Keeping battery charged with no garage

[Agenesis]

Solved.

 

[weadjust]

Solar battery charger. 14.99 @ Harbor Freight. Cheaper with coupon.

http://www.harborfreight.com/15-watt-solar-battery-charger-68692.html

 

[EagleKeeper]

Outdoor extension cord from residence to charger.
Put charger inside the hood if it might disappear.

 

[Agenesis]

Solar battery charger. 14.99 @ Harbor Freight. Cheaper with coupon.

http://www.harborfreight.com/15-watt-solar-battery-charger-68692.html

Wow I didn't know such thing existed. My car turns off the front cigarette plug while it's off thought. I'll go check the other console plug and see if it remains on.

Outdoor extension cord from residence to charger.
Put charger inside the hood if it might disappear.

I thought about doing that but didn't really like the idea. The place has occasional traffic and there might be some issues if someone were to trip and fall.

 

[LTC8K6]

It has battery clips as well, and a long cord, so you should be good to go either way.

There are several ways to connect it and set it up.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Year/make/model of car???????

 

[EagleKeeper]

Outdoor extension cord from residence to charger.
Put charger inside the hood if it might disappear.

I thought about doing that but didn't really like the idea. The place has occasional traffic and there might be some issues if someone were to trip and fall.

If grass/gravel; bury the cord 1 inch deep.

If cement/tar; put a plate /mat/etc over it.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Burying a regular extension cord is a definite no-no in my opinion. A mat of some type is ok for temporary stuff, but it will eventually wear through the cord. The only truly correct way to install this is with outdoor romex and a covered outlet, overkill for keeping a battery charged.


IMHO one of those solar things is probably ok. I would be leery of the quality and potential for overcharging.

Also need to check to see if their car's cig outlet is a direct-linked fused circuit. But, we can't, because the OP neglected to put year/make/model in their post.




I seriously think we should have a sticky with "PLEASE READ before asking for help" that informs people to ALWAYS post year/make/model/mileage even if they think it isn't required.

 

[LTC8K6]

If you can drive the car for 15-20 minutes every week or 2 weeks, that is the best thing to do. It's good to get the fluids circulating at operating temp once in a while.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

If you can drive the car for 15-20 minutes every week or 2 weeks, that is the best thing to do. It's good to get the fluids circulating at operating temp once in a while.

Agree, but he could have a vehicle from 1996 that has a 10 year old battery.


OP: Short trips where oil doesn't get up to temp is brutal on your car. You need to go for at least a 15 mile drive every couple weeks to get oil and engine up to temp.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Solar battery charger. 14.99 @ Harbor Freight. Cheaper with coupon.

http://www.harborfreight.com/15-watt-solar-battery-charger-68692.html

+1

These are really handy. I've personally used for camping, shed lighting, and keeping motorcycle battery topped off.

 

[LTC8K6]

+1

These are really handy. I've personally used for camping, shed lighting, and keeping motorcycle battery topped off.

They are unregulated, though.

 

[Agenesis]

Looks like my only option now is to drive the car around. Damn, the solar charger thing looked so enticing too. But once a week isn't so bad.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Burying a regular extension cord is a definite no-no in my opinion. A mat of some type is ok for temporary stuff, but it will eventually wear through the cord. The only truly correct way to install this is with outdoor romex and a covered outlet, overkill for keeping a battery charged.

An extension cord labeled for outdoor use should not be a problem; different quality than a normal extension cord.

I agree; Romex with the appropriate plugs wired at both ends would be better for outdoor use.

Mat should only wear the cord if people are stepping on the cord under the mat multiple times.


The OP could just remove the battery and keep it inside on a trickle charger; installing when needed.

I have had a Chrysler with 2-3 yr old battery sit in an airport parking lot for 6 weeks with no starting issues.

 

[weadjust]

The solar charger comes with battery clamps to hook it directly to the battery. Run the wire to the inside of the car and set the panel on the dash.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

The solar charger comes with battery clamps to hook it directly to the battery. Run the wire to the inside of the car and set the panel on the dash.

If the op would give us the year make model...... We might be able to tell him to plug it into the cig lighter.

 

[thedarkwolf]

I have had a Chrysler with 2-3 yr old battery sit in an airport parking lot for 6 weeks with no starting issues.

People worry about this too much. Car batteries will last a pretty long time without doing anything.

 

[LTC8K6]

People worry about this too much. Car batteries will last a pretty long time without doing anything.

Many won't.

It depends on the year, really.

Newer cars have a lot of stuff running in the background when the key is off.

My 2008 Jeep actually has a fuse that you remove if you are going to leave it sit.

Of course, you could just remove the negative battery terminal. That would eliminate any parasitic draw. But that can bring other problems with alarms, door locks, etc.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Many won't.

It depends on the year, really.

Newer cars have a lot of stuff running in the background when the key is off.

My 2008 Jeep actually has a fuse that you remove if you are going to leave it sit.

Of course, you could just remove the negative battery terminal. That would eliminate any parasitic draw. But that can bring other problems with alarms, door locks, etc.

Or, one of those switch style disconnects.. Open hood, flip a switch, and buy a jumpbox just in case the battery dies.

Still need year/make/model before suggesting this though.

 

[Agenesis]

Updated the OP with the make and model just in case anybody might have more ideas. But plugging in a charger via the cigarette port is far as I'll go since I'm as car illiterate as they come.

Also no idea about the make and model of the battery. It could be a potato for all I know.

 

[tortillasoup]

cigarette lighter idea might not work as a lot of cars turn off the power to the cigarette lighter when the key isn't in the ignition.

 

[WilliamM2]

It's pretty easy to rewire the cigarette lighter to remain on at all times. I've done it couple of times. Just run new wires to the fuse box to a circuit that is always on. If you are actually going to use it as a cigarette lighter (most cars don't even come with them) make sure you use the proper size wire.

 

[tortillasoup]

It's pretty easy to rewire the cigarette lighter to remain on at all times. I've done it couple of times. Just run new wires to the fuse box to a circuit that is always on. If you are actually going to use it as a cigarette lighter (most cars don't even come with them) make sure you use the proper size wire.

this guy is scared to even open up the engine bay, the idea of him doing that is so way beyond him it's not even funny. There is really no point in going through all that effort when a quick disconnect harness left in the engine bay would be so much easier.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yeah, his first sentence is right where we have ended up.

Drive it for 20 minutes every 2 weeks.

 

[Sluggo]

Previous owner of my car installed a quick disconnect on the battery to save it, since it was not driven much. Not sure how long the battery would stay charged if it had no draw at all.