Battery Maintenance Chargers

[ovlov04v]

Can I ask for a bit of help please?

I have an my20 S60 and my wife has an my17 V40, both petrol.

Although I have a 240 volt supply in my shed I can't get the cars inside and obviously don't want 240v trailing across the yard.

I am unclear as to whether I need a specific type of charger for whatever the type of batteries are in the cars and I dont know which type they might be anyway.

So, it seems my option is to use a solar powered arrangement. Is this the case and if so how do I get the supply from inside the car to the battery terminals and keep the car watertight?

Also as this is hopefully a one off need I dont want to spend more than I need. The cars are normally in regular use and we have notn had any low battery issues.

Many thanks in anticipation of your advice.

[Bob Meadows]

Hi: ~
A couple of points- if the cars are in regular use then the battery condition should remain good due to the constant use.

If you are set on not using a 240 mains power supply then the next option is the solar powered types- the leads to these are quite thin so should not cause any water leaks if passed through the door seals- I much prefer the mains chargers i.e. Gunsons red box models with the battery conditioner/trickle charge- but my cars are not used that often- one has the rubber classic battery.

I haven’t used the smaller compact chargers but the reports are generally quite positive, I don’t know the specifics of the batteries you have in the cars but whatever option you may go for then a check with the manufacturer prior to purchase should prove useful etc. . . I doubt that the batteries are anything out of the ordinary.
Good Luck. Bob

[ovlov04v]

Thanks. Apologies that i didnt make it clear that we are on the 12 week isolation jaunt so the cars will not be getting their regular use hence my research now.

[Bob Meadows]

Just give it a boost? by starting and run (Static) until fully warmed.
I would think that you would be fine without the expense of a charger.
Trust it helps
Bob

[Dastardly Diesel]

At idle, depending on the battery capacity, it takes roughtly 15 or more minutes of idle to replace the charge taken by starting, so you need to let it sit there burbling away for 15 minutest least just to get back where you were before you began.

Then starting and not driving is particularly harmful to DPF equipped diesels, to be avoided if at all possible.

And it's not just whether or nor the battery will start the car to consider, but ultimate battery life. SLA batteries like to be charged regularly, and while it may well still be able to start a car after 2 weeks sitting idle such a pattern of usage is detrimental to their overall span, and will hasten their demise.

For the sake of a cheap maintenance charger all these problems, unwarranted cost, and ball ache inconvenience can be avoided.

[S60D5-185]

My xc90 hasn't turned a wheel for over 4 weeks now, nor has it been started.

I have my optimate charger on it and it's keeping the battery healthy.

As Dastardly says, starting it just to hopefully put a bit of charge in is not a good idea particularly on a modern DPF equipped vehicle,.

In the OP's case his are Petrol vehicles but he's still better off with a maintenance charger.

[V90Towman]

Does anyone use a specific brand they can recommend? I am concerned my XC60 battery will suffer if this current new world carries on, it's either start it up and run static for 20 / 30 mins or buy a charger or face the consequences if the battery etc drains.

[Dastardly Diesel]

I use an Optimate 3. I had it for my motorbikes, but for just keeping the XC90's battery tipped off it's perfect.

[V90Towman]

Amazon have the BUDDYGO Car Battery Charger, good ratings and high ave only 23 GBP
vs Röhr Car Battery Charger 45 Amp 12V / 24V @ 65GBP again good ratings and ave score.... guess they will both do the job?

[Bob Meadows]

http://www.gunson.co.uk/products/Batteries-$-Electrics/Battery-Chargers

Gunsons are descent products:~ Bob