Disconnect battery

[atlantis]

Car garaged for winter now, should i disconnect the battery?

Ta Andrew

[greg124]

I have a car which over-winters in a garage away from the house. I take the battery off the car and bring it into the house, then give it a few of hours trickle charge about every 3 weeks.

Lead acid batteries self-discharge fairly quickly, moreso when it is cold, and being left discharged can shorten their useful life.

[suchy]

I disconnect my battery if it's going to be sitting for a week! Unless you're planning on driving it occasionally I would remove the battery if in a lock up or just disconnect if in your own garage.

[Grrrmachine]

The trouble with disconnecting the battery for any period of time is that it upsets the SI Batteries; these don't like going without charge for too long, and at 20 years old most will already be close to failing as it is.

With that in mind, leave the battery in and hook up a trickle charger if you can.

[maxfield]

With my e30 I've left the battery on for the past year, not charged it or anything and its still fine.

[suchy]

The trouble with disconnecting the battery for any period of time is that it upsets the SI Batteries; these don't like going without charge for too long, and at 20 years old most will already be close to failing as it is.

With that in mind, leave the battery in and hook up a trickle charger if you can.

I did not know that!!

[polsta]

With my e30 I've left the battery on for the past year, not charged it or anything and its still fine.

youve left car stood with battery connected, not started it for a year...and it fires up ?

[capri_rob]

Ctek battery conditioner - About £40 and you can leave it connected in the garage and forget it - keeps the battery permanently at full charge

[atlantis]

Unfortunatly no electric to the garage so can't use a charger.

Have thought of getting a solar charger but have heard different reviews about them.

Anybody know if there any good and can recommend one

Ta Andrew

[Simon]

Anyone looking for a trickle charger, Aldi have the £13.99 on offer again this week. Excellent bit of kit.

[polsta]

is that a solar one ? how longs the lead ?

[sunnyr83]

I don't use my e30 for 2-3 weeks at times so i use the solar one from maplins (£15.00 iirc), connected it up to the battery with croc clips, leads fairly long but the batts in the boot and the panel is put on the rear shelf.

Fires up no problem.

[polsta]

im thinking from the boot to the garage roof , but that parcel shelf idea when just parked up not being used is a good idea ! got a link to the maplins one ?

[sunnyr83]

http://www.maplin.co.uk/search?criteria=trikkle+charger

Bottom left of page for £19.99

[Low_E30]

Sunny, ever tried it with the cigerette lighter option?.... My battery's at the front....

[maxfield]

With my e30 I've left the battery on for the past year, not charged it or anything and its still fine.

youve left car stood with battery connected, not started it for a year...and it fires up ?

Wasn't started for about 6 months and fired on the key as it does every time. Hasn't been started for about 3 months and I know I could walk up to it and it would start on the key

[sunnyr83]

Sunny, ever tried it with the cigerette lighter option?.... My battery's at the front....

I have no need to try it that way.

Put the panel on the dash then, feed the wire through?

[Low_E30]

Just bought it. Will try with ciggy lighter for now and see how i get on....

[atlantis]

Yep think i'm gonna have a go with one of these, fortunatly the garage has a window so will be able to put it in there.

Ta for replies guys

Andrew