Trickle Charging While on Vacation?

#1

Each time I leave my 1995 854T in a cold garage (~ 6C) while on a
winter vacation, I return to find the battery dead. My Volvo dealer
says it's normal due to the drain from the security system. This year,
I'm thinking about setting up a charger to come on daily for an hour or
so, charging it at the low setting of 2 amps.

Is this better for the battery than allowing it to discharge fully? Is
1 hour per day at 2 amps likely to be too much or too little over a 3
week period?

Java

#2

Espressopithecus (Java Man) wrote:

Quote:

Each time I leave my 1995 854T in a cold garage (~ 6C) while on a
winter vacation, I return to find the battery dead. My Volvo dealer
says it's normal due to the drain from the security system. This year,
I'm thinking about setting up a charger to come on daily for an hour or
so, charging it at the low setting of 2 amps.

Is this better for the battery than allowing it to discharge fully? Is
1 hour per day at 2 amps likely to be too much or too little over a 3
week period?

Java

Use a battery Tender Jr. It will switch on and off automatically and
keep the battery up to charge with no hassle.

#3

On Jul 23, 4:58*pm, Espressopithecus (Java Man)
<ri... (AT) letterectomyTELUS (DOT) net> wrote:

Quote:

Each time I leave my 1995 854T *in a cold garage (~ 6C) while on a
winter vacation, I return to find the battery dead. *My Volvo dealer
says it's normal due to the drain from the security system. *This year,
I'm thinking about setting up a charger to come on daily for an hour or
so, charging it at the low setting of 2 amps. *

Is this better for the battery than allowing it to discharge fully? *Is
1 hour per day at 2 amps likely to be too much or too little over a 3
week period?

Java

Keeping the battery charged is definitely better thatn letting it
discharge. A full discharge is very hard on a standard (not deep
cycle) battery and should be avoided like the plague. It is also very
hard on the battery to sit in a discharged state for any period of
time. There are a number of trickle chargers that will keep it in
good chape while stored. Alternatively, simply ensure it is fully
charged before storing the car and disconnect the battery. It will
loose a little charge over a 2 month period, but not enought o be a
problem.

#4

drossgunn (AT) yahoo (DOT) ca wrote:

Quote:

On Jul 23, 4:58 pm, Espressopithecus (Java Man)
ri... (AT) letterectomyTELUS (DOT) net> wrote:
Each time I leave my 1995 854T in a cold garage (~ 6C) while on a
winter vacation, I return to find the battery dead. My Volvo dealer
says it's normal due to the drain from the security system. This year,
I'm thinking about setting up a charger to come on daily for an hour or
so, charging it at the low setting of 2 amps.

Is this better for the battery than allowing it to discharge fully? Is
1 hour per day at 2 amps likely to be too much or too little over a 3
week period?

Java

Keeping the battery charged is definitely better thatn letting it
discharge. A full discharge is very hard on a standard (not deep
cycle) battery and should be avoided like the plague. It is also very
hard on the battery to sit in a discharged state for any period of
time. There are a number of trickle chargers that will keep it in
good chape while stored. Alternatively, simply ensure it is fully
charged before storing the car and disconnect the battery. It will
loose a little charge over a 2 month period, but not enought o be a
problem.

Even deep cycle batteries suffer from a full discharge unless they
are NiCads. The Battery Tender Jr. seems like a great battery
maintainer, and will also charge batteries if given enough time. You can
find them for $30 on Ebay.

#5

In article <Lfalk.1387$b81.159 (AT) fe091 (DOT) usenetserver.com>, No (AT) Thanks (DOT) net
says...

Quote:

drossgunn (AT) yahoo (DOT) ca wrote:
On Jul 23, 4:58 pm, Espressopithecus (Java Man)
ri... (AT) letterectomyTELUS (DOT) net> wrote:
Each time I leave my 1995 854T in a cold garage (~ 6C) while on a
winter vacation, I return to find the battery dead. My Volvo dealer
says it's normal due to the drain from the security system. This year,
I'm thinking about setting up a charger to come on daily for an hour or
so, charging it at the low setting of 2 amps.

Is this better for the battery than allowing it to discharge fully? Is
1 hour per day at 2 amps likely to be too much or too little over a 3
week period?

Java

Keeping the battery charged is definitely better thatn letting it
discharge. A full discharge is very hard on a standard (not deep
cycle) battery and should be avoided like the plague. It is also very
hard on the battery to sit in a discharged state for any period of
time. There are a number of trickle chargers that will keep it in
good chape while stored. Alternatively, simply ensure it is fully
charged before storing the car and disconnect the battery. It will
loose a little charge over a 2 month period, but not enought o be a
problem.

Even deep cycle batteries suffer from a full discharge unless they
are NiCads. The Battery Tender Jr. seems like a great battery
maintainer, and will also charge batteries if given enough time. You can
find them for $30 on Ebay.

Thanks to all who have responded. It sounds as though the Jr. is the

ticket.

