Battery Drain (Battery Brain or Similar)

[Chimpaholic]

Hi to my fellow TVR friends,

I have the normal battery drain issues on my Chim, two weeks without use & the car will not start.

I am looking for a permanent solution, unfortunately I do not have access to a mains power source where the car is parked.

So although I have a trickle charger fitted its not an option.

I have been looking at the Battery Brain, has anyone tried the Battery Brain or similar?

http://www.tayna.co.uk/Battery-Brain-Silver-Type-I...

Thanks in advance.

[chrispitman]

Is the car parked in a garage or left outside.

[Chimpaholic]

The car is outside under a cover.

I have looked at solar trickle chargers but I expect it may get stolen.

[Chimpaholic]

Just seen this solar charger from Maplin.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=98358...

For ten squid I think its cheap enough to be worth the risk of theft.

Has anyone got experience with this system?

[GreenV8S]

I have an intelligent battery isolator (not a battery brain, but a similar product from the US) and it works very well. Mine disconnects and reconnects completely automatically (based on some clever load sensing) but would be no good if you needed electrical power to open the doors. But you can get others that have a keyfob affair to trigger them to reconnect.

[Chimpaholic]

Interesting, I am now looking at a Battery Brain with a remote re-set button.

The idea would be to mount the remote re-set button inside the car, but where I can access it by lifting the hood Velcro.

This way if the devise has isolated the battery and the door locks don't operate, I can just go to my secret switch and re-activate the battery.

The only problem I can see is that I have found when the battery is fully drained the immobiliser thinks the car is being stolen.

In this state even when I have fully charged the battery I can only start the car using the little alarm de-activating stick, the fob will not open the doors or activate the fuel pump.

The immobiliser can be re-set by disconnecting and re-connecting the positive terminal, but its hardly convenient?

So I am thinking I may get the same problem when the Battery Brain isolates the battery?

Any thoughts on my ramblings are welcomed.

[Chimpaholic]

GreenV8S said:

I have an intelligent battery isolator (not a battery brain, but a similar product from the US) and it works very well. Mine disconnects and reconnects completely automatically (based on some clever load sensing) but would be no good if you needed electrical power to open the doors. But you can get others that have a key-fob affair to trigger them to reconnect.

Hi GreenV8S I have been looking at the PriorityStart, is that what you have?

If so it may actually work on the Chimaera key-less entry setup.

From what I have read the re-activation of the devise after it has isolated the battery is triggered when the PriorityStart senses a small voltage change from the starter circuit.

So I have this idea.

"What if, instead of connecting the re-activation lead that is meant to go to the starter circuit, I connect it lead to one of my door solenoids?

If you think my idea would work it could make a nice clean installation.

The standard TVR fob would effectively be de-activating the PriorityStart, all be it via a tiny voltage change at the door solenoid not from the starter circuit as designed.

If I am correct, at worst, I would have to press the TVR fob twice, IE press once to trigger the PriorityStart de-activation, then a second time (once the power is restored) to activate the door solenoids and disarm the immobiliser.

Do you think my idea would work?

[chrispitman]

One problem I see the Alarm reciever (TVR Key fob reciever) is powered off the car battery, if it has been powered off by the battery saver then it aint going to work.

If you lock the car, i'm sure if you try the button under the mirror it activates the solinoid to open the door even if it is locked (just makes a noise).

What might work is if you just push the door unlock button as the solinoid tries to open the door this in therory should draw enough current to reactivate the system. As in the spec it says a interior light coming on should re activate it.

[Chimpaholic]

chrispitman said:

One problem I see the Alarm reciever (TVR Key fob reciever) is powered off the car battery, if it has been powered off by the battery saver then it aint going to work.

If you lock the car, i'm sure if you try the button under the mirror it activates the solinoid to open the door even if it is locked (just makes a noise).

What might work is if you just push the door unlock button as the solinoid tries to open the door this in therory should draw enough current to reactivate the system. As in the spec it says a interior light coming on should re activate it.

Interesting.

The only problem is that I have the older style door release system with the plungers on the rear quarters not the under the mirror button type.

I think I am going to keep things simple and try the solar charger.

[GreenV8S]

Chimpaholic said:

Hi GreenV8S I have been looking at the PriorityStart, is that what you have?

If so it may actually work on the Chimaera key-less entry setup.

From what I have read the re-activation of the devise after it has isolated the battery is triggered when the PriorityStart senses a small voltage change from the starter circuit.

So I have this idea.

"What if, instead of connecting the re-activation lead that is meant to go to the starter circuit, I connect it lead to one of my door solenoids?

If you think my idea would work it could make a nice clean installation.

The standard TVR fob would effectively be de-activating the PriorityStart, all be it via a tiny voltage change at the door solenoid not from the starter circuit as designed.

If I am correct, at worst, I would have to press the TVR fob twice, IE press once to trigger the PriorityStart de-activation, then a second time (once the power is restored) to activate the door solenoids and disarm the immobiliser.

Do you think my idea would work?

Yes it's a priority start. But there's no sensing wire as you're imagining it. The unit simply measures the whole vehicle electrical load and re-connects the battery if the load changes. Opening a door so the courtesy light comes on is enough to trigger it. Perhaps the electrical load taken to operate the door release on yours would be enough too.