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Charging parked vehicles

2K views 42 replies 0 participants last post by  SpamTrapSeeSig 
G
#1 ·
Over the last few months i have bought new batteries for half of the
fleet and am now feeling paranoid about looking after them.

I'm also sick of going out to use/move a car and finding that the
battery is flat.

Rigging up some kind of charging system would be good, and also help
my batteries during the winter cold.

Has anybody got any suggestions on possible ways to do this?

I've been thinking, and have thought of the following options:

Solar panels fitted in/on cars -
No running costs, but very low powered.
Maplins sell a 1.5watt one ( http://tinyurl.com/7hecf ), which by my
calculations is only about 0.1Amps. Is there much point in this?
This also wont be working at night, when its more use (so that the
battery is powered when it is coldest and ready for me to use the car
in the morning)

Low ampage mains charger
A low ampage charger such as this one http://tinyurl.com/b3w2h that
charges at 2.7amps. Presumably it should be clever enough that it
should only charge when the battery needs it.
Could be put on a timer to only work at night to save me money.

I have also seen more expensive battery chargers designed to be left
on all the time. How do they differ from something like the above
one?.

If i go for this option then my second issue is where i should put
things?. My cars are parked a good 20m or so of cable length away from
the house.
I can either -
Site the chargers in the house and run long charging cables out to the
cars. This would be good as i wouldnt have to put any mains leccy
outside and could keep an eye on the chargers. Would this be okay or
would i have issues with running low currents and the chargers sensing
the battery state over the 20m or so that i need?.
I could also use something like a caravan towing socket to easily plug
into the cars to save unearthing batteries every time.

second option - build a little box outside next to my drive. run mains
to that and put the chargers in it. Run short charge cables from there
to each car. I'm not so keen on this as i cant see what the chargers
are doing. I do need to put in an outdoor socket anyway though so i
can use tools outside easily.

third option - put a charger in each car, and plug the car into the
mains. I can use caravan mains sockets. I'm not sure i want to leave a
charger unnatended in my car for long periods though. (I had one that
went pop and started smoking once).
This method would also be good because i can leave my car pc powered
up to use it from within the house :)

Has anybody got any good advice or ideas?
 
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G
#2 ·
Tom Woods wrote:

> Has anybody got any good advice or ideas?


Disconnect the battery? It's the cheapest option but you will
lose things like radio presets.I've used one of those big red
cut-off switches you see on rally cars, saves messing around with
spanners.

John
 
G
#3 ·
In message <3s3bp2Fm20l8U1@individual.net>
John Greystrong <johnny_g@ntlworld.com> wrote:

> Tom Woods wrote:
>
> > Has anybody got any good advice or ideas?

>
> Disconnect the battery? It's the cheapest option but you will
> lose things like radio presets.I've used one of those big red
> cut-off switches you see on rally cars, saves messing around with
> spanners.
>
> John


<shamelss plug>
MBS1 Battery Isolator Switch - Removable Key £4.35
</shamless plug>

Would that count as a pun?

Richard
--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk sales@beamends-lrspares.co.uk
Running a business in a Microsoft free environment - it can be done
Powered by Risc-OS - you won't get a virus from us!!
Boycott the Yorkshire Dales - No Play, No Pay
 
G
#5 ·
On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 07:03:14 +0100, John Greystrong
<johnny_g@ntlworld.com> wrote:

>Tom Woods wrote:
>
>> Has anybody got any good advice or ideas?

>
>Disconnect the battery? It's the cheapest option but you will
>lose things like radio presets.I've used one of those big red
>cut-off switches you see on rally cars, saves messing around with
>spanners.


I've fitted one of them on the 2A. It's actually on its second one as
the first started smoking when i was cranking the starter and then
melted.

I'm still keen on fitting some kind of charging solution as i was
under the impression that leaving batteries standing unused for
weeks/months outside was still bad for them?
 
G
#6 ·
Tom Woods wrote:

