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MG MGF Technical - Battery charging

Is it possible to charge the battery using the cigarette lighter socket?
Blue Pocket Rocket

Only if the lighter socket is permanently life. My early 96 F was switched with the ignition. My TF is permanently live. Don't know about yours - does the lighter work when the ignition is off?

An alternative is to wire a charging socket directly to the battery (with suitable fuses) and route the wires to wherever you want. BTW no problem charging in that way, my bike has a socket for the charger as standard. Also, have seen solar powered chargers that connect via lighter socket.
JohnP

MGF upto and including 2000MY have the Lighter powered thru an ignition fed solenoid.
I use a Coulombi XS3600 (for upto 120Ah battery) Switch Mode Charger (from B&G) which comes with a connection for clips or a fly lead. The fly lead is plumbed into the under-bonnet fuse box. It stays connected whilst the car is laid up for winter.
Avoid the motorcycle chargers designed for their lower capacity batteries.
Geoff F.
G. Farthing

Geoff is of course correct (partially). I answered Bob's question about the use of the socket and made no recommendation about type of charger. However, the OptiMate, and particularly the AccuMate, conditioners are perfectly acceptable for the battery fitted in the MGF.
JohnP

The OptiMate is useable but is specified for batteries upto 28Ah. (Motor Cycles,Jetskis etc.)Not recommended. The AccuMate is good to 75Ah viz.MGFs etc.
I chose the Coulombi for the extra margin due to battery "Useage" when parked up.
Geoff F.
G. Farthing

Thanks guys. The cigarette lighter socket does not work if the ignition is off so I will have to connect the charger directly to the battery.
Blue Pocket Rocket

This thread was discussed between 31/10/2004 and 02/11/2004

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