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

Modern batteries tend to last well. My 2002 Plus8 had an Odyssey battery when bought. I used a Ctech conditioner when garaged. I used the connector for direct to battery that came with it. The battery lasted 10 years over my ownership but no idea how old before I bought the car. Voltage checks showed it to be dead. Replaced with like battery. I remembered to transfer the screw in terminals from old to new as none came with the battery so check yours before disposing!
The Ctech/battery combo mean5 no problems over 10 years. I recommend direct to battery connection rather than using a 12V auxiliary socket. Better connection integrity.
In the past the most common starting issues on cars I had proved to be earth deterioration. The cars were usually not new and older. Considering Morgans tend to be older then periodic earth checks/cleaning make sense. On my first Mog, a 1993 4/4, I had earth issues. Using a long jumper lead from battery neg to starter cured it so earths maintenance at battery to chassis at the rear and chassis to starter at the front was the solution.

You raise an interesting point there George. I discovered on our F54 Mini that although there is an easy access plastic capped positive connection for the charger, simply putting it's negative croc clip onto a convenient bare metal chassis fitment didn't offer a circuit to the hidden battery. I then discovered a nearby bare high current crimp connector and that did connect to negative battery terminal. Conclusion is that the car is wired for generic isolated return. There are advantages on a steel boat for using two wire connections with regard to avoiding stray current paths so I guess similar reasoning with modern cars. It does require all electrical components including alternators, needing a dedicated and isolated negative connection though.

Thanks for responding to my ramble Richard, despite all I typed I forgot to mention that the other danger in connecting or disconnecting directly across the battery terminals, is the possibility of creating an explosion if the battery has been caused to create gas (hydrogen) during the charge or discharge cycles.. Thus connecting to a proven remote negative/earth, may be well advised...
Having been involved in a bit of salt water sailing, I was aware of some of the possible effects relative to fitting sacrificial anodes, though not much more than that on my old twin cyl 2L Volvo engine.. Took to using the Morgan for touring holidays some years back and sold the boat...Easier to maintain a seldom used Morgan than a seldom used sloop...

Hi all,

Many thanks for all the reply’s. I plumped for the Noco Genius 5 as I had a voucher from them and found their Boost product to be excellent quality in the past. Hopefully it’ll tick all the boxes for conditioning the battery whilst garaged (if it does what it says in the tin).

I’m still struggling with the best point of entry in the cab/boot area for the connection (I’ll be using eyelets direct to the battery). I also have the 3mtr extension so could run the length of the car and have the ‘plug’ elsewhere.

As previously mentioned, the main aim is to not have to undo the bonnet strap and lift the bonnet once I return home and want to keep topped up.
The eyelet kit comes fused and with around 60cm of flex with the connector block. I can’t see anywhere obvious in the passenger footwell or above where it would most likely come through into the cab.

The other option is to run to the rear of the car using the extension cable, I have read somewhere that Williams seem to put this (albeit CTek) near the rear parcel shelf.

Has anyone any tips or better still images of how they have run theirs?

Many thanks again

Hi i fitted a lead from the battery into the passenger footwell where i can easily plug in the battery conditioner. There is a nice space behind the carpet for stowing the excess wire and i fed the wire through an existing grommet at the front / side of the footwell. Works well. No bonnet opening and extension permanently connected.

That’s great and sounds just what I’m after… I just can’t find an easy access point into the footwell from the battery 😢

Note to self… look further back in the footwell and not where the glove stow area is 🤦‍♂️🤣👍

I have a CTEK 5.0 conditioner for my 2023 PlusFour, with a magnetic contact in the passengers footwell, very convenient. So you use it more easily and often, which came as an advice from the dealer. Our 4/4 is always on a more conventional conditioner, which I connect directly on the battery under the bonnet, a Duracell for the last years, but mainly for longer periods of time and the winter. The PlusFour is connected if I suspect me not driving it for more than a week! For the 4/4 it's I think Carpoint or something like that, with clamps for the battery, for a traditional easy to install. Have it for more than 25 years I think. I can recall I did forget to install it sometimes in the past during the winter, and then you were sure you had to buy a new battery!

That looks a great setup and solution…

The Noco doesn’t have the magnetic charge adaptor as yet, maybe it’ll follow!

I haven’t attached the Noco Genius 5 to the wall in the garage yet but it comes complete with a nice plastic wall bracket and Velcro strap for added security (the bracket is extra on the CTek), as you can see from the pictures (if uploaded correctly) the plug from the eyelet connectors on the battery comes through the grommet in the passengers footwell and plugs into the chargers 3mtr extension cable.

All I need to do is un-velcro the top section of the carpet and plug it in when I want to charge, leaving the bonnet and strap secure.

I do like the magnetic connection even more though 👍

I have the same one, it's brill'.