Battery Charging
With my car being used far less at present I'm concerned that my battery will end up flat. At most the car is used for a four mile round trip to the shops no more than once per week and needs starting at least twice to do the trip. The short distance will not be enough to replace what the starter motor has used. It is many years since I've needed to charge a car battery so my question is do I have to disconnect the battery to charge it? Years ago it was recommended but I'm not sure with modern cars (2015 Mondeo) as so many background devices in the car need a constant power supply. Any advice anyone?
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Take a longer route to the shops now and again. I have a much shorter journey in our run around and with a good battery I have never had a need to charge it in 5 years of ownership.
I would disconnect the battery according to instructions which I think is remove the positive first if your vehicle is negatively earthed.
peedee
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I've never disconnected a battery to charge it except when one was completely flattened and I mean flattened. Trying to charge it then made the electrics do all sorts or weird stuff. Just keeping a battery topped up I would just do it in situ.
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The vehicle handbook will probably tell you to ensure that the Battery Charger earth terminal is connected to the car bodywork [probably has a dedicated connection point] rather than to the car battery negative terminal. Modern electrical systems can be damaged if you don't observe this rule, apparently.
Steve
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It was 50 50 & you got it WRONG. When disconnecting a battery you disconnect the NEGATIVE first. Reason being is that if you then short the NEGATIVE terminal to the body nothing will happen ie it's the same potential. If you disconnected the positive first & shorted the spanner across the body then you'd have shorted the battery too.
You can leave the battery connected when connecting the battery charger ..... Ctek provide the connector plug/socket to do it. My Smart spent months connected to a Ctek until last week with no problems. My motor bike has spent the last couple years likewise.
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If you have a 'Smart Charger' such as a CTEK for example then there is no need to disconnect the battery, plus if it is your towcar then you can do as I have done. My spare CTEK lead has a 13 pin towing socket attached and I do it via the back of the car.
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For a minute then i thought you were charging the battery of your tow car by plugging the charger in to the 13 pin towing socket!
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On re-reading my post I think I should have written 'towing plug' and not socket
Anyways, here is my way of topping up the towcar battery occasionally. 
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With the summer coming, a 20watt solar panel on the dashboard and connected to your battery should keep it trickle charged. Not very effective if the car is in your garage though but most people leave their £30K car on the drive and fill the garage with £32.50's worth of dross.
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