Battery going flat

STUBIE · 29th May 2017, 14:48

I only use only V6 at weekends and if i'm on holiday or away then it can be a couple of weeks before I come to use it again.

I have had problems like I have at the moment of the battery going completely flat. The car did a 350 mile return from Scotland, was used once and then not used over the last 2 weeks, I tried to use it Saturday and the battery was flat. The battery was a new Bosch which replaced another Bosch which I had problems with last October.

I have no navigation which is the usual source of battery drain.

Any ideas?

Stubs

SD1too · 29th May 2017, 16:38

Check the charging voltage either using the instrument pack diagnostics or a multimeter placed across the battery terminals. Ideally this should be about 14 volts.

For long life car batteries need to be kept in a fully charged state constantly. Your useage pattern results in 'cycling' which does not suit car batteries. Your batteries are probably dying because of this, if the charging voltage is correct. The solution is to connect a mains powered maintenance charger during the two weeks that you're not using the car. The C-tek brand are high quality and durable.

Simon

STUBIE · 29th May 2017, 17:03

Thanks Simon, the mains power charger would be difficult to do due to its location but I mat look for a solar trickle charger

Stubs

SD1too · 29th May 2017, 21:57

A solar charger won't be powerful enough for your circumstances. Can you remove the battery from the car and charge it in the house somewhere? Or just use the car more.

Simon

MSS · 30th May 2017, 08:16

It' a shame that charger manufacturers do not produce a cost effective 12v to 12v intelligent battery charger. Such a device would be used to regularly top-up the car's battery from a portable donor battery and would solve the problem that so many people have with the lack of inaccesible mains sockets.

If you are handly with electronic circuits, a CTEK or Optimate could be modified to work in this manner.

3disco · 30th May 2017, 20:47

I use my tourer infrequently so disconnect the battery if not using.

MarkS · 31st May 2017, 09:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by STUBIE

Thanks Simon, the mains power charger would be difficult to do due to its location but I mat look for a solar trickle charger

Stubs

https://the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/s...0&postcount=20

Snetty · 31st May 2017, 09:43

Stubs have you got a highline fitted, as my old CDT with highline always drained the battery for some reason.

MarkS · 31st May 2017, 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by mss

It' a shame that charger manufacturers do not produce a cost effective 12v to 12v intelligent battery charger. Such a device would be used to regularly top-up the car's battery from a portable donor battery and would solve the problem that so many people have with the lack of inaccesible mains sockets.

If you are handly with electronic circuits, a CTEK or Optimate could be modified to work in this manner.

The reason why these are probably not made is because:
1) The donor battery would need to have a similar capacity as the car battery, ie heavy and dangerous to carry around.
2) The donor battery would be discharged until it is nearly flat. This would lead to a short life for the donor battery. Which would be kind of self defeating.

I suppose there is an opening here to use a battery that has high energy content, and the ability to withstand being repeatedly discharged to flat: eg a Lithium battery.

SD1too · 31st May 2017, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snetty

Stubs have you got a highline fitted ...

A glance above Adi will reveal this:

Quote:

Originally Posted by STUBIE

I have no navigation which is the usual source of battery drain.

Simon

29th May 2017, 14:48	#1
STUBIE This is my second home Back in a Rover Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Peterborough Posts: 4,926 Thanks: 131 Thanked 357 Times in 261 Posts	Battery going flat I only use only V6 at weekends and if i'm on holiday or away then it can be a couple of weeks before I come to use it again. I have had problems like I have at the moment of the battery going completely flat. The car did a 350 mile return from Scotland, was used once and then not used over the last 2 weeks, I tried to use it Saturday and the battery was flat. The battery was a new Bosch which replaced another Bosch which I had problems with last October. I have no navigation which is the usual source of battery drain. Any ideas? Stubs

29th May 2017, 16:38	#2
SD1too Doesn't do things by halves Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur Auto (1999) Dealer launch model. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Former Middlesex Posts: 20,344 Thanks: 1,587 Thanked 3,749 Times in 3,181 Posts	Check the charging voltage either using the instrument pack diagnostics or a multimeter placed across the battery terminals. Ideally this should be about 14 volts. For long life car batteries need to be kept in a fully charged state constantly. Your useage pattern results in 'cycling' which does not suit car batteries. Your batteries are probably dying because of this, if the charging voltage is correct. The solution is to connect a mains powered maintenance charger during the two weeks that you're not using the car. The C-tek brand are high quality and durable. Simon __________________ "Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble." Sir Henry Royce.

29th May 2017, 21:57	#4
SD1too Doesn't do things by halves Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur Auto (1999) Dealer launch model. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Former Middlesex Posts: 20,344 Thanks: 1,587 Thanked 3,749 Times in 3,181 Posts	A solar charger won't be powerful enough for your circumstances. Can you remove the battery from the car and charge it in the house somewhere? Or just use the car more. Simon __________________ "Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble." Sir Henry Royce.

29th May 2017, 17:03	#3
STUBIE This is my second home Back in a Rover Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Peterborough Posts: 4,926 Thanks: 131 Thanked 357 Times in 261 Posts	Thanks Simon, the mains power charger would be difficult to do due to its location but I mat look for a solar trickle charger Stubs

30th May 2017, 08:16	#5
MSS This is my second home Rover 75CDT, Jaguar XF-S 3.0V6, V'xhall Omega V6 Estate, Twintop 1.8VVT, Astra Estate and Corsa 1.2 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7,083 Thanks: 283 Thanked 624 Times in 440 Posts	It' a shame that charger manufacturers do not produce a cost effective 12v to 12v intelligent battery charger. Such a device would be used to regularly top-up the car's battery from a portable donor battery and would solve the problem that so many people have with the lack of inaccesible mains sockets. If you are handly with electronic circuits, a CTEK or Optimate could be modified to work in this manner.

30th May 2017, 20:47	#6
3disco 3disco ROVER 75 CONN TOURER CDTI and ZTT V8 SE LPG Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: chardstock.axminster,devon Posts: 1,493 Thanks: 361 Thanked 94 Times in 85 Posts	I use my tourer infrequently so disconnect the battery if not using.

31st May 2017, 09:43	#8
Snetty Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ingoldisthorpe Posts: 1,114 Thanks: 731 Thanked 415 Times in 274 Posts	Stubs have you got a highline fitted, as my old CDT with highline always drained the battery for some reason.