Car battery during lockdown

ripplyuk

twhitehousescat said:

ripplyuk said:

I won’t be attempting to use a charger on it. 

I think I’ll end up just taking it out for a drive once a week or so. Though I’m not sure if that’s against the rules in this lockdown. 

I’m a bit confused because I posted before when I was having battery problems and lots of people commented saying it was because I wasn’t driving anywhere near enough to keep the battery charged (roughly 50 miles/week). But other people here are saying it should be fine without being driven for ages. 

its not the total weeks driving , 50 miles divided by 7 = about 7 miles per day , probably with multiple stop and starts , 

No, it’s two trips of 10 miles, one of just over 20 miles and a couple of about 4 miles. Per week on average. There’s no stopping in between on these trips. I’m actually not sure it’s my mileage that caused those battery problems back then. I’ve had no problems since replacing the battery so maybe it was just worn out.  

But I understand what @Andy_L means about it not using much power just sitting in the drive. Starting it up for a short run would be worse. 

twhitehousescat

ripplyuk said:

twhitehousescat said:

ripplyuk said:

I won’t be attempting to use a charger on it. 

I think I’ll end up just taking it out for a drive once a week or so. Though I’m not sure if that’s against the rules in this lockdown. 

I’m a bit confused because I posted before when I was having battery problems and lots of people commented saying it was because I wasn’t driving anywhere near enough to keep the battery charged (roughly 50 miles/week). But other people here are saying it should be fine without being driven for ages. 

its not the total weeks driving , 50 miles divided by 7 = about 7 miles per day , probably with multiple stop and starts , 

No, it’s two trips of 10 miles, one of just over 20 miles and a couple of about 4 miles. Per week on average. There’s no stopping in between on these trips. I’m actually not sure it’s my mileage that caused those battery problems back then. I’ve had no problems since replacing the battery so maybe it was just worn out.  

But I understand what @Andy_L means about it not using much power just sitting in the drive. Starting it up for a short run would be worse. 

you are now beginning to understand 

AdrianC

neilmcl said:

You could try something like this which will connect to your phone via bluetooth to check your battery from inside the house.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-40-149-Vehicle-Battery-Monitor/dp/B0188TGF6W/ref=sr_1_13

Because, obvs, what you really want is something that drains the battery still further.

SuzieSue

I bought something like this and have used it a few times:

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/battery-maintenance/jump-starters/halfords-advanced-lithium-jump-starter---up-to-2l-677444.html

Norman_Castle

neilmcl said:

You could try something like this which will connect to your phone via bluetooth to check your battery from inside the house.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-40-149-Vehicle-Battery-Monitor/dp/B0188TGF6W/ref=sr_1_13

I think we're still allowed out of the house.

neilmcl

Norman_Castle said:

neilmcl said:

You could try something like this which will connect to your phone via bluetooth to check your battery from inside the house.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-40-149-Vehicle-Battery-Monitor/dp/B0188TGF6W/ref=sr_1_13

I think we're still allowed out of the house.

Of course we can but the OP's concern is whether his battery is going to get flat and when/if he needs to go out and do something about it. Something like the thing I posted is ideal for that.

neilmcl

AdrianC said:

neilmcl said:

You could try something like this which will connect to your phone via bluetooth to check your battery from inside the house.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-40-149-Vehicle-Battery-Monitor/dp/B0188TGF6W/ref=sr_1_13

Because, obvs, what you really want is something that drains the battery still further.

I think a company like Ctek would've actually considered that. The drain from something like this is going to be minuscule.

AdrianC

neilmcl said:

AdrianC said:

neilmcl said:

You could try something like this which will connect to your phone via bluetooth to check your battery from inside the house.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-40-149-Vehicle-Battery-Monitor/dp/B0188TGF6W/ref=sr_1_13

Because, obvs, what you really want is something that drains the battery still further.

I think a company like Ctek would've actually considered that. The drain from something like this is going to be minuscule.

1mA.
https://www.ctek.com/products/vehicle/ctx-battery-sense -> FAQ, "How much battery power does it use?"
~1Ah/month.
Small, yes. But still tangible extra draw.

It's a pointless frippery, and it consumes electricity from the battery.

oldagetraveller1

Scrapit said:

No mention of bore washing yet....

I have to wash mine after every no. 2 because of the morons buying up all the bog roll!

Geodark

Not just batteries, I can see a lot of DPF problems coming up in the future