Simbathecat Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Afternoon all, This is my first post on the forums (so please no flaming !) having recently bought my first Seven (a beautiful 1999 Green / yellow nose 1800 Roadsport). I have the standard Banner battery in the car and will likely be using the car a lot less in coming months due to the wet, cold weather. Concensus on the forum seems to be to use a conditioner (Accumate seems to be a regular recommendation - any others ?) to keep the battery in top form especially as it will be drained over time by the immobiliser. A few questions: - is it advisable to keep the battery in situ in the car when hooked up to the conditioner or should you remove it from the car before connecting the conditioner - if one can simply attach a conditioner to the battery in situ, does anyone hook the conditioner into their car via a cigarette lighter sicket (in other words avoiding the need to take hood off and fiddle with clips) ? Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Welcome You'll find plenty of bright days to drive it. No need to disconnect battery. Yes - My 12V power socket is wired directly across the battery terminals (with an in-line fuse), so I just plug the Optimate into the power socket under dash. No messing about with cables or bonnet removal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markiebabes Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Hi Simbathecat and welcome I use a banner battery conditioner when the cars not in use for any length of time - is it advisable to keep the battery in situ in the car when hooked up to the conditioner or should you remove it from the car before connecting the conditioner mine is done in situ would say for long periods and very cold weather take it indoors . - if one can simply attach a conditioner to the battery in situ, does anyone hook the conditioner into their car via a cigarette lighter socket (in other words avoiding the need to take hood off and fiddle with clips) ? this is how I do mine 😬 through the cigarette lighter socket works fine just make sure its fused As Ian said 😬 MTF HTH Mark 7 Webshots here R400 😬 pure fun ( more so with Aero fitted ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 I disconnect the battery and don't condition it (no power available) - however, better advice is above. edit: and WELCOME! 😬 😬 Anthony Edited by - anthonym on 22 Oct 2009 18:55:36 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dickbowyer Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Welcome - if one can simply attach a conditioner to the battery in situ, does anyone hook the conditioner into their car via a cigarette lighter sicket (in other words avoiding the need to take hood off and fiddle with clips) ? What is this taking the hood off thing? Is that an americanism for bonnet or weather gear 😬? My advice would be to use cigarette lighter socket with in-line fuse and avoid any bonnet removal and avoid any weather when weather gear is appropriate! Dick Superlight SV Duratec R400 Arch Inside 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simbathecat Posted October 22, 2009 Author Share Posted October 22, 2009 Splendid. Thanks all and apologies for the Americanism ! Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david nelson Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 one other thing you have to do. Make sure the battery is at the correct water level. After using a condenser for a few years my battery died as it had dried up. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Especially with the heat in a Seven engine bay ! If you have to top it up, make sure you use distilled or de-ionised water, NOT tap water. Then charge it after topping up, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JampJ Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Get a CTEK3600, better than the Accumate, it will charge from flat and recondition the battery. Cheers John JFDI (Just F*****g Do It) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S47zz Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Different train of thought - I always disconnect my battery whenever the car is in the garage, by doing this there's no draIN on the battery whatsoever, and Iv'e never had a battery problem since I've been disconnecting it. for sure it's more hassle but to me it's worth the extra effort. I guesss it depends how handy/motivated you are with a spanner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 same here, it all started one day when I asked about the shelf life of a new, unused, charged battery and was told "two years". Ever since then it has seemed simple enough to simply disconnect the battery, it's not as if I need anything at all on the car to be functioning, and there always seems to be some sneaky thing, on one car it was the clock (yes, in a 7) Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted October 23, 2009 Area Representative Share Posted October 23, 2009 S47 I agree with the principle but why not fit a battery isolator? Democratic dissent is not disloyalty, it is a positive civic duty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S47zz Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 GJT That'll work too, but do you really need one?? I don't, I've also heard that they cause a voltage drop, which leads to starting/cranking problems, can't comment personally on this though coz I've never had an isolator fitted on my car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 I would avoid a battery cut off switch - they are the scource of too many electrical gremlins over the years and are unreliable. I always carry a spare in my tool box. Maybe the newer solid state ones are the solution ?. here is my Duratec R .... C7 TOP Taffia AO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 ps - hello Mal have you chosen your menu yet ? here is my Duratec R .... C7 TOP Taffia AO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S47zz Posted October 23, 2009 Share Posted October 23, 2009 Dave J Menu - yep I'll have a duratec with 250BHP please, with a 6 speed SC/CR on the side *biggrin* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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