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Car Forum / Land Rover Cars / October 2005Charging parked vehicles
Over the last few months i have bought new batteries for half of the fleet and am now feeling paranoid about looking after them. I'm also sick of going out to use/move a car and finding that the battery is flat. Rigging up some kind of charging system would be good, and also help my batteries during the winter cold. Has anybody got any suggestions on possible ways to do this? I've been thinking, and have thought of the following options: Solar panels fitted in/on cars - No running costs, but very low powered. Maplins sell a 1.5watt one ( http://tinyurl.com/7hecf ), which by my calculations is only about 0.1Amps. Is there much point in this? This also wont be working at night, when its more use (so that the battery is powered when it is coldest and ready for me to use the car in the morning) Low ampage mains charger A low ampage charger such as this one http://tinyurl.com/b3w2h that charges at 2.7amps. Presumably it should be clever enough that it should only charge when the battery needs it. Could be put on a timer to only work at night to save me money. I have also seen more expensive battery chargers designed to be left on all the time. How do they differ from something like the above one?. If i go for this option then my second issue is where i should put things?. My cars are parked a good 20m or so of cable length away from the house. I can either - Site the chargers in the house and run long charging cables out to the cars. This would be good as i wouldnt have to put any mains leccy outside and could keep an eye on the chargers. Would this be okay or would i have issues with running low currents and the chargers sensing the battery state over the 20m or so that i need?. I could also use something like a caravan towing socket to easily plug into the cars to save unearthing batteries every time. second option - build a little box outside next to my drive. run mains to that and put the chargers in it. Run short charge cables from there to each car. I'm not so keen on this as i cant see what the chargers are doing. I do need to put in an outdoor socket anyway though so i can use tools outside easily. third option - put a charger in each car, and plug the car into the mains. I can use caravan mains sockets. I'm not sure i want to leave a charger unnatended in my car for long periods though. (I had one that went pop and started smoking once). This method would also be good because i can leave my car pc powered up to use it from within the house :) Has anybody got any good advice or ideas? > Has anybody got any good advice or ideas? Disconnect the battery? It's the cheapest option but you will lose things like radio presets.I've used one of those big red cut-off switches you see on rally cars, saves messing around with spanners. John > > Has anybody got any good advice or ideas? > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > John <shamelss plug> MBS1 Battery Isolator Switch - Removable Key £4.35 </shamless plug> Would that count as a pun? Richard  Signaturewww.beamends-lrspares.co.uk sales@beamends-lrspares.co.uk Running a business in a Microsoft free environment - it can be done Powered by Risc-OS - you won't get a virus from us!! Boycott the Yorkshire Dales - No Play, No Pay > <shamelss plug> > MBS1 Battery Isolator Switch - Removable Key £4.35 > </shamless plug> > > Would that count as a pun? A shocking pun. SignatureEMB ...and EMB spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying... >> <shamelss plug> >> MBS1 Battery Isolator Switch - Removable Key £4.35 [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > A shocking pun. Wire you encouraging him? SignatureRich ============================== Disco 300 Tdi auto S2a 88" SW Tiggrr (V8 trialler) > ...and EMB spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying... > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Wire you encouraging him? Good to see you made the connection. SignatureEMB ...and EMB spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying... >> ...and EMB spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying... >> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >> > Good to see you made the connection. There's a whole battery of bad jokes looming. SignatureRich ============================== Disco 300 Tdi auto S2a 88" SW Tiggrr (V8 trialler) > ...and EMB spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying... > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > There's a whole battery of bad jokes looming. I'll see if I can generate a few more before someone someone blows a fuse about us not staying on the current topic. SignatureEMB ...and EMB spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying... >> ...and EMB spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying... >> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > I'll see if I can generate a few more before someone someone blows a > fuse about us not staying on the current topic. This has been done before, and I amp got any new jokes. Watt a shame. SignatureRich ============================== Disco 300 Tdi auto S2a 88" SW Tiggrr (V8 trialler) > ...and EMB spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying... >>I'll see if I can generate a few more before someone someone blows a >>fuse about us not staying on the current topic. > > This has been done before, and I amp got any new jokes. Watt a shame. We might have to rectify that. Thread snipped of excess ballast. SignatureEMB >>>>>>Would that count as a pun? >>>>> [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >I'll see if I can generate a few more before someone someone blows a >fuse about us not staying on the current topic. Someone needs to take charge of you two. >>>>>>>Would that count as a pun? >>>>>> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > >Someone needs to take charge of you two. This sounds like the shed. SignatureAustin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" Alphonse Karr (1808 - 1890) Les Guêpes, Jan 1849 >>>>>>>>Would