> Over the last few months i have bought new batteries for half of the
> fleet and am now feeling paranoid about looking after them.
>
> I'm also sick of going out to use/move a car and finding that the
> battery is flat.
>
> Rigging up some kind of charging system would be good, and also help
> my batteries during the winter cold.
>
> Has anybody got any suggestions on possible ways to do this?
>
> I've been thinking, and have thought of the following options:
>
> Solar panels fitted in/on cars -
> No running costs, but very low powered.
> Maplins sell a 1.5watt one ( http://tinyurl.com/7hecf ), which by my
> calculations is only about 0.1Amps. Is there much point in this?
> This also wont be working at night, when its more use (so that the
> battery is powered when it is coldest and ready for me to use the car
> in the morning)
>
> Low ampage mains charger
> A low ampage charger such as this one http://tinyurl.com/b3w2h that
> charges at 2.7amps. Presumably it should be clever enough that it
> should only charge when the battery needs it.
> Could be put on a timer to only work at night to save me money.
>
> I have also seen more expensive battery chargers designed to be left
> on all the time. How do they differ from something like the above
> one?.
>
> If i go for this option then my second issue is where i should put
> things?. My cars are parked a good 20m or so of cable length away from
> the house.
> I can either -
> Site the chargers in the house and run long charging cables out to the
> cars. This would be good as i wouldnt have to put any mains leccy
> outside and could keep an eye on the chargers. Would this be okay or
> would i have issues with running low currents and the chargers sensing
> the battery state over the 20m or so that i need?.
> I could also use something like a caravan towing socket to easily plug
> into the cars to save unearthing batteries every time.
>
> second option - build a little box outside next to my drive. run mains
> to that and put the chargers in it. Run short charge cables from there
> to each car. I'm not so keen on this as i cant see what the chargers
> are doing. I do need to put in an outdoor socket anyway though so i
> can use tools outside easily.
>
> third option - put a charger in each car, and plug the car into the
> mains. I can use caravan mains sockets. I'm not sure i want to leave a
> charger unnatended in my car for long periods though. (I had one that
> went pop and started smoking once).
> This method would also be good because i can leave my car pc powered
> up to use it from within the house :)
>
> Has anybody got any good advice or ideas?


I would suggest a somewhat larger solar charger, about 6w for example will
charge at around half an amp maximum. I have used this successfully for a
couple of years on my tractor as I got sick of replacing the battery nearly
every time I went to use it (It only gets used every few months). They are
relatively expensive - unless you get them like I did at a clearing sale
for $20.
JD
 
G
#7 ·
....and EMB spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...


> beamendsltd wrote:
>
>> <shamelss plug>
>> MBS1 Battery Isolator Switch - Removable Key £4.35
>> </shamless plug>
>>
>> Would that count as a pun?

>
> A shocking pun.


Wire you encouraging him?

--
Rich
==============================
Disco 300 Tdi auto
S2a 88" SW
Tiggrr (V8 trialler)
 
G
#8 ·
Richard Brookman wrote:
> ...and EMB spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...
>
>
>
>>beamendsltd wrote:
>>
>>
>>><shamelss plug>
>>>MBS1 Battery Isolator Switch - Removable Key £4.35
>>></shamless plug>
>>>
>>>Would that count as a pun?

>>
>>A shocking pun.

>
>
> Wire you encouraging him?
>

Good to see you made the connection.

--
EMB
 
G
#9 ·
Tom Woods wrote:

> I'm still keen on fitting some kind of charging solution as i was
> under the impression that leaving batteries standing unused for
> weeks/months outside was still bad for them?


Dunno. I know that constantly flattening them is jolly bad for their
longevity.

John
 
G
#10 ·
....and EMB spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...


> Richard Brookman wrote:
>> ...and EMB spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...
>>
>>
>>
>>> beamendsltd wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> <shamelss plug>
>>>> MBS1 Battery Isolator Switch - Removable Key £4.35
>>>> </shamless plug>
>>>>
>>>> Would that count as a pun?
>>>
>>> A shocking pun.

>>
>>
>> Wire you encouraging him?
>>

> Good to see you made the connection.


There's a whole battery of bad jokes looming.

--
Rich
==============================
Disco 300 Tdi auto
S2a 88" SW
Tiggrr (V8 trialler)
 
G
#11 ·
Richard Brookman wrote:
> ...and EMB spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...
>
>
>
>>Richard Brookman wrote:
>>
>>>...and EMB spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>beamendsltd wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>><shamelss plug>
>>>>>MBS1 Battery Isolator Switch - Removable Key £4.35
>>>>></shamless plug>
>>>>>
>>>>>Would that count as a pun?
>>>>
>>>>A shocking pun.
>>>
>>>
>>>Wire you encouraging him?
>>>

>>
>>Good to see you made the connection.

>
>
> There's a whole battery of bad jokes looming.
>

I'll see if I can generate a few more before someone someone blows a
fuse about us not staying on the current topic.

--
EMB
 
G
#12 ·
> I would suggest a somewhat larger solar charger, about 6w for example will
> charge at around half an amp maximum. I have used this successfully for a
> couple of years on my tractor as I got sick of replacing the battery

nearly
> every time I went to use it (It only gets used every few months). They

are
> relatively expensive - unless you get them like I did at a clearing sale
> for $20.
>


I use two of the little 1.5w ones on my 80 amp hour boat battery. It won't
charge a flat battery as such but does prevent natural discharge. I use the
boat every couple of weeks but only use the battery for lights at night and
the radio. The battery stays charged all season and during the summer
months will charge enough to cover the little I use out of it. This will be
the first winter with the panels on board so we'll see how it goes. They
cost me £14 each from gts online, an ebay seller.

