Battery Question?

[Wattie]

Gents the topic of flat batteries frequents this forum a lot with a "trickle charger" the recommended solution.
For those that can't do this can the cars be fitted with a "Battery cut off switch" or similar?
Whats the down side to such......
Apologies if this has been covered before.
cheers Wattie

 

[cheshiremaserati]

I'm guessing that if the battery is isolated it means the immobiliser wont work, neither will the central licking and the window wont lower or go up if opening or shutting a door. There may be a knock-on effect on insurance if the immobiliser and locking are not engaged.

 

[conaero]

I’m still not convinced these trickle chargers are good for the battery. There, I said it.

 

[77GR]

At least some (if not all) Maseratis have ECUs with an element of "learning" built into them and that is generally restarted each time the battery is disconnected - I believe it takes about 100 miles to re-learn. Radio codes are also lost but that's pretty easy to deal with if you know the code.

I have seen low trickle solar chargers that plug into the cigarette lighter but the car would need to be outside or at least close to a window in the garage to position the panel outside the car in the window for that solution.

 

[Felonious Crud]

I’m still not convinced these trickle chargers are good for the battery. There, I said it.

Infidel! I bet you're a flat-earther as well, Matt.

What's your thinking instead - a day or so on the trickle as needed rather than plugged in all the time?

 

[Wattie]

I'm guessing that if the battery is isolated it means the immobiliser wont work, neither will the central licking and the window wont lower or go up if opening or shutting a door. There may be a knock-on effect on insurance if the immobiliser and locking are not engaged.

No it wouldn’t but the car would be immobilised anyway (due to no power). The car would effectively be stuck...dormant with no visible signs to others it was in that state.
(It would be very difficult to Nick and the minute power was restored surely the tracker etc would activate)
If you could fit one, Couldn’t you then just use the key manually to get in on the drivers side door and flick the switch.
The Qp has framed doors so wouldn’t be affected by window drop....would it....can’t remember what my old MC windows were like...framed or frameless.

 

[conaero]

Infidel! I bet you're a flat-earther as well, Matt.

Only a fool would think is isn't!

 

[cheshiremaserati]

I’m still not convinced these trickle chargers are good for the battery. There, I said it.

Well I put the Porsche and the Gransport on C-Tek trickle chargers in mid-Sept and SORN'd them both. Untouched till this Sunday gone. Started each of them - they fired up instantly and I ran them for 45 minutes and rolled them up and down the drive. After 5 months untouched on trickle chargers, nothing happened. The Porsche has a Bosch S5 that was fitted in 2017. The Gransport has a new Exide Premium fitted May 2018. Both cars will be taxed and put back on the road wef 1st March.

I know lots of people who keep their cars on these chargers untouched, not started for months on end.

 

[TimR]

Likewise, Ive kept umpteen batteries on both these "smart" tenders and solar chargers alike, for years now, and for months at a time...No issues at all.
I know Id rather not keep forking out for batteries that are killed by the cold. And the convenience of a motor that turns over after months of hibernation isnt all bad either..!