that count as a pun? >>>>>>> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > >This sounds like the shed. No. Hiss, miss and urinate sound like this. The head, the bed and the dead sound like the shed. Hope that clears things up. David "EMB" <embtwo@gmail.com> wrote in message >> </shamless plug> >> Would that count as a pun? > > A shocking pun. Given the topic about batteries, it's also a current pun - Tom. >> Has anybody got any good advice or ideas? > >Disconnect the battery? It's the cheapest option but you will >lose things like radio presets.I've used one of those big red >cut-off switches you see on rally cars, saves messing around with >spanners. I've fitted one of them on the 2A. It's actually on its second one as the first started smoking when i was cranking the starter and then melted. I'm still keen on fitting some kind of charging solution as i was under the impression that leaving batteries standing unused for weeks/months outside was still bad for them? > I'm still keen on fitting some kind of charging solution as i was > under the impression that leaving batteries standing unused for > weeks/months outside was still bad for them? Dunno. I know that constantly flattening them is jolly bad for their longevity. John > Over the last few months i have bought new batteries for half of the > fleet and am now feeling paranoid about looking after them. [quoted text clipped - 53 lines] > > Has anybody got any good advice or ideas? I would suggest a somewhat larger solar charger, about 6w for example will charge at around half an amp maximum. I have used this successfully for a couple of years on my tractor as I got sick of replacing the battery nearly every time I went to use it (It only gets used every few months). They are relatively expensive - unless you get them like I did at a clearing sale for $20. JD > I would suggest a somewhat larger solar charger, about 6w for example will > charge at around half an amp maximum. I have used this successfully for a > couple of years on my tractor as I got sick of replacing the battery nearly > every time I went to use it (It only gets used every few months). They are > relatively expensive - unless you get them like I did at a clearing sale > for $20. I use two of the little 1.5w ones on my 80 amp hour boat battery. It won't charge a flat battery as such but does prevent natural discharge. I use the boat every couple of weeks but only use the battery for lights at night and the radio. The battery stays charged all season and during the summer months will charge enough to cover the little I use out of it. This will be the first winter with the panels on board so we'll see how it goes. They cost me £14 each from gts online, an ebay seller. TonyB >second option - build a little box outside next to my drive. run mains >to that and put the chargers in it. Run short charge cables from there >to each car. I'm not so keen on this as i cant see what the chargers >are doing. I do need to put in an outdoor socket anyway though so i >can use tools outside easily. Sorry to sound pedantic, but unless you are a qualified electrician it is now illegal to add additional new circuits. It is OK I believe to put a new socket on the end of an existing circuit . Signaturehugh Reply to address is valid at the time of posting . > Sorry to sound pedantic, but unless you are a qualified electrician it > is now illegal to add additional new circuits. It is OK I believe to > put a new socket on the end of an existing circuit . Not /quite/ but made b********y difficult (unless you have a supply of of suitable cable dated prior to 2005!). Google search UK DIY newsgroup, drop in the magic phrase 'Part P' and then duck. SignatureReal email address is RJSavage at BIGFOOT dot COM >>second option - build a little box outside next to my drive. run mains >>to that and put the chargers in it. Run short charge cables from there [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >is now illegal to add additional new circuits. It is OK I believe to >put a new socket on the end of an existing circuit . I presume i'm allowed to add it if i attach it to the house via a plug. Or get a suitably qualified mate to come round for a cup of tea and attach the final cable to my fuse box? Though TBH are the police going to come and arrest me for doing some wiring on my house? I can imagine that i might have trouble if i was selling it and had a survey done and didnt have the certificates for it but do they really think they can stop people doing work themselves? Snip >>Sorry to sound pedantic, but unless you are a qualified electrician it >>is now illegal to add additional new circuits. It is OK I believe to [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > survey done and didnt have the certificates for it but do they really > think they can stop people doing work themselves? .. and who is going to admit to having done any work after the deadline? >> I can imagine that i might have trouble if i was selling it and had a >> survey done and didnt have the certificates for it but do they really >> think they can stop people doing work themselves? > >.. and who is going to admit to having done any work after the deadline? Any work done is obvious i think as the new wire is different colours. >>> I can imagine that i might have trouble if i was selling it and had a >>> survey done and didnt have the certificates for it but do they really [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Any work done is obvious i think as the new wire is different colours. You reckon? there's plenty of red/black wire about the place. New installations are changing to brown/blue, this is true. SignatureAustin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that "Ask yourself whether you are happy, and you cease to be so." John Stuart Mill (1806 - 1873) > Snip > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > .. and who is going to admit to having done any work after the > deadline? When WAS the deadline? Signature"He who says it cannot be done should not interrupt her doing it." If at first you don't succeed, maybe skydiving's