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Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Technical => Topic started by: M@r]{ on October 22, 2007, 02:21:26 PM

Title: Those storing their Rotaries over winter: how are you keeping your battery good?
Post by: M@r]{ on October 22, 2007, 02:21:26 PM
Ive got various different bits and bobs I want to do to the RX over winter, so its likely to be off the road for a bit.  Just want some advice on keeping the battery good.  Its kept in a garage so the solar trickle chargers aren’t going to work.

What do you think?
Title: Those storing their Rotaries over winter: how are you keeping your battery good?
Post by: chrisBoid on October 22, 2007, 03:44:16 PM
I have used a mains powered Accumate battery drip feed charger for years now.  Ended up buying it from the TVR club.
Title: Those storing their Rotaries over winter: how are you keeping your battery good?
Post by: elford_tim on October 22, 2007, 03:53:06 PM
If you\'re not using it at all, pull the battery and use something like the Accumate or Optimate chargers. I\'ve also got an Accumate, mainly because I\'ve got a couple of bikes that have 6V electrics, but the regular Optimate or any other trickle charger (for example the ones offered by Frost (http://www.frost.co.uk/)) should do the job nicely.
Title: Those storing their Rotaries over winter: how are you keeping your battery good?
Post by: M@r]{ on October 22, 2007, 04:17:38 PM
With the Accumate can you not keep the battery connected?  Ideally I would like the alarm etc still working.  Also I would like the car ready to go in cae of an impromptu driving session  :)
Title: Those storing their Rotaries over winter: how are you keeping your battery good?
Post by: nick english on October 22, 2007, 04:28:24 PM
i havbeen thinking abut the same thing as i allways have a flat battery after about 10 days.this one looks like good value and u leave it on ready to go-
http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp?productID=9416&frostProductName=Battery PulseMaster &catID=18&frostCat=Electrics&frostSubCat=Battery Care&subCatID=26
Title: Those storing their Rotaries over winter: how are you keeping your battery good?
Post by: elford_tim on October 22, 2007, 04:40:52 PM
Quote from: \'M@r{\']With the Accumate can you not keep the battery connected?  Ideally I would like the alarm etc still working.  Also I would like the car ready to go in cae of an impromptu driving session  :)

Yes you can, but depending on where you store the car you may have to keep the Accumate out of the rain...
Title: Those storing their Rotaries over winter: how are you keeping your battery good?
Post by: M@r]{ on October 22, 2007, 04:43:18 PM
I\'m making some enquiries about a possible group buy on the Accumate ones.  Waiting to hear back
Title: Those storing their Rotaries over winter: how are you keeping your battery good?
Post by: Cycaduk on October 22, 2007, 06:03:05 PM
If you are keeping the battery on charge you will also have to check the water levels weekly. But why not just start it up and go for a 20 mile trip once a week? Much more fun .
Title: Those storing their Rotaries over winter: how are you keeping your battery good?
Post by: nick english on October 22, 2007, 06:22:44 PM
Quote from: \'M@r{\']I\'m making some enquiries about a possible group buy on the Accumate ones.  Waiting to hear back
i will be up for that will hang fire for a bit then
Title: Those storing their Rotaries over winter: how are you keeping your battery good?
Post by: elford_tim on October 22, 2007, 06:27:04 PM
Quote from: CycadukIf you are keeping the battery on charge you will also have to check the water levels weekly.

Not with the smart chargers mentioned earlier in this thread - that\'s the whole point of having them in the first place.

Quote from: CycadukBut why not just start it up and go for a 20 mile trip once a week? Much more fun .

That may be the case but it depends very much on the weather - I wouldn\'t want to go out in the FD in grotty weather, and the FC isn\'t going anywhere near a road if the council is working on turning said road into salted pork...
Title: Those storing their Rotaries over winter: how are you keeping your battery good?
Post by: chrisBoid on October 22, 2007, 06:59:53 PM
Quote from: \'M@r{\']With the Accumate can you not keep the battery connected?  Ideally I would like the alarm etc still working.  Also I would like the car ready to go in case of an impromptu driving session  :)

Yep, the battery remains connected :)
Title: Those storing their Rotaries over winter: how are you keeping your battery good?
Post by: M@r]{ on October 22, 2007, 07:13:45 PM
All sounds good then.  No worries on weather / water and the accumate for me, the car lives in the garage (fondly known as its bed  ;)  )

Still waiting to hear back frmo them on the Group Buy
Title: Those storing their Rotaries over winter: how are you keeping your battery good?
Post by: noyzboy on October 22, 2007, 08:57:55 PM
I use a CTEK.

see:   http://www.hamiltonclassic.co.uk/ProductInformation/BatteryCareCTEK.htm.

Martin H
Title: Those storing their Rotaries over winter: how are you keeping your battery good?
Post by: SmbFD3S on October 23, 2007, 11:31:04 AM
I use the Oxford Oximiser, readily available on ebay cos i also have a couple of bikes i like to keep topped up...
 
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OXFORD-OXIMISER-PLUG-IN-MOTORCYCLE-BATTERY-CHARGER_W0QQitemZ160168637424QQihZ006QQcategoryZ25643QQcmdZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OXFORD-OXIMISER-PLUG-IN-MOTORCYCLE-BATTERY-CHARGER_W0QQitemZ160168637424QQihZ006QQcategoryZ25643QQcmdZViewItem)
 
Works really well, and used this for about 2 years now with no problems on all sorts of vehicles
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