chim battery advise
Discussion
If your battery has been on for a few years it could easily be draining internally. I would eliminate that before investing in potentially unnecessary technology. Charge it, disconnect it, wait a few weeks then reconnect it. If it fails then the battery is at fault, not the wiring. A batterybrain won't prevent flat battery occurring if the battery drains internally
Edited by bobfather on Friday 2nd February 13:09
Actually the correct method for testing a battery is to use a heavy discharge tester, this combined with some basic tests with a multimeter will take seconds not weeks.
There are a number of well known sources for the parasitic drain many Chimaera exhibit, the Meta security system and the courtesy light delay relay being just two of them. Lead acid batteries do not like being fully discharged, and its typically one of these parasitic drains that will, over time, and if left unmanaged, fully discharge your battery.
Of course the best solution is always to hunt down and eliminate your parasitic drain, but this isn't always easy or practical if for example you want to retain your security system. So many will just resort to keeping their battery on a float charge, but of course for this you will need a mains power supply. If you keep your car somewhere where mains electricity is not available you'll need to look at alternative solutions.
One of the best solutions that works on the fact a disconnected battery will hold its charge for a good six months, is the Battery Brain, this little remote battery disconnect device works brilliantly to ensure your TVR is always ready to go and you're not buying a new battery every 18 months. It doesn't fix parasitic drains and it can't save a battery that's already past the point of no return, but if you start using it at the same time you fit a new battery it'll save you money in batteries in the long run and will save you from those flat battery disappointments every time.
First of all I would ditch the stupid TVR fiberglass battery box and replace it with a nice big battery tray bolted firmly to the floor, you can then set about fitting the biggest battery that fits in the tray having freed yourself from the restrictions imposed by that horrible fiberglass battery box. With lead acid batteries, bigger and heavier is always better, chemistry and physics unavoidably dictate more lead over a greater surface area and more electrolyte will always give you more cranking amps.... and more amp hours too.
Strap your big battery firmly to your tray and fit it with a Battery Brain... job done!
Like this.. but go bigger
There are a number of well known sources for the parasitic drain many Chimaera exhibit, the Meta security system and the courtesy light delay relay being just two of them. Lead acid batteries do not like being fully discharged, and its typically one of these parasitic drains that will, over time, and if left unmanaged, fully discharge your battery.
Of course the best solution is always to hunt down and eliminate your parasitic drain, but this isn't always easy or practical if for example you want to retain your security system. So many will just resort to keeping their battery on a float charge, but of course for this you will need a mains power supply. If you keep your car somewhere where mains electricity is not available you'll need to look at alternative solutions.
One of the best solutions that works on the fact a disconnected battery will hold its charge for a good six months, is the Battery Brain, this little remote battery disconnect device works brilliantly to ensure your TVR is always ready to go and you're not buying a new battery every 18 months. It doesn't fix parasitic drains and it can't save a battery that's already past the point of no return, but if you start using it at the same time you fit a new battery it'll save you money in batteries in the long run and will save you from those flat battery disappointments every time.
First of all I would ditch the stupid TVR fiberglass battery box and replace it with a nice big battery tray bolted firmly to the floor, you can then set about fitting the biggest battery that fits in the tray having freed yourself from the restrictions imposed by that horrible fiberglass battery box. With lead acid batteries, bigger and heavier is always better, chemistry and physics unavoidably dictate more lead over a greater surface area and more electrolyte will always give you more cranking amps.... and more amp hours too.
Strap your big battery firmly to your tray and fit it with a Battery Brain... job done!
Like this.. but go bigger
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