Trickle Battery Charger update

[cywprof]

Hi All,
appreciate the input from all regarding my query on "trickle battery chargers". I have been using a 1-A 12V model for a little while now. It has been extremely cold here (Ottawa). Mostly it is the roller coaster temps that drive us up the wall. -4C one day & -25C the next. By noon today it had warmed up to -14C. John in New Zealand eat your heart out! But I digress. My 1980 Volvo is cloistered in our attached unheated garage. Like an ice box in there. Don't want to heat as it encourages the salt/rust process. At noon today I turned off the Trickle battery charger, turned on the Volvo's ignition & it started no problem! Usual drill is to turn on a few power drains like the lights, heater, etc. Don't want a sudden major power demand (starting cold motor) to drain the battery first try .

Other methods not employed at this time: a battery blanket (plug in heater) & a block heater. So far no need for either. Only merit I can see with Global Warming is our winters won't get worse. You never know!
Calender says 56 more days until spring!
regards,
Bill

[Viking V40]

Originally Posted by cywprof

... Usual drill is to turn on a few power drains like the lights, heater, etc. Don't want a sudden major power demand (starting cold motor) to drain the battery first try.

Hi, I've read about people in extremely low temperatures doing this - turning on a few circuits, lights etc, before attempting the first start of the day. Why does it work?

[cywprof]

Originally Posted by Viking V40

Hi, I've read about people in extremely low temperatures doing this - turning on a few circuits, lights etc, before attempting the first start of the day. Why does it work?

I've been told that turning on a few assessories allows the battery to warm up. The lower demand gets the juices (current) flowing, warms up the lines avoiding a sudden large demand. Makes sense more or less. Except that when the battery is low you may hesitate. Not sure that you might risk what little energy you have.

For years I went the traditional way, e.g.: turn on the ignition & start the motor. Lately I've been doing the warm up the lines method. As a standby, I have a portable "booster" ready. They have been on the market for a few years now. They are about the size of small carry on case. Some models plug into your cigarette lighter or aux power socket. Others have clamps & function like a regular battery charger. You charge up the portable booster in the home. Simply plug into any AC outlet. They seem to hold a full charge for days. Added convenience is you can run several portable items like a portable DVD player to enein the Grand kids. Good for your mental health on long trips.

The booster pack really comes in handy when I encounter someone whose car won't start. Have played the "good samartian" several times. The practice use to be "booster cables" but they were cumbersome. Some times the car you wanted to start was beyond the reach of the booster cables. There was also the risk of doing serious damage to the alternator of the host car. The booster pack has been a convenient assessory. Never leave home without it!
regards,
Bill