Keeping battery charged

[vectra]

KEEPING BATTERY CHARGED

We are an elderly couple who do not take the car out in the snow

Consequently the battery can become flat

What are our best options

1 To buy a solar panel charger that fits on the dash board and plugs into the cigarette lighter socket (do they work?)

2 To buy a trickle charger ( do I need to disconnect the battery ?)

3 To run the engine for 15 minutes every day

4 If the battery does become discharged call the RAC

Can you offer a suggestion please

[flearider]

1 To buy a solar panel charger that fits on the dash board and plugs into the cigarette lighter socket (do they work?) not really would need a big panel for that ..and a lot of sun

2 To buy a trickle charger ( do I need to disconnect the battery ?) best bet here and yes i would take cables off

3 To run the engine for 15 minutes every day -this is another option but i would'nt say everyday maybe 20 mins once a week but make sure garage door is open ..fumes

4 If the battery does become discharged call the RAC - well if you have a charger then no just hook it up ..

[vectra]

Thank you for comment
Regarding fumes car is on the drive
Taking the cables of battery is a bit of a fiddle and the car presumably would need re setting

[Saracen]

Thread moved to a better forum, more likely to get answers.

[kalniel]

5. Buy a battery booster/jump starter pack.

You charge them up in the house, they hold their charge for ages. Then if you need to start your car and the onboard battery is flat, use the booster. They don't usually require you to take any cables off.

[HalloweenJack]

personally i would get a trickle charger , those solar things need sun - and we dont get alot of hat during the winter!

i have one for my phone battery - a `freeloader` ; and even with the addon 1.2w panel it still takes 6 hours in the summer to charge the phone charger part - and thats a 1000mah battery pack; so i dont think it would halp that much with the car battery

[technodean]

As your screen name is vectra, do you have a vauxhall vectra? If so the solar idea probably would not work as the 12v cigarette outlet isn't constant, ie when you take the keys out there isn't any power which in turn means you wont be able to send power to the battery via solar. Best bet is to get a jumper pack.

[s_kinton]

I would get a Ctek battery charger - no need to remove the abttery at all and you can leave it on constantly with no damage.

http://www.ctekchargers.co.uk/ctek-mxs-3.6.php - also available on amazon for a decent price.

[vectra]

As your screen name is vectra, do you have a vauxhall vectra? If so the solar idea probably would not work as the 12v cigarette outlet isn't constant, ie when you take the keys out there isn't any power which in turn means you wont be able to send power to the battery via solar. Best bet is to get a jumper pack.

That is very perceptive Yes I do have a vectra and I was about to go and test if the cigar lighter is live
You have saved me a plod in the snow
Thank you
vectra

[GoNz0]

a year on and your back with the same problem

maybe time to get a battery conditioner fitted with a quick plug cable so you can hook it up over winter.?

[vectra]

a year on and your back with the same problem

maybe time to get a battery conditioner fitted with a quick plug cable so you can hook it up over winter.?

But last year I did have a new battery fitted guaranteed for 3 years
my problem is basically a combination of low temperatures and low mileage
Thank you for your suggestion regarding a battery conditioner
vectra

[Larkspeed]

You could of course try the way we used to do it in Canada.

Your battery is going dead quicker because it is getting cold. This is not a fault of the battery it's just the way it is.

You can get whats called a battery blanket, you wrap it around the battery run an extension out to your car and plug it in.

This keeps the battery warm and as a result it will hold it's charge considerably longer in the winter.

[GoNz0]

to be fair we don't really see temps like Canada, and a fitted battery conditioner with a plug sticking out the front grill is a good option, Vectra, I also have a new battery and still after 2 weeks only just started the car!

[vectra]

Sounds a good idea and we have relatives in Canada who are experiencing minus 15 decrees at present and I am sure they use your suggestion

[vectra]

I monitor the voltage of the battery and it will start with a voltage of 11.93 but any lower is suspect
It was down to 11.63V the last time it would not start but the car had stood for 10 days and I expect the alarm systems reduce the battery power

[Larkspeed]

There is one other suggestion I can give although it may be a bit extreme.

I used to have what is called a command start, it lets you start your car by remote control from inside your house.

The car will only start if in neutral.

It will run for 15 minutes and then turn off. Very handy in the winter so you go out to a warm car, or a cool car in summer if you have aircon.

The car can't be stolen because unless you get in and turn on the ignition with your key first, touching the accelerator or brake will instantly shut off the engine.

Anyway one of the features of this was a battery monitor, it would keep an eye on the battery voltage and if it drops to a critical point it will automatically start the car to charge the battery back up. All you have to do is make sure there is fuel in it.