not for you! >> Snip >> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > >When WAS the deadline? January this year for new projects, I think April for ongoing projects started before January. SignatureAustin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that "If you cannot mould yourself as you would wish, how can you expect other people to be entirely to your liking?" Thomas À Kempis (1380 - 1471) Imitation of Christ, I.xvi. >>> Snip >>> [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > January this year for new projects, I think April for ongoing projects > started before January. So you're all dorked, guess I am too. Signature"He who says it cannot be done should not interrupt her doing it." If at first you don't succeed, maybe skydiving's not for you! > Though TBH are the police going to come and arrest me for doing some > wiring on my house? > I can imagine that i might have trouble if i was selling it and had a > survey done and didnt have the certificates for it but do they really > think they can stop people doing work themselves? There might also be a bit of trouble with the insurance people if it caused a fire. SignatureEMB >> Though TBH are the police going to come and arrest me for doing some >> wiring on my house? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >There might also be a bit of trouble with the insurance people if it >caused a fire. yebbut, you'd still deny all knowledge and swear blind that it was like that when you bought it, wouldn't you? SignatureAustin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that "Ask yourself whether you are happy, and you cease to be so." John Stuart Mill (1806 - 1873) >>>Though TBH are the police going to come and arrest me for doing some >>>wiring on my house? [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > yebbut, you'd still deny all knowledge and swear blind that it was like that > when you bought it, wouldn't you? Absolutely. SignatureEMB >> yebbut, you'd still deny all knowledge and swear blind that it was like that >> when you bought it, wouldn't you? > >Absolutely. I better get it done quick before i hand over the money then :) I wonder what the exact definition of electrical work is.. Could anybody run the cables and put sockets in as long as a proper 'lectrician did the final connections and made it live. I should be able to add ornamental electrical sockets to my house if i want to :) >I should be able to add ornamental electrical sockets to my house if i >want to :) It's dangerous init? Our European community is determined to protect us from ourselves, they want us to live happy, safe, protected lives. Now, to paraphrase the 101 Club Chairman, how long before "they" clock on to the sad fact that many people maintain their own vehicles, change the brake fluid, pads, shoes, steering components... Signature"We have gone from a world of concentrated knowledge and wisdom to one of distributed ignorance. And we know and understand less while being increasingly capable." Prof. Peter Cochrane, formerly of BT Labs In memory of Brian {Hamilton Kelly} who logged off 15th September 2005 >>> yebbut, you'd still deny all knowledge and swear blind that it was like that >>> when you bought it, wouldn't you? [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >I should be able to add ornamental electrical sockets to my house if i >want to :) AIUI you can change an existing socket, but not install a new circuit, but I could be wrong. Signaturehugh Reply to address is valid at the time of posting >> Though TBH are the police going to come and arrest me for doing some >> wiring on my house? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > There might also be a bit of trouble with the insurance people if it > caused a fire. Thought I just said that? Signature"He who says it cannot be done should not interrupt her doing it." If at first you don't succeed, maybe skydiving's not for you! >>>Though TBH are the police going to come and arrest me for doing some >>>wiring on my house? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Thought I just said that? About 12 hours after I did :p SignatureEMB >>>> Though TBH are the police going to come and arrest me for doing >>>> some wiring on my house? [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >> > About 12 hours after I did :p Dam time zones!! Signature"He who says it cannot be done should not interrupt her doing it." If at first you don't succeed, maybe skydiving's not for you! >> Thought I just said that? >> >About 12 hours after I did :p I said it first - just didn't post it... ;-) >>> second option - build a little box outside next to my drive. run >>> mains to that and put the chargers in it. Run short charge cables [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > survey done and didnt have the certificates for it but do they really > think they can stop people doing work themselves? Yep, did it with Gas! I suspect the main trouble will come from declined insurance claims, especially fire! Signature"He who says it cannot be done should not interrupt her doing it." If at first you don't succeed, maybe skydiving's not for you! >>>> second option - build a little box outside next to my drive. run >>>> mains to that and put the chargers in it. Run short charge cables [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >I suspect the main trouble will come from declined insurance claims, especially >fire! the insurers have never required our house to be inspected or tested in order to accept the business. If they then refuse a claim because of dodgy wiring, having not previously mentioned it, I reckon they're on a sticky wicket. Unless someone actually admits to having done work on it after the deadline. The real problem is that although wiring codes and general wiring practice are not hard for a reasonably intelligent person to understand and comply with, the cost of becoming licensed or certified to work on it is ridiculous. SignatureAustin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that "If you cannot mould yourself as you would wish, how can you expect other people to