Travel lockdown and car battery

[FnG]magnolia

[FnG]magnolia

[FnG]magnolia

Caporegime
Joined
29 Aug 2007
Posts
28,767
Location
Auckland
New Zealand has a travel lockdown in place where only travel deemed essential is permitted. I have two cars sitting on the drive and wondering how best to keep the batteries from dying. Is the car being on but not moving for, say, 20 minutes sufficient or is there a better way? I don't have a trickle charger or any other means of charging it from an external source although perhaps that's a good option to consider?

Thoughts?
 
Invest in a trickle charger.

A ctek and 2 sets of direct connect adapters to allow easy swapping.
 
I doubt it’ll be necessary.

I came back from 4 weeks in Spain and my car started first time after being parked up.
 
Clov!s said:
I doubt it’ll be necessary.

I came back from 4 weeks in Spain and my car started first time after being parked up.
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Yeah this. I had a 2000 plate pajero a couple of summers ago. Left it at the airport, came back and jumped in and left.

If you're out for food, every two weeks (probably more often?) you're going to be fine.
 
Not moving won't do anything, the auxiliary belt needs to be running to run the alternator, if anything you'll run the battery down like that.

You could jack the wheels up and stick it in gear and place a brick on accelerator for 20mins.
 
jsmoke said:
Not moving won't do anything, the auxiliary belt needs to be running to run the alternator, if anything you'll run the battery down like that.

You could jack the wheels up and stick it in gear and place a brick on accelerator for 20mins.
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I'm sorry that's total rubbish.

A car will charge at idle.
 
jsmoke said:
Not moving won't do anything, the auxiliary belt needs to be running to run the alternator, if anything you'll run the battery down like that.

You could jack the wheels up and stick it in gear and place a brick on accelerator for 20mins.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure the alternator belt is run from the engine, not from the driveline after the transmission.
 
Cool. So ...

1. Do nothing, probably fine; or
2. Run at idle or use for necessary trips every now and again; and
3. Ignore jsmoke's alternative reality posts.

Thanks :)
 
Another option, disconnect the battery (and store it at home). Preferably fully charge first. It will stay charged for months.

20 min drive once a month should be sufficient.
 
[QUOTE="[FnG] the car being on but not moving for, say, 20 minutes sufficient [/QUOTE]

It will be sufficient but will introduce condensation in the crank case as the engine has not got up to working temperature. A battery tender will do the job and swap it between cars so they get one week on and one week off.
 
jsmoke said:
Not moving won't do anything, the auxiliary belt needs to be running to run the alternator, if anything you'll run the battery down like that.

You could jack the wheels up and stick it in gear and place a brick on accelerator for 20mins.
Click to expand...

This is why you don't take advice from the internet... :p
 
jsmoke said:
Not moving won't do anything, the auxiliary belt needs to be running to run the alternator, if anything you'll run the battery down like that.

You could jack the wheels up and stick it in gear and place a brick on accelerator for 20mins.
Click to expand...

One of the more "impressive" posts i've ever read.
 
and the knee bone's connected to the shin bone
and the aux belt's connected to the drive-shaft

wut?!
 
Yes, definitely put a brick on the pedal and allow a cold engine to sit on the rev limiter for 20 minutes.

Might as well undo the oil drain plug whilst you're there to allow the oil to circulate more freely using mavity.

e: Aactually, if you throw the battery away then you won't have to worry about it discharging :)
 
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