TonyB
 
G
#13 ·
....and EMB spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...


> Richard Brookman wrote:
>> ...and EMB spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...
>>
>>
>>
>>> Richard Brookman wrote:
>>>
>>>> ...and EMB spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> beamendsltd wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> <shamelss plug>
>>>>>> MBS1 Battery Isolator Switch - Removable Key £4.35
>>>>>> </shamless plug>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Would that count as a pun?
>>>>>
>>>>> A shocking pun.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Wire you encouraging him?
>>>>
>>>
>>> Good to see you made the connection.

>>
>>
>> There's a whole battery of bad jokes looming.
>>

> I'll see if I can generate a few more before someone someone blows a
> fuse about us not staying on the current topic.


This has been done before, and I amp got any new jokes. Watt a shame.

--
Rich
==============================
Disco 300 Tdi auto
S2a 88" SW
Tiggrr (V8 trialler)
 
G
#14 ·
Richard Brookman wrote:
> ...and EMB spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...


>>I'll see if I can generate a few more before someone someone blows a
>>fuse about us not staying on the current topic.

>
>
> This has been done before, and I amp got any new jokes. Watt a shame.
>

We might have to rectify that.

Thread snipped of excess ballast.

--
EMB
 
G
#15 ·
On Tue, 25 Oct 2005 08:31:55 +1300, EMB <embtwo@gmail.com> wrote:

>>>>>>
>>>>>>Would that count as a pun?
>>>>>
>>>>>A shocking pun.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Wire you encouraging him?
>>>>
>>>
>>>Good to see you made the connection.

>>
>>
>> There's a whole battery of bad jokes looming.
>>

>I'll see if I can generate a few more before someone someone blows a
>fuse about us not staying on the current topic.


Someone needs to take charge of you two.
 
G
#16 ·
On or around Mon, 24 Oct 2005 21:45:22 +0100, Tom Woods
<tomarse_@hotmail.com> enlightened us thusly:

>On Tue, 25 Oct 2005 08:31:55 +1300, EMB <embtwo@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Would that count as a pun?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>A shocking pun.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Wire you encouraging him?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Good to see you made the connection.
>>>
>>>
>>> There's a whole battery of bad jokes looming.
>>>

>>I'll see if I can generate a few more before someone someone blows a
>>fuse about us not staying on the current topic.

>
>Someone needs to take charge of you two.


This sounds like the shed.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose"
Alphonse Karr (1808 - 1890) Les Guêpes, Jan 1849
 
G
#17 ·
On Tue, 25 Oct 2005 09:02:31 +0100, Austin Shackles
<austinNOSPAM@ddol-las.net> wrote:

>On or around Mon, 24 Oct 2005 21:45:22 +0100, Tom Woods
><tomarse_@hotmail.com> enlightened us thusly:
>
>>On Tue, 25 Oct 2005 08:31:55 +1300, EMB <embtwo@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Would that count as a pun?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>A shocking pun.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Wire you encouraging him?
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Good to see you made the connection.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> There's a whole battery of bad jokes looming.
>>>>
>>>I'll see if I can generate a few more before someone someone blows a
>>>fuse about us not staying on the current topic.

>>
>>Someone needs to take charge of you two.

>
>This sounds like the shed.


No.

Hiss, miss and urinate sound like this.

The head, the bed and the dead sound like the shed.

Hope that clears things up.

David
 
G
#18 ·
In message <mb5ol1h4u9lpu1mh3vo09llrebc7d8ndct@4ax.com>, Tom Woods
<tomarse_@hotmail.com> writes
>second option - build a little box outside next to my drive. run mains
>to that and put the chargers in it. Run short charge cables from there
>to each car. I'm not so keen on this as i cant see what the chargers
>are doing. I do need to put in an outdoor socket anyway though so i
>can use tools outside easily.

Sorry to sound pedantic, but unless you are a qualified electrician it
is now illegal to add additional new circuits. It is OK I believe to
put a new socket on the end of an existing circuit .
--
hugh
Reply to address is valid at the time of posting
 
G
#19 ·
hugh wrote:

..
>
> Sorry to sound pedantic, but unless you are a qualified electrician it
> is now illegal to add additional new circuits. It is OK I believe to
> put a new socket on the end of an existing circuit .


