| Author |
Message |
tech27
Guest
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 Posted:
Tue Nov 23, 2004 5:40 pm Post subject:
Battery Charging |
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I'm storing my M5 for the winter, and as suggested I've getting a 2amp
intelligent trickle charger to maintain the battery. It charges slowly, then
shuts off, then charges again when the battery needs it. Supposed to be very
good. My question is should I disconnect and/or take the battery out of the
car (being stored inside) or not?
Thanks.
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Dave Plowman (News)
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 24, 2004 12:08 am Post subject:
Re: Battery Charging |
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In article <AnIod.26967$NC6.5253@newsread1.mlpsca01.us.to.verio.net>,
tech27 <tech27@mail.anonymizer.com> wrote:
| Quote: | My question is should I disconnect and/or take the battery out of the
car (being stored inside) or not?
|
Assuming the battery is in good condition, if you disconnect it and keep
it somewhere not too cold, it will only need a small recharge a couple of
times over the winter. The self discharge rate of a lead acid battery is
very low.
--
*Work is for people who don't know how to fish.
Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
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Tom Korth
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 24, 2004 4:31 am Post subject:
Re: Battery Charging |
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"tech27" <tech27@mail.anonymizer.com> wrote in message
news:AnIod.26967$NC6.5253@newsread1.mlpsca01.us.to.verio.net...
| Quote: | I'm storing my M5 for the winter, and as suggested I've getting a 2amp
intelligent trickle charger to maintain the battery. It charges slowly,
then shuts off, then charges again when the battery needs it. Supposed to
be very good. My question is should I disconnect and/or take the battery
out of the car (being stored inside) or not?
I'd opt for not removing the battery. |
The Battery Tender I use for my motorcycle came with an accessory cord &
socket which attaches to the battery terminals. It is then a simple matter
to attach the mating charger plug to the socket & plug the charger in to the
120v current. Since I ride the bike every 3-4 weeks, it would be a real
hassle to remove & reinstall the battery this often. Even if you just
attach the charger's clips directly to the battery, what is gained by
removing it?
Also, you won't have to reset all your electrical goodies in the Spring when
you put the battery back in!
Tom
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tech27
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:40 am Post subject:
Re: Battery Charging |
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"Tom Korth" <tkorth1nospam@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:_4Wdnfw2-b3aVT7cRVn-qQ@comcast.com...
| Quote: |
"tech27" <tech27@mail.anonymizer.com> wrote in message
news:AnIod.26967$NC6.5253@newsread1.mlpsca01.us.to.verio.net...
I'm storing my M5 for the winter, and as suggested I've getting a 2amp
intelligent trickle charger to maintain the battery. It charges slowly,
then shuts off, then charges again when the battery needs it. Supposed to
be very good. My question is should I disconnect and/or take the battery
out of the car (being stored inside) or not?
I'd opt for not removing the battery.
The Battery Tender I use for my motorcycle came with an accessory cord &
socket which attaches to the battery terminals. It is then a simple
matter to attach the mating charger plug to the socket & plug the charger
in to the 120v current. Since I ride the bike every 3-4 weeks, it would
be a real hassle to remove & reinstall the battery this often. Even if
you just attach the charger's clips directly to the battery, what is
gained by removing it?
Also, you won't have to reset all your electrical goodies in the Spring
when you put the battery back in!
Tom
|
Thanks. I've purchased the BMW battery tender and it's perfect. Only $90
Canadian and it just plugs into the lighter socket. Very simple, and I like
that I got it from BMW. In case there is any damage to the battery or
electrics I can go back to them. (not that I'm expecting any problems). |
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Matt O'Toole
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:40 am Post subject:
Re: Battery Charging |
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Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
| Quote: | In article <AnIod.26967$NC6.5253@newsread1.mlpsca01.us.to.verio.net>,
tech27 <tech27@mail.anonymizer.com> wrote:
My question is should I disconnect and/or take the battery out of
the car (being stored inside) or not?
Assuming the battery is in good condition, if you disconnect it and
keep it somewhere not too cold, it will only need a small recharge a
couple of times over the winter. The self discharge rate of a lead
acid battery is very low.
|
Actually, it's low enough so that six months on the shelf shouldn't be a
problem, as long as it's fully charged when stored.
Trickle chargers are great if you want to leave the battery in the car, so you
don't have to mess with reprogramming radios, etc. Or you could just go for a
half hour drive whenever the weather and roads are nice enough. You should do
this anyway to exercise your AC system.
