Why do you need to charge a car if it’s not used for a week or two ?
I think it may be needed if you park a car for over several months, not weeks.

I had many cars, and always (pre-COVID) took summer vacations of 2-3 weeks, and just parked by far with no charger, and came back to it after the vacation, and it would be just fine (new and old cars, most even has a ghost-like device that consumes energy while the car is parked. It all made no diff.)

[NWHighlander]

Hi AHG,

Well to answer your question, the car will be off the road until the weather improves in the Spring, not just a couple of weeks. Winter has arrived already here with night time temps of -2 deg C and snow down to sea level, batteries loose their charge faster in such conditions.

I am still seeking an answer to the Opitmate 5 v any other, and importantly how to access the +ve terminal. Any ideas ?

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

[NRW]

I’ve used the Bulkhead for the Negative connection and for the Positive have used the Terminal atop the battery, without issue. No issues encountered.
The CTEK would maintain a full level of charge for the battery if it was left connected for a long period, as you require - assuming a garage environment.   Sorry cannot comment on  the Optimate charger capabilities. 

[NWHighlander]

Hi NRW,

 

That's helpful, thank you.

 

Mike

[slider09]

You need to use the -ve earthing point on the bulkhead when charging the battery whilst in the car. If the battery is out of the car you use both -ve and +ve terminals on the battery.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NWHighlander]

Hi Slider,

 

Good info, that's the sort of thing I am trying to discover, many tks.

 

Mike

[JonnyG]

I would check the charge output on the charger screen periodically (daily to start with) if you can.   Finding the best location for the negative charging lead was critical on my dad's car.  Somewhere on the bulkhead as Slider says,  away from from the battery may well be best.   The AA had to come out to my dad's and they advised where to attach the the negative charging cable.      

[BATVAN]

Had my Ctek for at least 5 years now & it's always been reliable like clock work.

 

https://www.smarterchargers.co.uk/products/ctek-mxs-5-0-battery-charger

 

Just make sure you don't put the battery charger inside the engine bay, leave the charger outside of the car as the charger can get hot & always use the bulkhead for the negative lead.

 

[NWHighlander]

Thanks for the tip Batvan.

A few days ago I had an indepth conversation with OPTIMATE techies. The charger I have, Optimate 5 is the right one for both the Golf 8 R and the soon to be delivered RSQ3. Optimate has served me well in the past for mycars,  KTMs and AT so I am happy to stay with them.

 

Mike

[beetle1]

Hi folks, apologies if this has already been answered, just about to charge my Mk8 R with Ctek MXS 5.0 and there’s a AGM mode on it.  Any ideas if the battery is AGM?

My battery is a 5QS 915 089 C

Thanks

[dv52]

@beetle1. Hi.

 

Your battery is almost true AGM, however it's actually EFB - see picture below (I'm not sure what the "+" means in "EFB+").

 

Maybe eyeball the actual battery in this car to confirm - it should have the term EFB printed on the label.

 

EFB and AGM batteries are both installed in cars with Start-Stop. They are both deep-cycle batteries and both use use an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM). However, they have different technologies and advantages.

 

Google "EFB vs AGM" to read how the two battery types differ

 

Don

 

[NRW]

@beetle1- Lots on here recommend replacing original battery with a Bosch AGM (from Tanya) when the time comes.   I’m still on original fit battery on my 19 7.5R.  It’s only had light use and is charged when not being used for extended periods with a CTEK MX05.   I don’t often remember to hit anything else but start on it. Battery is fine. Better than going totally flat and needing jump or booster help.  
the. CTEK charger will look after you. 

[beetle1]

Thanks for the info guys, really helpful