Those storing their Rotaries over winter: how are you keeping your battery good?

[M@r]{]

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?

[chrisBoid]

I have used a mains powered Accumate battery drip feed charger for years now.  Ended up buying it from the TVR club.

[elford_tim]

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) should do the job nicely.

[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  

[nick english]

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

[elford_tim]

{\']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...

[M@r]{]

I\'m making some enquiries about a possible group buy on the Accumate ones.  Waiting to hear back

[Cycaduk]

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 .

[nick english]

{\']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

[elford_tim]

If 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.

But 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...

[chrisBoid]

{\']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

[M@r]{]

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

[noyzboy]

I use a CTEK.

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

Martin H

[SmbFD3S]

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
 
Works really well, and used this for about 2 years now with no problems on all sorts of vehicles