Matt O. |
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tech27
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:40 am Post subject:
Re: Battery Charging |
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"Matt O'Toole" <matt@deltanet.com> wrote in message
news:30ibiqF2uamncU1@uni-berlin.de...
| Quote: | Trickle chargers are great if you want to leave the battery in the car, so
you
don't have to mess with reprogramming radios, etc. Or you could just go
for a
half hour drive whenever the weather and roads are nice enough. You
should do
this anyway to exercise your AC system.
Matt O.
I know about running the AC system, but that's mainly to keep the seals |
supple. If the car is stored inside it's not necessary. The most important
thing I wanted to relate to you is that it is NOT recommended to drive a
stored car as you suggested. Even assuming that you want to keep full
insurance coverage on it )-; , the big problem is that driving it then
letting it sit for an extended period causes moisture to build up after the
car is stopped. This is not good and is worse than just parking it, letting
everything dry, and leaving it alone. So I've been told on good authority. |
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Dave Plowman (News)
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 24, 2004 9:22 am Post subject:
Re: Battery Charging |
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In article <30ibiqF2uamncU1@uni-berlin.de>,
Matt O'Toole <matt@deltanet.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Assuming the battery is in good condition, if you disconnect it and
keep it somewhere not too cold, it will only need a small recharge a
couple of times over the winter. The self discharge rate of a lead
acid battery is very low.
Actually, it's low enough so that six months on the shelf shouldn't be a
problem, as long as it's fully charged when stored.
|
Yup. I was erring on the side of caution.
| Quote: | Trickle chargers are great if you want to leave the battery in the car,
so you don't have to mess with reprogramming radios, etc. Or you could
just go for a half hour drive whenever the weather and roads are nice
enough. You should do this anyway to exercise your AC system.
|
Yes.
And I'd baulk at paying 90 dollars for a trickle charger - it should cost
no more than any other wall wart type PS, perhaps 20 or so.
For 90 dollars you should be able to get a general purpose charger that
will also be ok for trickle charging.
--
*Why does the sun lighten our hair, but darken our skin?
Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
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Dave Plowman (News)
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 24, 2004 9:28 am Post subject:
Re: Battery Charging |
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In article <G1Uod.27210$NC6.2054@newsread1.mlpsca01.us.to.verio.net>,
tech27 <tech27@mail.anonymizer.com> wrote:
| Quote: | I know about running the AC system, but that's mainly to keep the seals
supple. If the car is stored inside it's not necessary.
|
Hmm. It's the oil in the refrigerant that needs circulating to the various
seals and bearings. I doubt the storage method makes much difference -
indeed most things will dry out more quickly at a higher temperature.
| Quote: | The most important thing I wanted to relate to you is that it is NOT
recommended to drive a stored car as you suggested. Even assuming that
you want to keep full insurance coverage on it )-; , the big problem is
that driving it then letting it sit for an extended period causes
moisture to build up after the car is stopped. This is not good and is
worse than just parking it, letting everything dry, and leaving it
alone. So I've been told on good authority.
|
I'd say the jury's out. Of course, if you are going to run it, it's
important the whole car gets well and truly warmed through. So just
running the engine for a few minutes until the gauge reads normal isn't
such a good idea.
--
*Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery? *
Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
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Dan Drake
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 24, 2004 2:50 pm Post subject:
Re: Battery Charging |
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On Wed, 24 Nov 2004 09:22:47 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
<dave@davenoise.co.uk> wrote:
| Quote: | For 90 dollars you should be able to get a general purpose charger that
will also be ok for trickle charging.
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For $90, I'd want a new battery...
--
Dan Drake |
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tech27
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:40 pm Post subject:
Re: Battery Charging |
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"Fred W" <Fred.Wills@SPAMmyrealbox.com> wrote in message
news:94WdnVejxsSfPzncRVn-ig@adelphia.com...
| Quote: | tech27 wrote:
This does not make much sense to me. If this were the case, then driving
it daily would be as bad or worse!
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No. It's not about driving it every day, it's about driving it then letting
it sit for much longer periods in between.
| Quote: |
Where exactly is this "moisture build-up" supposed to occur? The only
place that I can see (assuming that you are only driving in fair weather)
would be in the exhaust system. Personally, I would (and do) run that
risk.
