Battery

Hi, my commer battery keeps going flat because of the cold weather and the fact that i am not using it. Has anyone got any tips during winter? Is it worth replacing the battery and getting a battery charger as well?
 
Disconnect it and if it still goes flat it,s kaput ;)

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"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
 
Like Tim said try disconnecting it and see if it still goes flat, when I first got one of my vans my battery kept going flat and it turned out the cigar lighter was shorting and draining it:)

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''COMMER'EnSayThat''
 
Not sure if you have these over there, but I have an aftermarket dashboard mounted solar panel that plugs into the lighter fitting, which trickle charges the battery during the day. As I am spending more time on the motorbike these days, it's nice to know that it's fully charged and will start when you need it.

I first saw one of these on a Stag in the long term carpark at Sydney Airport 20 years ago and thought what a great idea, and are now quite easy to find in Auto Shops here now for about $50.
 
Not much in the way of winter sun to power a solar panel over here:I But you can buy battery conditioners, a small trickle charger that monitors the battery and tops it up as necessary. Best think is to take the van out for a blast every couple of weeks (if it's not in regular use) and keep brakes, clutch etc from siezing up.

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Two's company
 
(hijack) did you have a nice evening out Panky?

Also remember not to leave the handbrake on, and yeah start it up once a week and drive it back and fourth on the drive to save the brakes and clutch from siezing up:)

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''COMMER'EnSayThat''
 
Very nice ta, went round to my daughters for tea, posh sarnies and homemade cakes:p

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Two's company
 
oh! cucumber sarnies? ...Cazz made some mince pies tonight....now I don't eat cakes, pies etc........but I scoffed 3 at random and sat back for an hour watching the kids take the blame HA! (they was in on it) so funny watching Cazz search high and low trying to find them ...:D:D:I

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''COMMER'EnSayThat''
 
trickle chargers/battery conditioners come highly recommended by Practical Classics I seem to remember
 
Your winter is the original reason why I was born in Australia. My Grandparents originally came from England in 1949 with my parents and sisters eventually following in 1959, I was born here 2 years later. My grandfather had suffered from Bronchial pneumonia and was told to emigrate or die as they reckoned he wouldn't survive another English winter not helped by the smog/fog issues in London back then. He lived another 22 years, still smoking like a chimney until a massive heart attack in 1962. None of them missed the English winter with winter preparation now limited to changing from shorts to long pants and having a jacket or jumper nearby, just in case.

My Father used to work for Mc Alpines before emigrating and said that they would often light fires under the bulldozers on bad winter mornings to "warm them up" before they tried to start them.

Everyone in Sydney is complaining about the mild start to summer we are having and easily forget how lucky we are climate wise. Hope you all keep warm without the snow storms of the past couple of years.

Cheers Stephen
 
does your battery sit directly on metal? and is your vehicle inside or outside-if sitting direct on cold metal this wont help you much,sit it on a nice thick bit of rubber if this is the case. you could do with charging it and giving it a drop test(NOT ON THE FLOOR TE-HE).
 
ALSO IS YOUR BATTERY SEALED TYPE OR DO YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE WATER-IF SO BUY A BATTERY HYDROMETER TO CHECK THE SG(SPECIFIC GRAVITY) 1250-1300 IS A GOOD READING
 
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