Battery Isolator

[davidbooker]

Other than disabling the Symphony radio code, is it safe to fit a battery isolator switch?
The car is only used at weekends, and the battery often won't quite start the engine, and needs help from a power pack. Obviously, I know the alarm won't be active, buy can anything else be damaged by disconnecting the battery?

[COLVERT]

NO.---However the battery is either in very poor condition or needs a 24 hour charge.

If the plates in the battery are in good condition a charge up is ESSENTIAL.--Not charging it will allow the plates to deteriorate after a few months and will drastically reduce its working life.

[davidbooker]

Trouble is, she is only driven about twenty or thirty miles at weekends, often with the lights on at this time of year. There is no problem in summer months. If the weather is dry (I do not have a garage), I do occasionally give the battery a good charge, and this lasts a few weeks. My garage has checked for any background current loss, but all seems normal

[Ross R75]

Originally Posted by COLVERT

NO.---However the battery is either in very poor condition or needs a 24 hour charge.

If the plates in the battery are in good condition a charge up is ESSENTIAL.--Not charging it will allow the plates to deteriorate after a few months and will drastically reduce its working life.

Thirty miles at a weekend should be enough to keep it ticking over, assuming the alternator is doing its job. Put it on charge for 24 hours, otherwise it probably won't last through the winter.

[COLVERT]

Originally Posted by Ross R75

Thirty miles at a weekend should be enough to keep it ticking over, assuming the alternator is doing its job. Put it on charge for 24 hours, otherwise it probably won't last through the winter.

The trouble is 30 miles equates to about 1 hour on a charger.---

A reasonable sized solar panel charger would be a really good idea.

The need is to start with a fully charged battery. The panel then will offset any loss through the cars electronic system plus any natural discharge in the battery itself.

The OP says the car is outside and not in a garage.

[COLVERT]

Originally Posted by davidbooker

Trouble is, she is only driven about twenty or thirty miles at weekends, often with the lights on at this time of year. There is no problem in summer months. If the weather is dry (I do not have a garage), I do occasionally give the battery a good charge, and this lasts a few weeks. My garage has checked for any background current loss, but all seems normal

David. In the technical section of the forum have a look in the thread called-----Really, really useful information.

Have a read of two of my posts there about caring for your battery.---



Colvert.

[Ross R75]

Originally Posted by COLVERT

The trouble is 30 miles equates to about 1 hour on a charger.---

A reasonable sized solar panel charger would be a really good idea.

The need is to start with a fully charged battery. The panel then will offset any loss through the cars electronic system plus any natural discharge in the battery itself.

The OP says the car is outside and not in a garage.

Remove the battery from the car and charge it indoors

[COLVERT]

Originally Posted by Ross R75

Remove the battery from the car and charge it indoors

Would that disable the alarm and the dead lock system to the doors ?

[Ross R75]

Originally Posted by COLVERT

Would that disable the alarm and the dead lock system to the doors ?

The alarm, yes, not the deadlocks. It's likely the least desirable car on the planet for a would be thief, and probably won't go far without a battery anyway.

I normally just park mine in front of my garage and run an extension cable under the door. Hook up the charger and let it do its stuff.