Does anyone know if it is possible to connect a battery trickle charger (or conditioner) through the accessory socket rather than running a wire to the battery posts?
Or does the key need to be switched 'on' in order to establish a through connection?

 

As you say socket is switched off with ignition so it won't work.
You could install an extra socket wired into the 'constant' connection near the fuses.
I have two extra sockets under the dashboard to run GPS and radar.

 

Thanks (and tks for the pic) - just what I thought. Pity - it would have been a neat solution.
I'll probably just run a wire from the battery posts thru to the cabin.

 

If you do that, make sure you include an in-line fuse on the live / positive conductor wire. The fuse should to be rated according the the amperage rating of the charger, i.e. if you use a trickle / conditioning charger with, say, a max output of 2.5 AH, use no more than a 5 A fuse.

 

Yes, thanks - I was just thinking about that this morning....be a shame to set the car alight so soon after getting it

 

And make sure the fuse it at the battery end of the cable. Any short between the fuse and the battery will not be protected!

 

[QUOTE=noizyboyz,Jan 31 2008, 03:41 PM]And make sure the fuse it at the battery end of the cable.

 

I use CTEX XS3600 - has a wiring harness that you can leave on the battery all the time & just plug into the lead from the charger. When not in use the harness just tucks away by the battery. Works a treat.