Battery Conditioner

[astonbloke]

I intend leaving the car unused for about 8 weeks soon. For complicated reasons, I cannot leave the unit on for 8 weeks solid so if I got someone to switch it on for, say, 24 hours once a week would that be enough for the car to start when I next use it? I have left the car for 3 weeks before and there was no hesitation in it starting.

[alscar]

Probably be ok but if were me I’d leave on for 2 days each time ( say over a weekend ) just in case.
Depends on which battery charger / conditioner you use too - even on the CTEK ( mxs 5) on some of my cars which get charged weekly 4 lights come up quickly then the balance can take a bit longer hence my comment.

[astonbloke]

Very helpful - many thanks. It is an Aston Martin own-brand conditioner given to me by the dealer a year ago.

[astonbloke]

[alscar]

I know that Porsche always used rebadged CTEKs but I’m not sure if this was one too.
It’s certainly not the shape although looks like a similar number of warning lights.
But if it works all well and good.
If it’s older than say 10 years old I’d be buying a new one but then I’m OCD with battery conditioners so ignore me.

[astonbloke]

Haha, no, it is brand new. Thanks again.

[CSK1]

I would connect the battery conditioner after a 15 day period the car has been idle.
Only if it is not at all possible to leave it connected. A battery conditioner can and should be left connected for prolonged periods
of time when the car is garaged.

[astonbloke]

CSK1 said:

I would connect the battery conditioner after a 15 day period the car has been idle.
Only if it is not at all possible to leave it connected. A battery conditioner can and should be left connected for prolonged periods
of time when the car is garaged.

Thanks, that will actually help me if it is not connected for the first couple of weeks. On the basis it starts perfectly after 3 weeks, I am tempted to stretch it to 21 days. The instructions say the conditioner will charge the battery and when it reaches 100% it will go into "float" mode automatically which means trickle charge.

[vpr]

Depends on the time of year/temp. In cold weather I'm lucky if it lasts a week

Also I've had a few C-Tecs stop working one on the DBS. Not happy.

[astonbloke]

vpr said:

Depends on the time of year/temp. In cold weather I'm lucky if it lasts a week

Also I've had a few C-Tecs stop working one on the DBS. Not happy.

I think I must have a good battery - not used the DB9 for 2 weeks, attached the conditioner this morning which went into charge mode for about one minute then showed fully charged (going into "float" - trickle charge to you and me - mode). Mind you, saw a video of a battery being taken out of a DB9 - it looked enormous.

[laterontoday]

astonbloke said:

I intend leaving the car unused for about 8 weeks soon. For complicated reasons, I cannot leave the unit on for 8 weeks solid so if I got someone to switch it on for, say, 24 hours once a week would that be enough for the car to start when I next use it? I have left the car for 3 weeks before and there was no hesitation in it starting.

Can you have the socket you plug the conditioner into fitted with a 7 day timer such as one of these. Clearly it would only solve your problem if you can physically leave it all plugged in.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?url=search-alias%3Daps&...

[astonbloke]

laterontoday said:

Can you have the socket you plug the conditioner into fitted with a 7 day timer such as one of these. Clearly it would only solve your problem if you can physically leave it all plugged in.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?url=search-alias%3Daps&...

That's a good thought, thank you, but the problem is that the socket is in an underground car park for a block of flats and the socket should always be available for other residents to vacuum cars etc. I can get away with our caretaker popping down and plugging in for a few hours at a time but can't leave it in place for weeks.