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Exhaust and internals. Anything that air can get to can potentially get
moisture and corrosives as the water reacts to other compounds.
| Quote: |
BTW - after many years of owning roadsters that do not get driven
regularly in the New England winters, I have found that the savings of
taking the car off the insurance for 3-4 months is not worth the hassle of
dropping and adding it to the policy.
|
You'd need to insure an new M5 in Canada to appreciate the economy of doing
this.
Granted, that may vary with
| Quote: | your location. Besides that, the car would not be covered in the event of
a catastrophe (fire, etc.) by my home-owners policy.
|
I maintain the insurance for fire/theft/etc. Just not collision/accident
liability (the lion's share of the cost).
And then there
| Quote: | are always thoise few really nice days where the sun is shining an the
temps sky-rocket to above freezing and the roiads are dry enough... Those
are actually some of the most satisfying driving days ever, after being
cooped up so long...
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True. On those days maybe I'll just back the car out into the sun and sit in
it. (-;
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Somebody
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:40 pm Post subject:
Re: Battery Charging |
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"tech27" <tech27@mail.anonymizer.com> wrote in message
news:2p2pd.27324$NC6.13843@newsread1.mlpsca01.us.to.verio.net...
| Quote: | True. On those days maybe I'll just back the car out into the sun and sit
in
it. (-;
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I just had a visual of you doing that in a subdivision somewhere and your
neighbours looking out and shaking their heads...
:-)
-Russ. |
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tech27
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:40 pm Post subject:
Re: Battery Charging |
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"maxima1" <maxima1@ameritech.net> wrote in message
news:4117912d.0411240530.5a7f5a88@posting.google.com...
| Quote: |
Thanks. I've purchased the BMW battery tender and it's perfect. Only $90
Canadian and it just plugs into the lighter socket.
Sort of like perpetual motion. You plug one end into the cigarette
lighter and connect the clips to the battery. That certainly is
convenient, and no wasted AC power! :)
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Yeah. Really works, but I think I'll plug the other end into an AC outlet
just to be sure.
| Quote: |
If it came from BMW you can assume it will work for your car, but
please note that some cigarette lighters are really power ports and
are not functional when the car is off---no charge would ever pass
unless the car was in the accessory or "on" position.
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I'm pretty sure that BMW has thought of this.
| Quote: |
Matthew
00 528i Sport |
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tech27
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:40 pm Post subject:
Re: Battery Charging |
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"Dave Plowman (News)" <dave@davenoise.co.uk> wrote in message
news:4d12ca4c9adave@davenoise.co.uk...
| Quote: | In article <G1Uod.27210$NC6.2054@newsread1.mlpsca01.us.to.verio.net>,
I'd say the jury's out. Of course, if you are going to run it, it's
important the whole car gets well and truly warmed through. So just
running the engine for a few minutes until the gauge reads normal isn't
such a good idea.
--
*Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery? *
Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
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As was told to me, the problem is with driving/running the car, then leaving
it sit for an extended period, then repeating. |
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maxima1
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:40 pm Post subject:
Re: Battery Charging |
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| Quote: |
Thanks. I've purchased the BMW battery tender and it's perfect. Only $90
Canadian and it just plugs into the lighter socket.
|
Sort of like perpetual motion. You plug one end into the cigarette
lighter and connect the clips to the battery. That certainly is
convenient, and no wasted AC power! :)
If it came from BMW you can assume it will work for your car, but
please note that some cigarette lighters are really power ports and
are not functional when the car is off---no charge would ever pass
unless the car was in the accessory or "on" position.
Matthew
00 528i Sport |
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Tom Korth
Guest
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| Posted:
Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:40 pm Post subject:
Re: Battery Charging |
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"maxima1" <maxima1@ameritech.net> wrote in message
news:4117912d.0411240530.5a7f5a88@posting.google.com...
| Quote: |
Thanks. I've purchased the BMW battery tender and it's perfect. Only $90
Canadian and it just plugs into the lighter socket.
Sort of like perpetual motion. You plug one end into the cigarette
lighter and connect the clips to the battery. That certainly is
convenient, and no wasted AC power! :)
If it came from BMW you can assume it will work for your car, but
please note that some cigarette lighters are really power ports and
are not functional when the car is off---no charge would ever pass
unless the car was in the accessory or "on" position.
Not true on the E46, Z3 or Z4 in the U.S. |
Tom |
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