Technical Got to charge the battery

[Obadiah]

SWMBO just tried to go out in the doblo, after a week off school, non starter! have taken it off and put on charge, but this is the first time that I have had to do this with a modern 'electronic' car.
Any tips, please, as to what may go wrong/not work, when I pou the battery back on?

Thanks!!

 

[johnhififan]

I have disconnected mine before with no issues on reconnection.
If youre charging it with a modern charger there should be no need to disconnect.

 

[malagaman]

Depending on model, when I've disconnected to recharge ('03 1.9JTD) the trip computer resets to zero and the radio loses preset channels apart from that no probs.

 

[sludgeguts]

Depending on model, when I've disconnected to recharge ('03 1.9JTD) the trip computer resets to zero and the radio loses preset channels apart from that no probs.

:yeahthat: 06 1.9jtd

I've just wired in an extension socket giving permanent live to / from the battery so when I'm at work all day I can use a solar panel to dribble some juice into the battery - I only do 3miles each way so the battery will really suffer as it's not getting back what it's put out to start the motor.

 

[johnhififan]

ctek

 

[Maggie]

:yeahthat: 06 1.9jtd

I've just wired in an extension socket giving permanent live to / from the battery so when I'm at work all day I can use a solar panel to dribble some juice into the battery - I only do 3miles each way so the battery will really suffer as it's not getting back what it's put out to start the motor.

Be careful with solar charging panels as they don't have charging circuits built in, and could overcharge and damage your battery if left on for long periods of time.

 

[Obadiah]

Thanks for the help! ended up buying a new battery,as I didn't want to risk leaving SWMBO stranded on her trip into Central London.
Fitted new one and all I had to do (have found to do?) was reinput the radio code!

 

[sludgeguts]

Be careful with solar charging panels as they don't have charging circuits built in, and could overcharge and damage your battery if left on for long periods of time.

Interesting. Although it's a bit too late for my leisure batteries on the caravan - I used to leave them on charge all year round. When they weren't being used on the van, they had solar panels constantly charging them - and my garden is south facing so they had very strong sun most of the year.
The batteries were always in tiptop condition (I even used them to jumpstart my car once or twice) and never seemed to suffer as a result of always being on charge.

 

[johnhififan]

Overcharging is possible depending on the voltage being applied, so it really depends on the solar cells used. If the solar cells are 12v then they can't really overcharge in fact they probably won't do anything as batteries foat at about 12.4-12.8V, if 16v then they could, but a big car battery is probably not going to be too troubled with the area of solar cells possible to install on a car, if it was a big array producing many amps in which case thieves would pinch the solar pannel and leave the car, then maybe.
The big drawback with solar is it's great in summer when starting is easy but winter when you need it the sun hardly shows.

 

[murphyv310]

Hi.
Solar panels actually don't charge constantly! You won't get a smigin of power in darkness Also there are two other factors to consider, the electronic drain on the battery from ECU, car radio memory and normal electrolytic drain on the battery won't usually allow the the battery voltage to rise above 14.4v unless you are using a solar panel that is too big.
If you are, charging regulators are available.