be entirely to your liking?" Thomas À Kempis (1380 - 1471) Imitation of Christ, I.xvi. > >>>> second option - build a little box outside next to my drive. run > >>>> mains to that and put the chargers in it. Run short charge cables [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > with, the cost of becoming licensed or certified to work on it is > ridiculous. I thnk you have hit the nail on the head - the real problem is that people *cannot afford* to get someone in, so they will leave dodgy wiring alone rather than fix it themselves (which is safer, I wonder?) or just plug more and more leads into sockets, which we have been told for years (guess who by? Could it the very same Government?) is pretty dangerous. In other words, far from inceasing saftey this lastest stupidity will will reduce it. Nice one (again) Tony! Richard Signaturewww.beamends-lrspares.co.uk sales@beamends-lrspares.co.uk Running a business in a Microsoft free environment - it can be done Powered by Risc-OS - you won't get a virus from us!! Boycott the Yorkshire Dales - No Play, No Pay >I thnk you have hit the nail on the head - the real problem is that >people *cannot afford* to get someone in, so they will leave dodgy [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >pretty dangerous. In other words, far from inceasing saftey this >lastest stupidity will will reduce it. Nice one (again) Tony! I assume the govt. profit from it somehow. Like you say - people will just buy more adapters and overload 'em. SignatureAustin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that "The breezy call of incense-breathing Morn, The swallow twittering from the strawbuilt shed, The cock's shrill clarion, or the echoing horn, No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed." Thomas Gray, Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard. >I thnk you have hit the nail on the head - the real problem is that >people *cannot afford* to get someone in, so they will leave dodgy [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >pretty dangerous. In other words, far from inceasing saftey this >lastest stupidity will will reduce it. Nice one (again) Tony! <Homer moment> D'oh! It's our sweet reasonable friends in the EU. Remember, the ones who think a pictogram of a running man is a sensible symbol for a fire exit (incidentally, I think even the Japanese have the word 'exit'' on their signs), and that all fire extinguishers should be painted red irrespective of contents. The sooner we get the EU out of the UK the better (and start a sensible cull of bureaucrats). Regards, Simonm. Signaturesimonm|at|muircom|dot|demon|.|c|oh|dot|u|kay SIMON MUIR, BRISTOL UK www.ukip.org EUROPEANS AGAINST THE EU www.members.aol.com/eurofaq GT250A'76 R80/RT'86 110CSW TD'88 www.kc3ltd.co.uk/profile/eurofollie/ >The real problem is that although wiring codes and general wiring practice >are not hard for a reasonably intelligent person to understand and comply >with, the cost of becoming licensed or certified to work on it is >ridiculous. The other problem is that unless you find someone 'old school', the electrician who fits your circuit is much more concerned about getting to the next job / pub / football / mistress than actually doing a decent job. I'd wager I'm more intelligent than most electricians and I certainly have a much greater interest in the quality of the wiring behind the switch my daughter presses. There's not much special kit required to do the work and it's all entirely logical for someone with a bit of nouse (or an engineering degree). I've had good work done by tradesmen, but mostly it's been absolutely crud. I don't care what the law is - nobody is going to tell me I have to pay some feckless teenager to do a job worse than I could. Reminds me of the situation in Australia, where it is impossible to buy a 4-way extension with more than 1 metre of cable, and you can't rewire them. Thus people daisychain them round the house! You can also have a normal plug socket next to the bath, as long as it's professionally fitted... SignatureTim Hobbs '58 Series 2 88" aka "Stig" '03 Volvo V70 >> The real problem is that although wiring codes and general wiring >> practice are not hard for a reasonably intelligent person to [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > do the work and it's all entirely logical for someone with a bit of > nouse (or an engineering degree). I have an Engineering degree, a relevent one at that, but I'm not qualified to do it! > I've had good work done by tradesmen, but mostly it's been absolutely > crud. I don't care what the law is - nobody is going to tell me I > have to pay some feckless teenager to do a job worse than I could. The princile idea behind it is to avoid the PFY from doing it! > Reminds me of the situation in Australia, where it is impossible to > buy a 4-way extension with more than 1 metre of cable, and you can't > rewire them. Thus people daisychain them round the house! You can > also have a normal plug socket next to the bath, as long as it's > professionally fitted... Signature"He who says it cannot be done should not interrupt her doing it." If at first you don't succeed, maybe skydiving's not for you! (snip) > Reminds me of the situation in Australia, where it is impossible to > buy a 4-way extension with more than 1 metre of cable, and you can't > rewire them. Not correct. I bought a five metre one recently and saw ten and fifteen metre ones in the same display. > Thus people daisychain them round the house! Won't argue about that! > You can > also have a normal plug socket next to the bath, as long as it's > professionally fitted... No. Not allowed under current wiring rules - but I won't argue that there are a few about. JD Well I remember that is what parking meters used to do, charge parked vehicles :) SignatureLarry Series 3 rust and holes > Over the last few months i have bought new batteries for half of the > fleet and am now feeling paranoid about looking after them. [quoted text clipped - 53 lines] > > Has anybody got any good advice or ideas? |
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