SL55 AMG, SL63 AMG, SL65 AMG (R230) 2002 - 2011 (2003 US for SL55 and 2004 for the SL65)

SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Does your SL have a built-in battery charger?

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Old Dec 20, 2009 | 10:56 PM
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Does your SL have a built-in battery charger?

Mine does. The rear consumer battery has a piggy back module connected to it on one end and the other end is a 110v power cord. Apparently, you just plug and electrical cord into it, and the other end into your outlet and you're all set. It has 3 lights:

1. Charging
2. Nearing full charge
3. Fully charged

But my question is, is it safe to keep this thing plugged in 24/7? I started it today for the first time in a week and I got the "consumer electronics unavailable" message. Since I won't be driving it much in the near future, I wanted to make sure the battery doesn't die so on the off-chance that I drive it, it's fully charged.

Also, with the extension cord running to this module, the trunk needs to stay cracked. But that will leave the little trunk "dome" light on inside. That doesn't make much sense to me.

Anyone else have this module, and if so, how are you using yours exactly.
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Old Dec 21, 2009 | 06:30 AM
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I had such a thing installed as well on the rear battery (Mercedes part which is a rebranded OEM thingy). However I do disconnect the 220v part and the charger from the cable (it has a connection) just to make sure.

It is plugged in the outlet right now. With the snow we have now I won't drive it, and the battery leaks empty rather quickly and the cold doesn't help.

Oh yeah, I just close the trunk. The power cable is then snug between the rubbers. No problems.

Last edited by sprins; Dec 21, 2009 at 06:35 AM.
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Old Dec 21, 2009 | 10:14 AM
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I leave mine connected when the weather is bad (9 months out of 12) and the power cord is thin enough to close the trunk lid without damage to the seal or cord.
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Old Dec 21, 2009 | 10:31 AM
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Great. I actually did what you guys suggested and just pinched the cord when the trunk closed. I left it on charge over night and it never reached "fully charged" status. Does it really take that long?
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Old Dec 21, 2009 | 11:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Benz-O-Rama
Great. I actually did what you guys suggested and just pinched the cord when the trunk closed. I left it on charge over night and it never reached "fully charged" status. Does it really take that long?
I'm well into my second rear battery now (after 7 years) and it doesn't take long for the "consumers offline" message to appear if I'm not using the car. So hooking it up to some sort of charger is pretty much essential.

I fitted a socket next to the trunk power outlet which (on my car at least) is only active - and therefore usable - to charge the battery when the ignition is on. It may be the Mercedes modification makes this outlet "live" all the time but you then run the risk of flattening the battery if you leave something connected, like a cool-box.

I just ran a couple of reasonably thick wires from the battery via a 10A inline fuse to somewhere accessible and have a charger which keeps the battery topped up when the car is not used. An alternative - as in the OP's case - is to wire in the charger so that you have a power cord which you can connect when required but the power cord will get in the way.

Only issue of leaving it permanently connected is that you don't want the battery to drain back through the charger when it is powered off. Whether that happens depends on the electronics in the charger.
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Old Dec 22, 2009 | 05:14 AM
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Originally Posted by Benz-O-Rama
Great. I actually did what you guys suggested and just pinched the cord when the trunk closed. I left it on charge over night and it never reached "fully charged" status. Does it really take that long?
I think I've never seen the "fully charged" light burning. It's always at "half way charging" and stays that way on my car.
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Old Jan 4, 2010 | 08:58 PM
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Here's pics of mine. Is this what you guys have?




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Old Jan 4, 2010 | 09:14 PM
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That's a neat solution...
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Old Jan 5, 2010 | 12:02 AM
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Hi, does anyone have the part # for this I need to put something like this on mind before going back overseas next month or now since all this snow..thx
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Old Jan 5, 2010 | 09:47 AM
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Originally Posted by geeaccord
Hi, does anyone have the part # for this I need to put something like this on mind before going back overseas next month or now since all this snow..thx
I couldn't find a part# anywhere on mine.
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Old Jan 5, 2010 | 08:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Benz-O-Rama
I couldn't find a part# anywhere on mine.
Thanks, for checking it out.
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