Keeping a battery charged in a little-used car

moonage

We've a car that's almost always used for short trips around town a few times a week. It hardly ever gets a longer run.

Recently the battery went dead and had to be jump started. I then took it on a 30 mile run to charge up the battery a bit.

I think I need to do this longer trip more regularly to keep the battery from cutting out. How often should I do it? Would every 2 or 3 weeks be enough?

How old is the battery?

Bruthal

Yea its probably the age of the battery that`s the real problem.

moonage

RoverJames wrote: »

How old is the battery?

I don't know.

It's a 2000 car that I got second hand.

I've had a look at the battery but can't see any date on it. Do batteries normally have the date when they're installed written on them?

antodeco

I've the same problem. Brand new battery, Dies within a week. There's a drain on the battery somewhere. It's not the alternator. I just jump start it as needs be. I think of it as a security feature

Bruthal

antodeco wrote: »

I've the same problem. Brand new battery, Dies within a week. There's a drain on the battery somewhere. It's not the alternator. I just jump start it as needs be. I think of it as a security feature

That was happening with a neighbours car here a while back. A quick look found it to be the boot light not going off when the boot was closed.

moonage

BTW, I got the car serviced shortly before the battery died.

Would a standard service not check the state of the battery, including how charged it was?

coylemj

moonage wrote: »

BTW, I got the car serviced shortly before the battery died.

Would a standard service not check the state of the battery, including how charged it was?

As it's a 2000 car I'm thinking you didn't get it serviced by a main dealer so it's unlikely that it was checked. If it was you probably wouldn't like the bill for labour as they could check the battery and a lot of other stuff but people have to draw the line somewhere.

Most modern batteries are sealed so you can't measure the specific gravity of the electrolyte (the acid) which used to be the way you checked the health of a car battery. All you can measure is the voltage but if the engine has been running for a while it will probably show a decent voltage but that doesn't mean it won't be dead in the morning!

aujopimur

Your local motor factor will load test the battery for you, this will indicate its condition.

greglo23

A 12 volt solar battery charger would be your best bet if the battery is still ok. One of these should do the job ! http://www.ebay.ie/itm/4-Watt-12v-Volt-Solar-Panel-Trickle-Car-Battery-Charger-/120920947330?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Battery_Chargers&hash=item1c27733a82#ht_4172wt_922

Gagetman

Yes the solar charger will do the job perfectly, I use one on a vintage car to keep the battery topped up when not in use and the engine starts every time No matter how long it's been idle. If the car is stored in the garage then you will have to mount the solar panel outside and run a wire to the battery. If the car is parked on the street then you could have the panel inside the window where it can get the most sunshine.

CJhaughey

If it's in a Garage then I'd rather have something like an Optimate hooked up to the battery to keep it good.
If its outside then a Solar panel may be handier.
There is a whole load of intelligent chargers out now that should do the trick.

Lon Dubh

Thanks for the link Greglo23. I will be doing mostly infrequent short journeys in my car myself, so not the best for the battery, and one of these might help to keep the battery topped up.

To anyone who uses them, are there any brands better than others or anything to watch out for? I was thinking of getting the 2 watt version of the one linked to above.

They seem quite cheap anyway, especially if it saves the hassle of a flat battery.

Edit: I meant to say I don't have a garage or a driveway, so would be charging this outside in an estate so this sort of charger looks good to me as it could be hooked up inside the car.