Battery Charging...

Battery Charging...

Author
Discussion

stimshady

Original Poster:

1,307 posts

186 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
Unfortunately I don't have an electric socket where I park, so if I leave the car for too long without starting it, the battery will go flat (this hasn't happened and is obviously not good for the car/battery if it does)...

So I have limited options...

1) take the car out every few weeks to ensure the battery is maintained (not too much of a problem and the most enjoyable of the options available, although not always practical if away from home or a long winter etc.)

2) Start the car up and let it idle for 5 mins or so every now and then - is this wise, can it cause problems? If it is OK, how long would be necessary to charge the battery, is 5 mins enough?

3) Plug in a battery pack (powerpack) into the power socket in either boot or passenger footwell - this would mean recharging the power pack every so often and putting it back into the car - effectively this would act as a trickle charger? Would this even work?

Any ideas/comments would be appreciated!

Cheers smile

LordBretSinclair

4,285 posts

176 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
Drive it !!!!!!

Ticking over for 5 minutes may charge the battery but it's not doing the rest of the car any good. A decent drive will get the engine properly warmed up and give the brakes and all the electrics etc a "work out". smile

rjn21

289 posts

163 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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If in an open area a solar trickle charger?

stimshady

Original Poster:

1,307 posts

186 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
rjn21 said:
If in an open area a solar trickle charger?
Underground car park, so covered and nice and warm all year round, but no solar rays!

stimshady

Original Poster:

1,307 posts

186 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
LordBretSinclair said:
Drive it !!!!!!

Ticking over for 5 minutes may charge the battery but it's not doing the rest of the car any good. A decent drive will get the engine properly warmed up and give the brakes and all the electrics etc a "work out". smile
yes, this is my thought! thumbup - and 99% of the time this is the solution - it's just the odd couple of months a year when i'm not around as much that I need a solution...

john ryan

481 posts

131 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
The battery pack idea is a good one, but I think it will discharge along with the main battery, so it will be a bit longer until voltage falls below a useful level. How long it will last is a matter of trial. I presume you use the battery disconnect button?

stimshady

Original Poster:

1,307 posts

186 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
john ryan said:
The battery pack idea is a good one, but I think it will discharge along with the main battery, so it will be a bit longer until voltage falls below a useful level. How long it will last is a matter of trial. I presume you use the battery disconnect button?
Yes, the powerpack will definitely discharge as it won't be mains-powered, but will probably double the life of the car-battery? So I'm guessing would get a good month without needing to worry?

What/where is the battery disconnect button??!

john ryan

481 posts

131 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
Read the manual -but maybe you don't have one on a V12. It cuts down the potential drain, but you might lose some settings.

stimshady

Original Poster:

1,307 posts

186 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
quotequote all
john ryan said:
Read the manual -but maybe you don't have one on a V12. It cuts down the potential drain, but you might lose some settings.
I have flicked through most of the manual but must admit I have never seen reference to this, will double check...

V12woollie

4,363 posts

144 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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The V12V doesn't have the disconnect switch, or at least I never found one on mine.

erics

2,659 posts

210 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
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Had a disconnect switch fitted by Works before i sold mine.. £100.

Wicker Man

789 posts

242 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
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The manual says that the battery disconnect switch doubles the battery life. Useful if you have one, or get one fitted.

Be sure you know where the battery re-connect switch is. It's not the same switch, is cunningly concealed, and your manual will be locked away in your now disabled glovebox!