No AC, No Trickle

[nogriff]

I'm buying myself a Griff and I'll be using it at weekends only. I have no AC power in the garage in which it will be stored. Any ideas as to how I can keep the battery going ?

[Nacnud]

I've seen solar powered chargers available.
They are meant for in-the-street charging, but I don't see why sticking the panel outside the garage and extending the charger lead wouldn't work.

I've also found that disconnecting the battery between use works well. However, if you have an alarm that thinks it is being attacked when the battery is disconnected this may not be so clever....

[KieranH]

I bought a Solar trickle charger from Maplins last week, their doing a special deal on one for £14.99. Got it all pluged in and have mounted the Cell on the garage window, seems to work a treat...

[Biggriff]

Constantly connecting and disconnecting your battery power could have an unexpected effect on the ECU. They tend to go 'pop' eventually as you are sending big electrical spikes into them. They don't like this treatment. In addition removing power puts them back to base load mode. i.e. it has to reaquire all the data you wiped out by diconnecting the battery.

Would go for the extended solar lead option.

Richard

[nogriff]

Ok, this sounds good, although the garage doesn't have any windows. What size is the solar panel ? I guess a small window is required - who cares, I'm getting a Griff and that's all that counts.

[simpo two]

Biggriff said:

Constantly connecting and disconnecting your battery power could have an unexpected effect on the ECU. They tend to go 'pop' eventually as you are sending big electrical spikes into them. They don't like this treatment. In addition removing power puts them back to base load mode. i.e. it has to reaquire all the data you wiped out by diconnecting the battery. Would go for the extended solar lead option. Richard

I think it might also mess up your stereo.

If you can't make a window, you'll have to use wind-power

Edited to add: go for the cig socket option - so simple it hurts.

>> Edited by simpo two on Wednesday 27th August 17:39

[burriana500]

Unless you have a very poorly battery, the car will be absolutely fine left for a week at a time, mine regularly is. If for any reason it is not going to be driven for a longer period, just go out and run it for a few minutes. Mine has been left in the garage for two weeks before and started straight away.

You may be pleasantly surprised

[BogBeast]

burriana500 said:

Unless you have a very poorly battery, the car will be absolutely fine left for a week at a time, mine regularly is. If for any reason it is not going to be driven for a longer period, just go out and run it for a few minutes. Mine has been left in the garage for two weeks before and started straight away. You may be pleasantly surprised

My 500 would always have problems starting if left for more than 2 weekends, even on a brand new battery. In the winter I spend more time on lights (early start & late finish at work) and it would really hate starting the following morning.

Its now left on trickle charge and is seemingly alot more eager. It took me 2 weekends of digging and a demolition hammer to get electricity into my garage but my god it was worth it (can even see where I'm reversing now I have a light )

[heliox]

nogriff said:

I guess a small window is required - who cares, I'm getting a Griff and that's all that counts.

ha, thats the spirit lad!!

h

[simpo two]

burriana500 said:

Unless you have a very poorly battery, the car will be absolutely fine left for a week at a time, mine regularly is. If for any reason it is not going to be driven for a longer period, just go out and run it for a few minutes.

Until winter strikes. As I discovered, a few miles every week or two simply isn't enough to keep a battery alive in winter. Running an engine for a few minutes is not going to replace the charge used to start it in te first place, plus it will probably annoy the neighbours. And I have a feeling that a car at idle is not charging anyway.

(Of course, if Al gives me some work I will retract that post!)

[KieranH]

The Solar Charger I have is about 30cm Long and 10cm wide. It did say on the packet it could be mounted out doors with an additional bit of sealer. I would really recommend getting one, apart from anything else it's FREE power..!

[Nacnud]

I've found that leaving my SEAC for two weeks is asking for trouble. However, if I disable the alarm then four weeks is no trouble at all.

This is handy as I only have one battery conditioner at the moment and share it between the SEAC and the Blackbird. During the winter months I have been known to forget to swap it over on a regular basis....

[simpo two]

Nacnud said:

and the Blackbird.

Lockheed SR-71? Respect!

[Nacnud]

simpo two said:

Nacnud said: and the Blackbird. Lockheed SR-71? Respect!

You should see the size of my garage