Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Plus Four, Supersport & Plus Six (CX & CXV Generation Vehicles) Battery Conditioner

Hi All,

Many apologies if its already been documented on here, I've tried searching but found no answers to what I'm after!

Basically im after a batter conditioner that I can wire into my battery (eyelet) and have a handy plug in the cockpit to save the hassle of unstrapping the bonnet strap and lifting the hood when I want to condition and maintain the charge in my battery. I see some Ferrari's and Astons have a magnetic accessory for such but not sure if something like this can be retrofitted to my Plus Four.

I've had great experience with Noco jump starters in the past and notice they also do an all in one charger & conditioner (genius range)... they also sell the eyelet leads and extension lead that would save the crocodile clips and hood lifting etc. just what I'm after... I have also seen a pew pics of people who have had this done by Williams as an installation to their Morgans but in the back, given my location, and feeling quite confidant, it's something id like to do myself.

Therefore, has anyone got any recommendations on the model of Noco Genius/CTek to use, location of charging port and any other advise really... I have a 2021 CX Plus Four.


Many thanks

Hi, I have the C-Tek MXS 5.0 hooked up to my Six for prolonged periods in the garage.
I have it fitted with the eyelet connectors and simply plug in the connector.
But I do have mine under the bonnet, so not as neat as your solution.

The charger itself is great.
Conditions the battery so can be left connected.
Has reverse polarity protection as that’s an expensive mistake.
Have had a couple on other cars for years and I’ve never had a problem with them.

Ollie.

This Maypole 4 amp smart battery charger comes with the permanent battery lead you mention (bottom left). Probably better spec than the equivalent Ctek but half the price. Click image for source.



More use than a feeble conditioner since it can fully charge a flat battery but being a smart device can be left permanently connected if this is felt necessary.

I've got a couple of the Maypole 4A and really impressed with them. Got one on the Mog and the ZX10 as I type. Much better than Optimates that I've previously used.

However, no use for a flat or very low battery. If the Battery voltage drops below 6V, it's 'Smart' thing assumes it's a 6V battery and will not charge it up to 12V.Throws a bit of a wobbler.

If a 12 volt battery is allowed to get that low it's probably toast anyway.

My MG says different. The wiring has been bodged at some point, meaning both heater and heated rear screen can operate without the igntion on. Have completely drained the battery at least three times, but now have a routine everytime I stop to make sure everything is switched off. (Will address the wiring next holiday)

Agree with Richard I also have these chargers on my 4 Morgans in the garage, it improves the life of your batteries too.

10.2 volts open circuit voltage remaining in a lead acid battery is generally agreed as completely discharged. Having said that the chemical storage the battery provides allows for a relative few further electrons to be released so the voltage continues to decline even without load rather than just becoming inert with zero voltage. During this transition and for some time before 10.2 volts is reached in the case of thin plate starter batteries, irreversible crystallisation of the sulphate (sulphation) on the battery plates reduces capacity. Its only a rule of thumb but any starter battery taken below 50% state of charge based on existing capacity, will eat into the batteries remaining life due to sulphation. Deep discharge batteries with much thicker plates fare better in this scenario. Please read this article.

Battery degradation is insiduous particularly on an easy starting car that drains only a minimum from the battery. Everything will appear normal despite battery capacity diminishing due to normal ageing (or abuse) over the years and no matter how well it's looked after. Come a sudden cold spell though the starter current draw will be enough to tip it over the edge, hence why so many are caught out. If in doubt replace this consumable once seven plus years is reached.

An indication of batteries remaining capacity can be determined by the time it takes to re-charge a near flat, say 11.5 volts, battery. Using the 4 amp charger I linked to above if it takes say just three hours you have probably put in less than 10 amp hours. A new or still serviceable battery will demand at least an overnight charge.

MIne must be an anomanly - no idea how old the battery is as it came with the car, but it's got me through the winter OK (and kept outside, uncovered). Will replace if I start to get trouble starting, but now the weather is picking up I may be OK until November. With the lenghtening days, I'm now managing to get to work and back without having to resort as much to heater/rear screen/lights/wipers, so less daily drain on the battery.

Thanks for posting the link Richard and all else..

In the Morgan world it does seem that battery charging systems are perhaps much as they have been for quite some time and thus charging and jump starting processes likewise are pretty well standard.

However I suspect quite a few of us or family members may have more modern vehicles which may suffer a flat battery situation, whereby using Morganesque procedures to charge or jump start the car could perhaps cause damage to the vehicles charging system, thus perhaps best to check the vehicles handbook, where you may find that the manufacturer has provided an entirely separate earthing point remote from the battery negative terminal to be used for the connection of the the charger or jump starter cables negative lead.

On some modern machines the battery requires to be coded in thus re-setting the charge control ECU to adapt it`s output from that of an old battery to better match the requirements of the new replacement. It would seem some of the gubbins relative to the monitoring process, is directly connected to the negative battery terminal, thus supplying an additional and external voltage to the neg terminal may confuse the on-board systems..?

Apparently on some modern vehicles a replacement battery if not of the correct specification, can not be coded into the vehicles systems to ensure full operation of all on board systems....!

It seems things may have moved on a tad from the needs of my wonderful old carb fed Morgan`s needs and wants... (-:

Having spent a proportion of my yoof trying to squeeze the very last volt out of a battery fitted to a variety of cars and m/cycles, things were so much simpler back when there was a starting handle available, and if not a push to get things going, or in the case of a m/cycle a run alongside and jump on would do the trick, better still if the sparks were magneto generated..... I suspect the term jump start, may well have been derived from the starting acrobatics of m/cyclists...?

These days and with modern vehicles it seems the life expectancy of some Advanced Glass Matt batteries may be circa ten years, whereas I used to replace my old style lead acid batteries at circa 3 years as a form of insurance to hopefully avoid issues.

Just thinking in type, I am no expert, and as ever more than happy to be corrected if you think I have got anything wrong..