How do you keep battery charged when you are away?
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Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2005
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How do you keep battery charged when you are away?
Has anyone found a solution to this? I recently returned from a 3 week trip to find the battery fully discharged. I know that you can disconnect the battery while you are gone but then you have to enter the radio and nav codes, reset preferences, etc.
BMW has an advanced batttery charging system that you plug into the 12 volt outlet in the car and it keeps the battery fully charged. However, it doesn't seem to work in my RL though it did work in other European cars.
Any great ideas?
BMW has an advanced batttery charging system that you plug into the 12 volt outlet in the car and it keeps the battery fully charged. However, it doesn't seem to work in my RL though it did work in other European cars.
Any great ideas?
Unemployed or retired?
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 219
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Originally Posted by klister
Has anyone found a solution to this? I recently returned from a 3 week trip to find the battery fully discharged. I know that you can disconnect the battery while you are gone but then you have to enter the radio and nav codes, reset preferences, etc.
BMW has an advanced batttery charging system that you plug into the 12 volt outlet in the car and it keeps the battery fully charged. However, it doesn't seem to work in my RL though it did work in other European cars.
Any great ideas?
BMW has an advanced batttery charging system that you plug into the 12 volt outlet in the car and it keeps the battery fully charged. However, it doesn't seem to work in my RL though it did work in other European cars.
Any great ideas?
Battery Tender
It works great.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 141
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Yep,
Rich is using a 750 MA trickle charger (Bat Tender) & that price of 25 bucks is good!
The trick is to keep it under a 1 amp trickle rate so you do not overcharge if left unnattended for an extended period.
Your charger should work in your 12v acc. outlet....I don't know why your unit did not.
If you have a voltmeter, post back & I will give you info on how to test your charger & your 12V outlet, using the charger plugged into it.
You said the charger was European, of course it is made to plug into 120V/AC ? Is earth the ground on your charger? (neg. ground)?
While on the subject, another great avail. accessory is the $49.00 Acura Eng. block heater for those living in cold/freezing northern climates.
Takes a load off engine, battery & starter wear on cold start ups.
Also gives you just about instant cabin heat on start up!
A bit more maintenance is required if you use it, but it is well worth it in my book!
Rich is using a 750 MA trickle charger (Bat Tender) & that price of 25 bucks is good!
The trick is to keep it under a 1 amp trickle rate so you do not overcharge if left unnattended for an extended period.
Your charger should work in your 12v acc. outlet....I don't know why your unit did not.
If you have a voltmeter, post back & I will give you info on how to test your charger & your 12V outlet, using the charger plugged into it.
You said the charger was European, of course it is made to plug into 120V/AC ? Is earth the ground on your charger? (neg. ground)?
While on the subject, another great avail. accessory is the $49.00 Acura Eng. block heater for those living in cold/freezing northern climates.
Takes a load off engine, battery & starter wear on cold start ups.
Also gives you just about instant cabin heat on start up!
A bit more maintenance is required if you use it, but it is well worth it in my book!
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
From: Mississippi
Originally Posted by Steve C
While on the subject, another great avail. accessory is the $49.00 Acura Eng. block heater for those living in cold/freezing northern climates.
Takes a load off engine, battery & starter wear on cold start ups.
Also gives you just about instant cabin heat on start up!
A bit more maintenance is required if you use it, but it is well worth it in my book!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Steve C
Yep,
Rich is using a 750 MA trickle charger (Bat Tender) & that price of 25 bucks is good!
The trick is to keep it under a 1 amp trickle rate so you do not overcharge if left unnattended for an extended period.
Your charger should work in your 12v acc. outlet....I don't know why your unit did not.
If you have a voltmeter, post back & I will give you info on how to test your charger & your 12V outlet, using the charger plugged into it.
You said the charger was European, of course it is made to plug into 120V/AC ? Is earth the ground on your charger? (neg. ground)?
While on the subject, another great avail. accessory is the $49.00 Acura Eng. block heater for those living in cold/freezing northern climates.
Takes a load off engine, battery & starter wear on cold start ups.
Also gives you just about instant cabin heat on start up!
A bit more maintenance is required if you use it, but it is well worth it in my book!
Rich is using a 750 MA trickle charger (Bat Tender) & that price of 25 bucks is good!
The trick is to keep it under a 1 amp trickle rate so you do not overcharge if left unnattended for an extended period.
Your charger should work in your 12v acc. outlet....I don't know why your unit did not.
If you have a voltmeter, post back & I will give you info on how to test your charger & your 12V outlet, using the charger plugged into it.
You said the charger was European, of course it is made to plug into 120V/AC ? Is earth the ground on your charger? (neg. ground)?
While on the subject, another great avail. accessory is the $49.00 Acura Eng. block heater for those living in cold/freezing northern climates.
Takes a load off engine, battery & starter wear on cold start ups.
Also gives you just about instant cabin heat on start up!
A bit more maintenance is required if you use it, but it is well worth it in my book!
Unemployed or retired?
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by klister
The BMW charger is a U.S. model and worked fine on 120V/AC. I do have a voltmeter. Charger appears to work fine but doesn't seem to want to charge through the 12V outlet in the RL. It's a good solution if I can get it to work.
I'm not sure why the RL would charge.
The lighter is not live when the ignition is off. No circuit to the battery.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 141
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Originally Posted by Rich in NC
I'm not sure why the RL would charge.
The lighter is not live when the ignition is off. No circuit to the battery.
The lighter is not live when the ignition is off. No circuit to the battery.
That is why!
Interesting...I guess they don't want to leave it hot for fear of some accessory draining the battery....how ironic!...lol!
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