Another battery question

[teembo]

Given that the immobiliser will drain the battery of a seldom-driven seven, and given that the battery master switch will isolate the battery and prevent this, will I need to trickle charge over the winter when the car may be garaged for longer periods than normal ? Or will the isolated battery be held in charge ?

[Purespeed]

Yes it's a good idea to fit a decent charger (Optimate or Ctek) Batteries will self discharge without and load and a decent charger will keep the battery in good condition and it will last longer.

Jason

[DCL]

It's always a good idea to top a battery up - even when disconnected. They can self discharge, particularly as they age, so put it on a trickle charge every now and then. I do mine every couple of weeks for a few hours. There'd be no harm in leaving it on trickle charge if you check the fluid level and don't let it get low.

Edited by DCL on Tuesday 11th November 10:10

[Purespeed]

Yes it's a good idea to fit a decent charger (Optimate or Ctek) Batteries will self discharge without and load and a decent charger will keep the battery in good condition and it will last longer.

Jason

[teembo]

OK, thanks. Looks like I'll be alternating the Optimate between the car and the bike.

[Smollet]

I've got an isolator and have never needed to recharge my battery. I don't use the car that much either.

[snapper seven]

DCL makes a good point about keeping an eye on the fluid levels. I lost a battery on trickle charge because the fluids dropped below the plates. I leave my charger on 24/7 and every 2 or three months check and top up as required.

Cheers
SS

[teembo]

snapper seven said:

DCL makes a good point about keeping an eye on the fluid levels. I lost a battery on trickle charge because the fluids dropped below the plates. I leave my charger on 24/7 and every 2 or three months check and top up as required.

Yep, I lost a bike battery like that.

[framerateuk]

snapper seven said:

DCL makes a good point about keeping an eye on the fluid levels. I lost a battery on trickle charge because the fluids dropped below the plates. I leave my charger on 24/7 and every 2 or three months check and top up as required.

Cheers
SS

I think that's probably what happened to my old battery.

How does one top up a Banner battery? And where would you get the fluid from?

[Andy Bell]

with banner its i think 6 plastic large screw heads on top and distilled water from memory

[Smollet]

Andy Bell said:

with banner its i think 6 plastic large screw heads on top and distilled water from memory

Yes. That's what I used on my Banner before I changed to a Powervamp. Now I use nothing.

[BertBert]

ISTR that gel batteries are very good at keeping their charge whilst disconnected, better than wet lead-acid ones.

I'm sure it's a good idea to check the fluid levels, but I'd not expect them to go down if a decent clever charger is attached like the ctek.

Bert

[Green George]

BertBert said:

ISTR that gel batteries are very good at keeping their charge whilst disconnected, better than wet lead-acid ones.

I'm sure it's a good idea to check the fluid levels, but I'd not expect them to go down if a decent clever charger is attached like the ctek.

Bert

Can anyone recommend a gel battery with the same dimensions as the standard Banner battery?

[snapper seven]

Green George said:

BertBert said:

ISTR that gel batteries are very good at keeping their charge whilst disconnected, better than wet lead-acid ones.

I'm sure it's a good idea to check the fluid levels, but I'd not expect them to go down if a decent clever charger is attached like the ctek.

Bert

Can anyone recommend a gel battery with the same dimensions as the standard Banner battery?

Don't think there is one. Most people either modify the battery tray to suit or pad out the battery (as gel ones are thinner with a block of wood or similar to hold the battery in place.

One thing about gel batteries is I think people say they are fine so long as they don't have any parasitic charge such as an immobiliser on them.

Framerateuk - yes you can get distilled battery water from Halfords or other general motor factors.

Cheers
SS