Battery issues
We have an old 1996 4 x 4 with two batteries mainly used for towing and a newer Fiesta for use around town etc. This winter we have hardly used the 4 x 4 and it sits for a week or longer without being used. On trying to start it the battery appears to be flat for some unknown reason. However once started and taken for a drive no further issues.
Eventually realised that as the alarm was on all the time, over time it was obviously draining the battery. A condition of our insurance is that the alarm needs to be switched on all the time. There we have a Catch 22. If battery goes flat, alarm and central locking no longer work properly and all sorts of weird issues occured. Upside is that unless someone can push start an automatic, no chance of them nicking it!
The battery once charged seems to hold its charge, but not when replaced back into the vehicle. Never realised that an alarm could drain a battery over time to the point where the engine will not tick over. Not sure how to get around this as do not want to be usingt eh 4 x 4 too often. Only thought is that the batteries as there is two of them, have a low ampere each.
I connected the batteries up to my charger and they both charged up quickly snd held the charge. Batteries are not new, but not that old. If I use the 4 x 4 2 or 3 times a week, then no issue. Only issue is when it is not used for longer than a week so it seems that there must be a constantly drain. No issues during the summer and autumn as used for towing most weekends.
It's normally when we get the first sharp frost that you will find out if the battery is still any good, the wifes old disco is a automatic & as you say you can't bump them off, the bosch battery on that was only just around three years old when it decided to start playing up, I could not find the receipt & had to bite the bullet & fit a new one..........
Because it dose not take long to charge was just how that one started.........
Sir Sproket CJ ( BAR)
My uncle has the same problem with his 5 series estate and just jump starts it. Same problem it gets very little use as he uses a variety of other cars all the time. His is due to the alarm too!
Would a solar panel sort it?
Would a solar panel sort it?
I have heard of small solar panels that can fit on your dashbaord, but have not seen them. Not sure how they would connect up to the battery as obviously you do not want trailing wires all over the place.
Maybe something like this?
http://www.nigelsecostore.com/acatalog/Solar_car_battery_charger_2W.html
Our MX_5 battery barely lasts two weels. Again the Cobra alarm system. We try and use her every week now even if it's only a 5 mile run, well enough to fully warm her up and puty back the juice into the battery.
Would a solar panel sort it?
I have heard of small solar panels that can fit on your dashbaord, but have not seen them. Not sure how they would connect up to the battery as obviously you do not want trailing wires all over the place.
They connect by plugging into the lighter socket - problem is that many cars these days need key in ignition to energise the lighter socket - otherwise you'd need to hardwire it yourself.
Would a solar panel sort it?
I have heard of small solar panels that can fit on your dashbaord, but have not seen them. Not sure how they would connect up to the battery as obviously you do not want trailing wires all over the place.
If you decide on one, the ideal one want's to be about 5w due to the limitations of position & sunlight unless you have a glass sunroof to fasten it to ? that said, trickle charging your battery isn't going to help much if it's old and it's too cold for the chemistry to do its thing.
You can read more here and here about solar-trickle-charging-kits
Sir Sproket CJ ( BAR)
Would a solar panel sort it?
I have heard of small solar panels that can fit on your dashbaord, but have not seen them. Not sure how they would connect up to the battery as obviously you do not want trailing wires all over the place.
They connect by plugging into the lighter socket - problem is that many cars these days need key in ignition to energise the lighter socket - otherwise you'd need to hardwire it yourself.
Thanks as I don't smoke I have no idea if the socket is on when the key is not in the ignition however I do have to 12v outlets elsewhere on the vehicle. Also do have a sunroof which I have never used. Seems a suitable method of keeping batteries charge up.
You will find that one of the batteries is on its way out due to it only holding charge for such a small period of time..........
Have you thought about back charging it through your 13pin socket live & earth pins via a cheap automatic charger form lidle ?