Solar trickle charge for car battery?

[Pavalijo]

there will be plenty of info of how to find it on google or youtube

Done that now thanks.

I can't do that with the Skoda because the OBD socket is behind a pull down box (for coins etc) and when the OBD plug is in the box can't be closed and it's in the way of your leg.

This is a solution for leaving the car long term so that wouldn't be an issue!

Visit your local caravan shop they will know the answer.

I usually remove the battery, fully charge it and put it somewhere warm. Added advantage is the car can't be hot wired.

Caravan shop good idea - and daughter's friend's father manufactures electrical parts including wiring looms and other accessories for caravans, so he may be the man. Note my earlier post regarding the cost of coding the battery to the car - no doubt another scheme by BMW to extract as much money as possible from their client base. Don't get me started on that - that's for the Lounge!

 

[Gin]

We are setting off on an extended cruise from April (this year 4 months, in future could be up to 6). I am concerned that I do not want to run the batteries flat on the cars. One has a rather expensive gel battery.

I think I read, many years ago, advice to leave a small solar panel plugged into a 12v socket - any thoughts/advice? Do I need some form of regulator, or if the panel is small and correctly sized can I just plug in and forget?

Many thanks, Paul

Each of my two children's cars lay idle for weeks at a time whilst they are at uni. One battery became depleted to such an extent that the car was difficult to start so to save the batteries and to keep the vehicle car alarm systems active I bought a couple of these
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/solar-powered-12v-24w-battery-trickle-charger-n59fu

Also when I was out of action for 10 weeks I bought one for my car which has a number of active circuits and a very large battery for cranking a big diesel engine.

I can only say that I never had a problem again.

The children's cars have a constantly live cigarette socket by my car does not so the alternative crocodile clips were a boon and easy to fit as the battery is in the passenger compartment and not under the bonnet.
I can only report that

 

[Fantasie 19]

A 5 watt panel does not need a regulator and in average conditions of about 3 - 4 hours sun a day will definitely keep a battery topped up.

+1..

I worked on something someone told me here rolleyes about the "10% rule" (ie. watts of the panel to amps of the battery) - if it is less than 10% no regulator is required...

 

[Halo]

Many thanks for the advice. I have a charger with LED and will use it to check whether the 12v outlets stay live when ignition is off. I had a new battery on the BMW a year ago and with the coding cost it was over £300, so I want to keep that in good order at least.
That battery is in the boot of an estate so accessing that should be easy enough. Getting a cable to the battery in the Berlingo - might not be so easy!

£300 for a battery. B M W sound worse than swindleries and Yanmar for rip off prices

In the same vien a mate of mine took his Audi A3 for a service. The price list showed the same service for a V W with the same engine was £100 less. When he asked why the dealer told him it was because Audi is a premium brand. Ha ha ha

 

[Pavalijo]

2 services ago BMW wanted £800 ish for disc pads and new front discs. Took to local garage used by a pal who previously owned a Honda main dealership (ie no cowboy, he was Audi trained) who changed the pads for maybe £100 ish and told me that the next time the pads needed changing I would still not need new discs.
When challenged the BMW dealer just said that if they wanted to retain main dealer status they were forced to follow BMW standards - didn't even try to defend the earlier advice.
The same garage had also given me a cheaper rate for servicing when they became aware that I ran my car privately - my partner ran his through the firm and wasn't offered the same deal. Stinks!