wideboy Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Hey Folks, Living 'oop North in sunny Scotland means that the car's often left hiding in the garage for weeks if not months at a time. As such I regularly need to jump start it when the snow clears. Is it better to hook up a trickle charger full time, disconnect the battery or just jump when required? I fried a battery last year by over charging when I went offshore... Cheers Wideboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 You'll find what you need here, works for me and many other on here:- http://www.ctekchargers.co.uk/?gclid=CIfunpSt9LYCFRMQtAodoHgA7Q Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 I use an Optimate - does the job a treat - haven't fried a battery yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilscorp Posted May 1, 2013 Share Posted May 1, 2013 Trickle charge mine once a month during winter, even if its not used, battery still seems good nic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wideboy Posted May 11, 2013 Author Share Posted May 11, 2013 Thanks for the replies guys. My battery is pretty flat after about 3wks of non use, so is it better to leave the trickle on when I know i'm not going to use the car, or just let it drain and then top up a few days before use? (I work offshore so the car is regulary abandoned for 2weeks at a time). Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wideboy Posted May 11, 2013 Author Share Posted May 11, 2013 Although the optimate site may have just answered the above... http://www.optimate.co.uk/optimate%206.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris`I Posted May 11, 2013 Share Posted May 11, 2013 You want a smart charger. Letting it drain right down will permenantly damage the battery and overcharging on a trickle charger can also lead to damage. Smart chargers are relatively cheap these days and will just charge when required rather than constantly charging at a low rate. This will keep the battery in tip top condition. Optimate or CTek will both do a good job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Gonna revive this rather than start a new one for just a quick question. Last time I went on holiday, I came back to a flat battery after a week. I'm away soon for 3 weeks, so want to take precautions. Most people seem to rate the CTEK stuff, so that should be an easy first option, but has anyone got a solar conditioner? The problem is, the car is not parked in the sort of place where I'd like to leave it plugged into the mains. So I'm thinking, solar charger in the boot will be out of sight and also able to be connected up permanently whilst I'm away. The other option is to whip the battery out and just have it plugged in in the garage. Is there anything to fear about her sitting there without a battery for 3 weeks, other than losing my carefully tuned settings on the head unit? Ta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Can't think why it should go flat in a week Stu, sounds like you may have a battery that's on the way out. No experience with solar charger so can't comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Can't think why it should go flat in a week Stu, sounds like you may have a battery that's on the way out. No experience with solar charger so can't comment. Cheers G. That battery (which I think might have been the original from 2004) has been consigned to the [insert legal disposal method] and I've got a new shiny one. I'm just wanting to keep her brimmed whilst I'm away, it was PITA last time, so I was hoping a little trickle top up might be perfect. I've found a couple that charge through the OBD2 port, which sounds scary, but is also quite an elegant solution to keeping it low key and relatively out of sight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Seasider Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Tip: if your car is in the garage - don't lock it - that way without the alarm and immobiliser set it should be able to last months if the battery is in good condition. As a lot of jap cars use the same battery I've got a couple of spares that I keep topped up and just swap them over if I ever get caught out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Tip: if your car is in the garage - don't lock it - that way without the alarm and immobiliser set it should be able to last months if the battery is in good condition. As a lot of jap cars use the same battery I've got a couple of spares that I keep topped up and just swap them over if I ever get caught out. A garage is a distant dream Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumping350 Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 lock passenger door from inside , pop bonnet disconnect battery and remove, close bonnet lock drivers door with key. Place battery indoors on carpet or something not concrete. Did this to my battery last September popped it in last week fired up pretty quick, you should be fine if you store it correctly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Cheers Jumping, been looking at mixed reviews of solar OBD2 connected trickle chargers, not entirely convinced. I'll just whip it out instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wideboy Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 (edited) I tried a solar trickle charger before I started this thread, but it was crap! Which to be fair, could have something to do with living 'oop North in winter, where there's precious few daylight hours. Bought the Optimate, no issues since Edited August 13, 2014 by wideboy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 Good to know, I went CTEK MXS 5T in the end. I'll save solar for when I move to California Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JurassicZ Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 (edited) Mine goes in a Carcoon over the winter with one of their specialist battery conditioners. Works great, in fact just bought another for the wifes car which sits in the other side of the garage whilst we are away. Cannot recommend their battery conditioners enough. Edited August 13, 2014 by 350ZRDev 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilogikal1 Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 I'll just whip it out instead. You might want to do something with the battery too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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