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Little used car = flat battery ?

C

Charlie_McLaughlin

PCGB Honorary Member
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Common problem this time of year, hadn't used my 993 for 15 days, then yesterday it failed to start, resorted to "jump leads" all OK. However my question is which battery maintainer to buy.

Halfords do a "Draper" unit for £19.95, is this as good as the Porsche item (£40) or the "Accumate" one I have seen advertised for about £35.

Its not a cost issue, just want the best one for the job.
 
No idea of the others - but I use a "Carcoon" one - which I believe is the same as the Accumate.
No problems with it in about 5 years.
Easy to use.
Car has been left for a couple of months at a time and never had a problem.
 
I can't comment on any of the models you have quoted but I used to have the same problem.

I bought a Halfords brand combined charger / maintainer. It's called the Halfords Fully Automatic Battery Charger and cost £29.95 from memory. The item code on it is 370825. It has switches for 'standard' or 'sealed' batteries and for 'bike' or 'other' batteries.

It can be left connected all the time and switches from charging into maintanence mode automatically. I have had a couple of them for the last 18 months and I have been very pleased with them.

Couple of points though. Firstly they are not waterproof so are best suited to use in a garage. Secondly on the 993 the wires aren't long enough to reach to the battery if the unit is standing on the ground. The unit can either sit in the luggage compartment or my solution has been to hang it from the ceiling by some rope (it has a handle to tie onto) to the height of the bonnet opening. When I want to disconnect it I turn off the plug and clip the charging wires to the rope so they are out the way and it's there waiting to remind me to reconnect when the car comes back into the garage.

Another tip I have adopted is to remove the fuse that controls the bonnet and boot lights. I carry a torch in the car so its not a problem and it stops the light being on when the bonnet is cracked open for connection. Only problem is every time the car comes back from a service its had the fuse replaced (I bet they think I am testing them).

Ian.
 
Accumate seems to be the one that gets talked and praised about the most..... I don't own a conditioner...YET
 
I HAVE USED THE HALFORDS ONE FOR 12 MONTHS NO PROBLEMS

IF YOU PUSH THE BONNET CATCH DOWN WITH YOUR FINGER NO NEED TO TAKE OUT FUSE.BUT YOU HAVE TO PULL CATCH IN SIDE CAR TO SHUT BONNET.

REGARDS DAVE
 
I too use the Halfords charger/maintainer. It works well, my only gripe is though, the power leads and the battery leads are too short.
 
yes i just use a quick disconnect system, and the battery holds its charge for months, my girlfriend uses a solar panel ive wired straight to the battery, (or cigar lighter) works great and its small enough to sit on the dashboard or rear shelf, made by exide £25 and found in caravan shops!, if your ashamed of being seen there ,ask a friend to pick one up...
 
Charlie
Flat battery ay, sounds like a likely story , I can see a drop in asking price looming !!
seriously though I use a Banner accugard www.bannerbat.com brought about a year ago at the car show for £29 99. seems to do the job well, dont know about the rest they all seem to work well,
ps see you Sat
Regards Steve B[:D]
 
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