Flat battery again, will this solution work?
Discussion
Ages ago had a problem with the battery going flat. I know I have a drain or a short somewhere.So I put in an isolator switch so I can disconnect the battery when it is parked up. (yes, I know I should trace it and sort it properly)
This worked well for a time but due a bit of time away and an injury I haven't been out in the car much. So I went out for a drive to charge up the battery as well as a bit of fun, but she was dead jim.
Finally got it started by jumping it.
My question is, can I put a second battery in with its own isolator switch? This is with a view that when the primary battery is low I can switch in the second battery for the extra boost.
Obviously the secondary battery will need charging, so will the alternator be up to the job if I leave both connected for a while (say 1/2 hour) while I am driving it, then disconnect it again for the next time the primary needs a boost?
Another question would be what size battery would I need? Does it have to be the same size and amp rating?
Hoping for a start first time every time.
Kwacker
This worked well for a time but due a bit of time away and an injury I haven't been out in the car much. So I went out for a drive to charge up the battery as well as a bit of fun, but she was dead jim.
Finally got it started by jumping it.
My question is, can I put a second battery in with its own isolator switch? This is with a view that when the primary battery is low I can switch in the second battery for the extra boost.
Obviously the secondary battery will need charging, so will the alternator be up to the job if I leave both connected for a while (say 1/2 hour) while I am driving it, then disconnect it again for the next time the primary needs a boost?
Another question would be what size battery would I need? Does it have to be the same size and amp rating?
Hoping for a start first time every time.
Kwacker
Probably the most important thing here is that once you have let a modern battery become fully discharged it will loose some of its capacity. Once the terminal voltage has fallen below around 11.5 volts the cells start to sulphate, this reduces the effective surface area and therefore the capacity. Each time you let it go flat you will lose some more capacity. The tell tell sign of a sulphated battery is it returns to a fully charged state very quickly (because there is less capacity to charge) and obviously also becomes flat quickly.
What you suggest may get the car started but won’t solve the underlying problem. If you prefer not to tackle the cause and just want a way of starting the car when it has been left for a long time another solution is to fit a high current connector somewhere you can access when needed, an Anderson Connector is ideal. Then get yourself a small battery that is easy to carry about and fit a cable with the mating connector. That way, if needed you can plug in the portable supply just to get the car going.
It really does not need an enormous battery to start the car. I have a tiny 17Ah red top 20 installed in the Griff which works fine.
The real solution is to get the battery out and have someone check the capacity, if it has sulphated from being flat several times the problem may be nothing more than that.
What you suggest may get the car started but won’t solve the underlying problem. If you prefer not to tackle the cause and just want a way of starting the car when it has been left for a long time another solution is to fit a high current connector somewhere you can access when needed, an Anderson Connector is ideal. Then get yourself a small battery that is easy to carry about and fit a cable with the mating connector. That way, if needed you can plug in the portable supply just to get the car going.
It really does not need an enormous battery to start the car. I have a tiny 17Ah red top 20 installed in the Griff which works fine.
The real solution is to get the battery out and have someone check the capacity, if it has sulphated from being flat several times the problem may be nothing more than that.
as getting to the battery is a wheel off job.I fitted a Battery Brain to my Mk1 Tuscan.
Stopped my flat battery problem every time I got back to my car in an Airport car park.
It was great.
They come with a remote control so that you isolate your car by remote after you have got locked up etc.
Return to the car 3 weeks later, reset the "Brain" and the battery was always good.
OR
Leave it to automatically monitor the battery and shut down when it saw the voltage begin to drop.
It was about 70 quid I think but
Stopped my flat battery problem every time I got back to my car in an Airport car park.
It was great.
They come with a remote control so that you isolate your car by remote after you have got locked up etc.
Return to the car 3 weeks later, reset the "Brain" and the battery was always good.
OR
Leave it to automatically monitor the battery and shut down when it saw the voltage begin to drop.
It was about 70 quid I think but
So called - Can you email me some more details on this bat brain for the mk1 Tuscan? costasarapo@gmail.com is my address..
I am doing a lot of travelling and the car stays garaged for some time, ending up in the usual battery problems. I normally plug the accumate in a for a day or so, before I want to take the car out for a drive. But thats not ideal, as the garage I am using is in another building from the one I live in, and the only plug at the other end from where the car is..!
I am doing a lot of travelling and the car stays garaged for some time, ending up in the usual battery problems. I normally plug the accumate in a for a day or so, before I want to take the car out for a drive. But thats not ideal, as the garage I am using is in another building from the one I live in, and the only plug at the other end from where the car is..!
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