God save us from - Battery Drain - a solution, maybe.
God save us from - Battery Drain - a solution, maybe.
Author
Discussion

AG Tuscan II S

Original Poster:

103 posts

205 months

Wednesday 12th August 2009
quotequote all
I am curious to know if anyone has fitted an external battery isolation switch like this to a Tuscan?
http://www.classicpartsworld.co.uk/product_details...

I see from this topic "http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=6&t=516377&mid=173998&i=20&nmt=Battery drain&mid=173998"
Longbow has the same idea for his Cerbera.

Thoughts:

It seems to be the obvious answer to the ruthless power drain the vehicle exerts when not in use. An accumate is great when you have power available but it's still a harsh life for a battery to live. Being attached to a TVR that is only used occasionally.

I had thought that it could be neatly placed inside the service panel somewhere. Just a matter of running two cables back to the battery unit and wiring into the main car feed.

Upon re-connection the car will arm the alarm and close windows, etc. But that can only be a good thing.

tripleblack

100 posts

217 months

Wednesday 12th August 2009
quotequote all
I have this exact switch made on my Tuscan near the battery. Works well.

s6boy

1,851 posts

254 months

Wednesday 12th August 2009
quotequote all
shout

so called

tripleblack

100 posts

217 months

Wednesday 12th August 2009
quotequote all
Maybe this helps! Also got rid of the Anderson plug. Optimate charge plug installed including new Optima red top battery for more cranking power for my 2001 Tuscan S.











Edited by tripleblack on Wednesday 12th August 22:45

lewis_sharman

5,953 posts

220 months

Wednesday 12th August 2009
quotequote all
Not sure if the insurance company will be too happy cutting off the alarm when you are parked up though scratchchin

AG Tuscan II S

Original Poster:

103 posts

205 months

Wednesday 12th August 2009
quotequote all
Simple and effective - perfect.

Many thanks.

AG Tuscan II S

Original Poster:

103 posts

205 months

Wednesday 12th August 2009
quotequote all
Your right about that - my plan was to only enable battery disconnect, after playtime is over. E.g. Sunday evening in the garage at home.

GreenV8S

31,014 posts

313 months

Thursday 13th August 2009
quotequote all
Rather than a manual switch that you have to remember to operate, you're better off getting an automatic isolator. This will leave the battery connected until it starts to run down, so it will leave the alarm working if you have the car parked up over the weekend, but if you leave the lights on at work it will quickly isolate the battery before any harm is done. The one I use is a Priority Start made in the US, but there are other brands available.

onny

355 posts

291 months

Thursday 13th August 2009
quotequote all
I've had the Battery Brain in the car for 3 years now and I've never had any problems it or the battery. Starts first time.

Tokyosi

71 posts

219 months

Thursday 13th August 2009
quotequote all
I also have/had the battery brain fitted which worked perfectly until it failed to operate with either remotes with the battery in isolate mode , caused me numerous headaches and I had to remove the front wheel more times than i care to mention to actually find out that that was the problem. Contacted the company as it was still under warranty - but shipped form the States - despite 2 emails I never heard from them with either a solution of how to fix the problem or to claim on the warranty - so beware

AG Tuscan II S

Original Poster:

103 posts

205 months

Thursday 13th August 2009
quotequote all
Where did you guys install the "Brain" there isn't much room round the battery, just curious if it would fit in that compartment?

Tokyosi

71 posts

219 months

Thursday 13th August 2009
quotequote all
It does fit in there but it is very tight. I actually got a car electrician to fit it for me.They put it right at the back of the well.
I would recommend it if it wasn't for their customer service . I got the platinium and it is quite reassuring to walk away and just remotely isolate the battery - the only problem comes about when it wont reset ;-)
Annoying to know it is still under warranty but the cost of shipping it back to the states makes it not worthwhile especially as they refuse to acknowledge me.

onny

355 posts

291 months

Thursday 13th August 2009
quotequote all
Simon, sorry to hear your problems. I've had absolute no problem with the brain so far. If it goes t!t up on me now, I'd be getting another one tomorrow.

Mine is installed on top of the battery, needed some re-wiring but its not a snug fit because I'd got a new smaller sized battery at the same time. The new battery is about 3/4 the size of a full size normal battery. Its cranking amp is 650ah instead of the standard 720ah. I usually disable the battery after every use and I often don't get a chance to drive the car for weeks at a time and have had no starting problems at all.



Edited by onny on Thursday 13th August 16:13

AG Tuscan II S

Original Poster:

103 posts

205 months

Thursday 13th August 2009
quotequote all
What do you "loose" when disconnecting the battery - excluding the radio memory?

drivingfroggy

455 posts

221 months

Thursday 13th August 2009
quotequote all
I'm going to get one of them there battery brain thingys. They are on sale from a UK distributor now-www.batterybrain.co.uk Anyone got any photos of their install?

AG Tuscan II S

Original Poster:

103 posts

205 months

Thursday 13th August 2009
quotequote all
Ordered mine this morning - plan to fit it on Saturday if it arrives, I'll post back with some results once it's complete - which might not be on Saturday if there are problems to be solved.

Tokyosi

71 posts

219 months

Friday 14th August 2009
quotequote all
Radio memory and that is it - not a big deal!
As i said great piece of equipment - just a shame i have had a mare with mine recently.
Onny - no probs, gave me a year of peace of mind - it might actually be a simple problem but my lack of Japanese doesn't help me explaining things to mechanics over here - makes the owning of a TVR just a tad more frustrating but it is stil a pleasure I couldn't live without

so called

9,160 posts

238 months

Friday 14th August 2009
quotequote all
s6boy said:
shout

so called
Sorry S6boy, just got back from holidays.
I had a Battery Brain fitted. I think they are spot on.
Picks arnt very good but basically it was fitted in the passenger footwell. I had the Anderson connector renewed and rewired at the same time.

Unfortunately wrote her off a couple of months later. frown




GreenV8S

31,014 posts

313 months

Friday 14th August 2009
quotequote all
There are some that have to be triggered manually via a remote, or will disconnect automatically but have to be reconnected manually (via the remote), but there are also some (like mine) which are completely automatic (based on some super clever load sensing) and don't have any form of manual override.

If you have one like this them make sure you have some way to trigger it to reconnect - it may not be easy if you need power to get into the car and can't access any electrics until you've got inside. Luckily for me my car has plain old door handles so I just open the door with the key and the courtesy light switch is enough to trigger the device to reconnect.

so called

9,160 posts

238 months

Friday 14th August 2009
quotequote all
Mine had the battery drain sensor which ensured that the battery valts didnt drop below a certain level. So enough to start your car.
Basically it monitors the battery valts and isolates the battery from the car before its volts can drop too low.
Mine was the remote type.
This ment that I would shut and lock my car as normal.
I could then leave the Battery Brain to look after the battery or use the remote to activate the "Brain" and isolate the car completely from the battery. (which is what I used to do )
To gain access to my car in the airport car park after 4 weeks ment that I would first activate the "Brain",
then unlock the doors as normal before key in ignition. Worked perfect and was a real pleasure after suffering so many problems over the previous 2 years.
As I said, unfortunately I crashed my Tuscan shortly after.
My MK2 Tuscan doesnt seem to have a problem with battery drain (except for the dash lights issue(Mk2 only with the "press brake pedal" fix)).