Can I avoid a flat battery?

[K.K.]

Planning to be away for 6 days. I am worried that by the time I get back, my battery will be flat because of the drain from the alarm. Is there anyway to avoid this? Do you think that 6 days will be ok for the car to start?

Many thanks for any advice!

KK

[gbbird]

you should be OK with 6 days. Mine is often on for 5 days and never had a problem. I think its more an issue when you leave it for two weeks or so.

[kojak69]

I always use a trickle charger from Leven. This keeps the battery topped up to the max. It will not bring a dead battery back to life though.

www.leventechnology.co.uk/

[shnozz]

6 days should be ok so long as its not an old knackered battery. I plug in a conditionner if its longer than about 10 days.

[stu247]

6 days should not be a problem if the car is used regularly up to this point, doing longish runs etc.
If fact a couple of weeks should not be an issue.

Infrequent short trips and long spells left sitting are not good.

If really worried, buy yourself an accumate battery conditioner.. small price to pay for piece of mind.

Stu.

[wintrading]

Sure you can.Very simple just cut off the hole electricity. Buy a main electricity cut off switch(i do not know if this is correct english, i come from amsterdam the netherlands)which you can put above a battery pole (can be wrong english). Before you leave switch off all electricity by turning the switch off. My battery stays ok for one year. Simple easy and cheap.

[RAW-SEWedge]

kojak69 said:

I always use a trickle charger from Leven. This keeps the battery topped up to the max. It will not bring a dead battery back to life though. www.leventechnology.co.uk/

Or the cheaper Halfords alternative.
Battery Master

[wintrading]

My option is cheaper.But for the cheapest solution of all. Just disconnect battery pole(+). Cost nothing.

[Buster4.2]

wintrading said:

My option is cheaper.But for the cheapest solution of all. Just disconnect battery pole(+). Cost nothing.

I think insurance might then be a problem - ie no functioning alarm.

[Toffer]

Any kind of temperature compensated battery float charger is a great idea for infrequently used cars, keeps the battery in tip top condition, prevents sulphation of the battery plates, increases battery life dramatically and improves cold running.

A float charger is left connected at all times the car is not in use and is best wired directly to the battery terminals using a make before break type connection on the "plus" contact.

Don't buy a cheap one...as the results can be dramatic in the worst way...the battery gasses excessively, you can get a short between adjacent plates, turn the ignition key and BOOM!

[K.K.]

stu247 said:

If really worried, buy yourself an accumate battery conditioner.. small price to pay for piece of mind. Stu.

Thanks for all the good advice from everyone. My car is new and I drive it every day so hopefully, from what you have said, I should be ok. I can't use a trickle charger because I don't have a mains-socket in my parking space. I don't fancy disconnecting the battery because (apparently) I have to take the front wheel off etc. However what is an "accumate battery conditioner"?? what does it do? how does it work? How easy is it to fit? and where can I get one from.

Many thanks
KK

[raceboy]

K.K. said:

However what is an "accumate battery conditioner"?? what does it do? how does it work? How easy is it to fit? and where can I get one from.

www.accumate.co.uk/it010001.html

[kojak69]

raceboy said:

K.K. said: However what is an "accumate battery conditioner"?? what does it do? how does it work? How easy is it to fit? and where can I get one from. www.accumate.co.uk/it010001.html

Its the same as the one from Leven.

[kojak69]

Also. dont use a normal 'Halfords' type battery charger that has a trickle charge facility, if you are using it while the battery is still in the car. For the cerbera, no trickle charger over 7 amps should be used. You' could f**k the electrics up. Not sure about other trevors, but I guess the same thing applies.

[raceboy]

kojak69 said:

Its the same as the one from Leven.

but with a bit more information on how it works, price wise theres little difference

[wintrading]

Front wheel off?????I have got a griffith but i think it works the same!!Battery is in front of passenger's seat. Under the ECU. Very simple remove floor panel then disconnect battery.With the special switch assembled i gues 10 seconds of work.You do not have to remove a wheel. Or did TVR place battery in a chim in the booth???

[K.K.]

Think on the Tamora and T350 you must remove the passenger side front wheel to access the battery itself (someone will correct me if I'm wrong). For charging however, there is a plug on the underside behind the front passenger wheel.

Don't think the accumate battery conditioner is for me. Don't have access to a mains-socket in my parking space.
KK

[cosmoschick]

My Chim has been unused for up to 3 weeks on occasions and it still starts albeit coughing and spluttering with protest! Two weeks is no problem...starts first time without any hassle.

However, to be fair, it is not always immobilised as it is kept in a (secure) garage!

[Horse_Apple]

A couple of weeks should be no problem. The main drain is the alarm.

I fitted a kill swithc from Demon Tweeks to the back board at the end of the passenger tunnel.

This also has protruding battery connectors to allow easy charging and jump starting but the main reason is so that I can just kill all power if I know I am going to be leaving the wagon for a while.

[Chuckler]

Long as your passenger doesn't hoof it off at a critical moment horse! My wife, who is able to time these moments sublimly would probably manage it right in the middle of an overtake!