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Battery drain

M

Mick Cliff

New member
OK Enough's enough!
Fed up with battery drain I've decided to fit a battery isolator. But, one simple question - should it go on the live (+ve) side or the earth (-ve) side?

And yes, I know I should drive it more often so the battery doesn't have chance to drain!

Thanks

Mick
'84 3.2
 
Stick it on the +ve side, removing all chance of a potential difference anywhere.
Big cable, though.
 
If you can use a battery conditioner, that will work just as well (or better?)
Click to expand...

Too right, would be lost (well, immobile at times) without mine.

The problem with disconnecting the battery, is that things like the clock and the central locking stop, and the radio might lose it's presets (mine doesn't, as they all all stored in the credit card sized security thingy), etc.
 
Mick,

How many days does it take until your battery has dis-charged sufficiently to not start the car?
 
Thanks for the info guys.......................
Mark/John - I'd not thought about a conditioner. This would probably be easier to use and have benefits. I don't have worries about central locking / radio codes 'cos my 3.2 is an '84 and doesn't have these.
Brian - time to discharge? Varies with the season - 2-3 weeks in winter, longer in summer. It's the alarm that does it. Battery is ~4 years old.
 
If you have an alarm then the conditioner is the way to go - presumably the alarm needs the battery connected or is not active. And then you won't be insured...
 
Got mine from Autofarm - was under £40. Brilliant. Keeps the battery topped up to perfection. My car is often unused for quite long periods & the battery would just die - immobiliser drain etc.
Best way to go.
 
There is a downside to having a conditioner (got mine from Autofarm as well).

I have a socket connected to the battery, a plug connected to the cable, so that I can close the bonnet on the cable when connected.
Yesterday, being very careful, I drove out of the garage with it still connected - snapped the cable. Only noticed when closing the garage door, when I saw a short piece of cable hanging down from the front of the car. This is the second time (easy to repair both times, even when the first time it snapped inside the case - the wonder of security screw screwdrivers).

Now, do I need a large flashing light on the bonnet ? Do I need to pay attention more ?
Am I too old and forgetful to carry on driving ?
 
On this issue, and the specific subject of sulphation, I have read recently elsewhere that it is a bad idea to store a fully charged battery for long periods of non-use (eg. not using the car over the winter), as sulphation builds up on the plates (as per the article).

The way to remove this is to take a large pulse of current from the battery periodically (short pulse, long interval, little current drain). I assume that that is what the product does.
 
Can I also recommend you replace the trans ground strap and the leads to the starter motor. Mine used to go flat in 2-3 weeks but now seems fine for at least 4 weeks after said replacements. Also, a 4 yr old battery is almost certainly due for replacement.
 
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