Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Technical => I. C. E. & Electrical => Topic started by: d6277n on February 10, 2008, 07:46:15 PM

Title: Flat battery
Post by: d6277n on February 10, 2008, 07:46:15 PM
Just had the joy of calling out the RAC to sort my flat battery. My garage has no power, and I can\'t always take the Rex out every week. I didn\'t realise that I\'d only get ~3 weeks of battery life with the alarm on - seems incredibly short to me! If I switch the alarm off overnight, my insurance is void...

Short of getting a trickle charger and a spare battery which I can keep in the house, does ayone have any ideas how to avoid this happening again?

Ta,

Chris.
Title: Flat battery
Post by: Jin Kazama on February 10, 2008, 10:41:23 PM
I had exactly the same problem. I have a small red top battery which my clifford drains in around 5 days. I disconnect the battery when I leave the car for any length of time. It\'s a bit of a pain in the backside, but it works. Alternatavly, I have seen solar powered battery chargers, but I am dubious as to if they can supply enough current to feed an alarm.
Title: Flat battery
Post by: batman on February 11, 2008, 09:41:02 AM
there are alarms you can buy that will measure voltage drop and when the battery gets to low the car starts its self and runs for a bit to prolong the battery life
Title: Flat battery
Post by: mpk490p on February 11, 2008, 11:23:12 AM
Quote from: ascaudiothere are alarms you can buy that will measure voltage drop and when the battery gets to low the car starts its self and runs for a bit to prolong the battery life
not sure thats going to be good for a rotary, get a trickle charger ive just brought a new battery and im going to hook up a connector in the front of the car somewhere that i can just plug a trickle charger into without opening the bonnet, plus with having no door locks its a good way to get power into a flat battery rather than climing in through the boot!!!

Mark
Title: Flat battery
Post by: Andy_k on February 11, 2008, 12:52:27 PM
Quote from: ascaudiothere are alarms you can buy that will measure voltage drop and when the battery gets to low the car starts its self and runs for a bit to prolong the battery life


I\'d never get any rest at night if my car kept starting itself, i\'d be out there in seconds.

Anyone no anymore about the solar powered chargers? Any good?
Title: Flat battery
Post by: nick english on February 11, 2008, 04:52:02 PM
Quote from: Andy_kI\'d never get any rest at night if my car kept starting itself, i\'d be out there in seconds.

Anyone no anymore about the solar powered chargers? Any good?

my battery goes flat in 2 weeks and tried the solar chargers but didnt supply sufficient charge but did prolong it by a few more days.
i now use a c tek xs 800 to trickle charge it,didnt use the car for 5 months and started first time with full charge in battery.think it cost about £40 ish.
Title: Flat battery
Post by: d6277n on February 11, 2008, 06:34:37 PM
I need to move to somewhere which has a garage with power :Grrr

Chris.
Title: Flat battery
Post by: mpk490p on February 11, 2008, 06:42:15 PM
ah didn\'t realize you had no power in the garage, in that case a trickle charger and very long extension lead!:Thumbsup!

Mark
Title: Flat battery
Post by: neil_jdmr on February 16, 2008, 10:12:45 AM
Can you not just run a supply to your garage? an extension cable is ok but not ideal. Do you know a friendly sparky who could hard wire you one in, its a piece of **** job and would probably only cost you the same as a charger.
Title: Flat battery
Post by: d6277n on February 16, 2008, 05:55:51 PM
Yeah, I could do but it\'s a block of flats with a residents committee who really don\'t want us to do anything to the outside of the flats. If it got spotted I\'d be in trouble. Give me a year or two of moaning about it and I\'ll move house!

Chris.
Title: Flat battery
Post by: batman on February 16, 2008, 06:12:06 PM
block of flats what you worried about take a feed of the street lighting like evey one else does
Title: Flat battery
Post by: royal on February 16, 2008, 08:32:02 PM
Why don\'t you just disconnect your battery if its being left for more than a few days? I\'ve got one of those small race batteries and have a similar problem so I just disconnect it and alls dandy.
Title: Flat battery
Post by: Jin Kazama on February 16, 2008, 10:21:56 PM
Quote from: royalWhy don\'t you just disconnect your battery if its being left for more than a few days? I\'ve got one of those small race batteries and have a similar problem so I just disconnect it and alls dandy.
This is the same as what I said, 2nd post!:rolleyes:
Title: Flat battery
Post by: Paul-Tll on February 17, 2008, 09:35:05 AM
so you need the battery for the alarm for insurence, easy get a second batery 30quid job couple of leads and put it on with jumper leads when you park up. Take the 2nd batery back to you flat and charge once amonth when your out in the car?
P.
Title: Flat battery
Post by: allstaruk on February 17, 2008, 11:56:01 AM
Quote from: Paul-Tllso you need the battery for the alarm for insurence, easy get a second batery 30quid job couple of leads and put it on with jumper leads when you park up. Take the 2nd batery back to you flat and charge once amonth when your out in the car?
P.

Thats what I\'d be doing or if the garage has a flat roof, I\'d put a decent sized solar pannel on it.