Java

#6

Espressopithecus (Java Man) wrote:

Quote:

In article <Lfalk.1387$b81.159 (AT) fe091 (DOT) usenetserver.com>, No (AT) Thanks (DOT) net
says...
drossgunn (AT) yahoo (DOT) ca wrote:
On Jul 23, 4:58 pm, Espressopithecus (Java Man)
ri... (AT) letterectomyTELUS (DOT) net> wrote:
Each time I leave my 1995 854T in a cold garage (~ 6C) while on a
winter vacation, I return to find the battery dead. My Volvo dealer
says it's normal due to the drain from the security system. This year,
I'm thinking about setting up a charger to come on daily for an hour or
so, charging it at the low setting of 2 amps.

Is this better for the battery than allowing it to discharge fully? Is
1 hour per day at 2 amps likely to be too much or too little over a 3
week period?

Java
Keeping the battery charged is definitely better thatn letting it
discharge. A full discharge is very hard on a standard (not deep
cycle) battery and should be avoided like the plague. It is also very
hard on the battery to sit in a discharged state for any period of
time. There are a number of trickle chargers that will keep it in
good chape while stored. Alternatively, simply ensure it is fully
charged before storing the car and disconnect the battery. It will
loose a little charge over a 2 month period, but not enought o be a
problem.

Even deep cycle batteries suffer from a full discharge unless they
are NiCads. The Battery Tender Jr. seems like a great battery
maintainer, and will also charge batteries if given enough time. You can
find them for $30 on Ebay.

Thanks to all who have responded. It sounds as though the Jr. is the
ticket.

Java

You're welcome. The Tender also comes with two sets of plug-in
leads: alligator clips and a separate set of ring terminal leads that
you can install on the car, so you can just plug it into the Tender when
you leave it sitting.

#7

drossgunn (AT) yahoo (DOT) ca writes:

Quote:

Keeping the battery charged is definitely better thatn letting it
discharge. A full discharge is very hard on a standard (not deep
cycle) battery and should be avoided like the plague. It is also very
hard on the battery to sit in a discharged state for any period of
time. There are a number of trickle chargers that will keep it in
good chape while stored. Alternatively, simply ensure it is fully

Aside from purpose chargers, is it a Relly Bad Thing(tm) to just hook up
a regulated power supply to the battery or will that also do the trick?
I have the same problem with my oldtimer convertible which does not see
the light of winter.

Maarten

--
With a Smith & Wesson 38,
John Lennon's life was no longer a debate
(The Cranberries - I Just Shot John Lennon)

#8

Leftie <No (AT) Thanks (DOT) net> writes:

Quote:

Maarten Deen wrote:

Aside from purpose chargers, is it a Relly Bad Thing(tm) to just hook up
a regulated power supply to the battery or will that also do the trick?
I have the same problem with my oldtimer convertible which does not see
the light of winter.

That depends on what you mean by "regulated." If it switches off
when the battery voltage hits 13.6 or so, and doesn't try to charge at
10 amps, it may be ok. But seriously, why not spend $35 for a real
battery maintainer?

I'm thinking of a laboratory power supply, set so 12 or 13 V. It will
not give more than that voltage and the current will drop to almost 0
when the battery is full.
I'm wondering if that is bad for the battery or not.

Oh, and I'm Dutch

Maarten
--
Flhacs wird im Usenet grundsaetzlich alsfhc geschrieben. Schreibt man
lafhsc nicht slfach, so ist das schlichtweg hclafs. Hingegen darf man
rihctig ruhig rhitcgi schreiben, weil eine shcalfe Schreibweise bei
irhictg nicht als shflac angesehen wird.

#9

Maarten Deen wrote:

Quote:

drossgunn (AT) yahoo (DOT) ca writes:

Keeping the battery charged is definitely better thatn letting it
discharge. A full discharge is very hard on a standard (not deep
cycle) battery and should be avoided like the plague. It is also very
hard on the battery to sit in a discharged state for any period of
time. There are a number of trickle chargers that will keep it in
good chape while stored. Alternatively, simply ensure it is fully

Aside from purpose chargers, is it a Relly Bad Thing(tm) to just hook up
a regulated power supply to the battery or will that also do the trick?
I have the same problem with my oldtimer convertible which does not see
the light of winter.

Maarten

That depends on what you mean by "regulated." If it switches off
when the battery voltage hits 13.6 or so, and doesn't try to charge at
10 amps, it may be ok. But seriously, why not spend $35 for a real
battery maintainer?

#10

Maarten Deen wrote:

Quote:

Leftie <No (AT) Thanks (DOT) net> writes:

Maarten Deen wrote:

Aside from purpose chargers, is it a Relly Bad Thing(tm) to just hook up
a regulated power supply to the battery or will that also do the trick?
I have the same problem with my oldtimer convertible which does not see
the light of winter.
That depends on what you mean by "regulated." If it switches off
when the battery voltage hits 13.6 or so, and doesn't try to charge at
10 amps, it may be ok. But seriously, why not spend $35 for a real
battery maintainer?

I'm thinking of a laboratory power supply, set so 12 or 13 V. It will
not give more than that voltage and the current will drop to almost 0
when the battery is full.
I'm wondering if that is bad for the battery or not.

Oh, and I'm Dutch

Maarten

Is the power supply happy connected to a 13V unlimited current supply if
the mains fails?? Many are not.

Steve H