Keeping the tow vehicle’s battery healthy

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  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited May 2020 #32

    wont be buying a volvo then. My towcar is a Kia Sorento, it often does not turn a wheel for 3-4 weeks, no problem starting, and our run around Kia Carens 2007 sits for 3 months whilst we are in Spain, starts first time. Dont think i will be buying a new car any time soon, cant be doing faffing about charging batteries etc,

  • Mohamed
    Mohamed Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited May 2020 #33

    Can I connect a battery charger while the battery is connected to the car or should I disconnect the battery leads before connecting the charger? If I disconnect the battery leads would that  affect the electronics of the car? My car is a KIA Sorento 2016 model.

    Any advice is greatly appreciated.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2020 #34

    What does your handbook recommend?

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited May 2020 #35

    You don'y need to disconnect the (main) battery on a car before charging it .... Ctek even provide a connector that can be left permanently connected to the battery.

    Disconnecting a battery (negative first) just means that you might have various things to rest afterwards eg windows/roofs/radios

  • neveramsure
    neveramsure Forum Participant Posts: 712
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    edited May 2020 #36

    I agree with MM and if like me you have a battery charger with a low charge setting on it you can trickle charge your car battery for long periods without fear of damage.smile

  • bill
    bill Forum Participant Posts: 388
    edited May 2020 #37

    When I had my LR Freelander 2 I bought a device from a LR forum whereby you could charge the battery via the 13 pin trailer socket.  I bought one with a CTEK connector and it was very useful and saved opening the bonnet and clipping cables on and you didn't even have to unlock the car.  I changed the Freelander for a Volvo XC60 but the unit does not work on it and I don't know why. 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited May 2020 #38

    re your Volvo .... presumably Pin 9 is not permanently live as you'd expect 🤔

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited May 2020 #39

    Assuming that your Volvo socket is fully wired (pin 9 live), the reason is that Volvo in their wisdom have decided to ignore the international ISO wiring standard and cut power to pin 9 when the ignition is off for a certain time on later vehicles. If it is still under warranty tell them you want it wiring to the correct standard ie. pin 9 permanently live.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited May 2020 #40

    In the grand scheme of things, does it really matter if it's permanently live or not? When was the last time you wanted to sit in the caravan using the car's battery? 😉

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited May 2020 #41

    I think bill gave at least one perfectly good reason to expect it to be wired to the required standard.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited May 2020 #42

    But when you look at a towbar socket, using it to charge the battery would be the very last thing most people would think of when they see it 😉 And they are intended to supply rather than receive 😄

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2020 #43

    As our cars have been generally static for over 6 weeks. Even when moving it was only a short journey. I have had to resort to the charger, as they were getting a bit low. As a result and the fact they are not going to be going anywhere much for a while, I have ordered a solar charger on Amazon. It's only 3.3 watts, so it will be interesting to see if it is effective. Reviews are mixed, some saying as long as you start with a full battery it works fine. Others very derogatory. Although clearly if they bought it expecting it to actually charge, rather than maintain they would be. It can be used inside or outside the windscreen and is relatively inexpensive. As we are going to be around a lot this year☹️ I can monitor its abilities. If I can find this thread again I will report back.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited May 2020 #44

    How are you going to connect it to your battery? 🤔

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2020 #45

    It comes with various options, although as our cigarette lighter isn't live I will probably use the crocodile clips to start with. I should be able to squeeze the cable through the closed bonnet, if outside. If I use it inside I will have to investigate. I think it may also come with a connector you can leave permanently attached and just connect into.

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