Not /quite/ but made b********y difficult (unless you have a supply of
of suitable cable dated prior to 2005!). Google search UK DIY
newsgroup, drop in the magic phrase 'Part P' and then duck.
--
Real email address is RJSavage at BIGFOOT dot COM
 
G
#20 ·
On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 16:54:06 +0100, hugh <hugh@[127.0.0.1]> wrote:

>In message <mb5ol1h4u9lpu1mh3vo09llrebc7d8ndct@4ax.com>, Tom Woods
><tomarse_@hotmail.com> writes
>>second option - build a little box outside next to my drive. run mains
>>to that and put the chargers in it. Run short charge cables from there
>>to each car. I'm not so keen on this as i cant see what the chargers
>>are doing. I do need to put in an outdoor socket anyway though so i
>>can use tools outside easily.

>Sorry to sound pedantic, but unless you are a qualified electrician it
>is now illegal to add additional new circuits. It is OK I believe to
>put a new socket on the end of an existing circuit .


I presume i'm allowed to add it if i attach it to the house via a
plug. Or get a suitably qualified mate to come round for a cup of tea
and attach the final cable to my fuse box?

Though TBH are the police going to come and arrest me for doing some
wiring on my house?
I can imagine that i might have trouble if i was selling it and had a
survey done and didnt have the certificates for it but do they really
think they can stop people doing work themselves?
 
G
#21 ·
Tom Woods wrote:

Snip

>>Sorry to sound pedantic, but unless you are a qualified electrician it
>>is now illegal to add additional new circuits. It is OK I believe to
>>put a new socket on the end of an existing circuit .

>
> I presume i'm allowed to add it if i attach it to the house via a
> plug. Or get a suitably qualified mate to come round for a cup of tea
> and attach the final cable to my fuse box?
>
> Though TBH are the police going to come and arrest me for doing some
> wiring on my house?
> I can imagine that i might have trouble if i was selling it and had a
> survey done and didnt have the certificates for it but do they really
> think they can stop people doing work themselves?


... and who is going to admit to having done any work after the deadline?
 
G
#22 ·
On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 23:42:37 +0100, Dougal
<DougalAThiskennel.free-online.co.uk> wrote:

>> I can imagine that i might have trouble if i was selling it and had a
>> survey done and didnt have the certificates for it but do they really
>> think they can stop people doing work themselves?

>
>.. and who is going to admit to having done any work after the deadline?


Any work done is obvious i think as the new wire is different colours.
 
G
#23 ·
Tom Woods wrote:

> Though TBH are the police going to come and arrest me for doing some
> wiring on my house?
> I can imagine that i might have trouble if i was selling it and had a
> survey done and didnt have the certificates for it but do they really
> think they can stop people doing work themselves?


There might also be a bit of trouble with the insurance people if it
caused a fire.


--
EMB
 
G
#24 ·
On or around Thu, 27 Oct 2005 00:39:58 +0100, Tom Woods
<tomarse_@hotmail.com> enlightened us thusly:

>On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 23:42:37 +0100, Dougal
><DougalAThiskennel.free-online.co.uk> wrote:
>
>>> I can imagine that i might have trouble if i was selling it and had a
>>> survey done and didnt have the certificates for it but do they really
>>> think they can stop people doing work themselves?

>>
>>.. and who is going to admit to having done any work after the deadline?

>
>Any work done is obvious i think as the new wire is different colours.


You reckon?

there's plenty of red/black wire about the place. New installations are
changing to brown/blue, this is true.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"Ask yourself whether you are happy, and you cease to be so."
John Stuart Mill (1806 - 1873)
 
G
#25 ·
On or around Thu, 27 Oct 2005 13:38:46 +1300, EMB <embtwo@gmail.com>
enlightened us thusly:

>Tom Woods wrote:
>
>> Though TBH are the police going to come and arrest me for doing some
>> wiring on my house?
>> I can imagine that i might have trouble if i was selling it and had a
>> survey done and didnt have the certificates for it but do they really
>> think they can stop people doing work themselves?

>
>There might also be a bit of trouble with the insurance people if it
>caused a fire.


yebbut, you'd still deny all knowledge and swear blind that it was like that
when you bought it, wouldn't you?
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"Ask yourself whether you are happy, and you cease to be so."
John Stuart Mill (1806 - 1873)
 
G
#26 ·
Austin Shackles wrote:
> On or around Thu, 27 Oct 2005 13:38:46 +1300, EMB <embtwo@gmail.com>
> enlightened us thusly:
>
>
>>Tom Woods wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Though TBH are the police going to come and arrest me for doing some
>>>wiring on my house?
>>>I can imagine that i might have trouble if i was selling it and had a
>>>survey done and didnt have the certificates for it but do they really
>>>think they can stop people doing work themselves?

>>
>>There might also be a bit of trouble with the insurance people if it
>>caused a fire.

>
>
> yebbut, you'd still deny all knowledge and swear blind that it was like that
> when you bought it, wouldn't you?


Absolutely.

--
EMB
 
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