Flat battery avoidance

Audio, Electronics and Lighting questions and answers

Moderators: timk, Stu, zombie, Andrew, -alex, miata

User avatar
davekmoore
Speed Racer
Posts: 4681
Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2009 1:53 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Esprick, UK

Flat battery avoidance

Postby davekmoore » Fri Aug 06, 2010 7:34 pm

Anyone had any success in fitting the type of device that attaches to the battery and stops it supplying any power to things like lights, if they're left on ( :oops: ) just before it becomes so discharged that it wouldn't be able to start the car?

I understand there may be one that even "wakes up" if the alarm is activated?

Any info?
UK since return: Standard NC2 (horrid), C200K, ND2 BBR, NC2 BBR200 (loved it), NC BBR300 (better than BARMY), V-Special, turbo NB8B (my 84th car)

rascal
Racing Driver
Posts: 1770
Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 1:39 pm
Vehicle: NB8A
Location: FarSE Melbourne

Re: Flat battery avoidance

Postby rascal » Sat Aug 07, 2010 9:15 am

While I dont have a device to stop power supply, (which wouldnt guarantee against flat battery anyway as batteries still discharge when sitting) I do use a trickle charger when I put my car in the shed (It only gets dríven once a month) and this has ensured I always have a fully charged battery when I go to use the car next (and saved my bacon once when I forgot to close the door properly and the interior light stayed on)

User avatar
bruce
Speed Racer
Posts: 7707
Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NA8 - Turbo
Location: Victoria
Contact:

Re: Flat battery avoidance

Postby bruce » Sat Aug 07, 2010 10:34 am

Ask Rocky, I think he's done a lot of research.

User avatar
sliq
Speed Racer
Posts: 3414
Joined: Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:33 am
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT
Location: Sydney
Contact:

Re: Flat battery avoidance

Postby sliq » Sat Aug 07, 2010 11:47 am

a trickle charger should do the trick.

what bruce said, do a search on rocky's posts. lots of information on it when i was doing some research.
i can't brain today.. i have the dumb..

WASP
Fast Driver
Posts: 209
Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2009 9:24 am
Vehicle: NB SE
Location: Burleigh

Re: Flat battery avoidance

Postby WASP » Sat Aug 07, 2010 12:11 pm

There are "trickle chargers"on the market,I use one, that can be left on all the time and shut down automatically when the battery is charged to prevent overcharging.They are not expensive.
WASP

User avatar
de Bounce
Racing Driver
Posts: 1091
Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2009 5:19 pm
Vehicle: NC
Location: Northern Burbs - Melbourne

Re: Flat battery avoidance

Postby de Bounce » Sat Aug 07, 2010 12:51 pm

davekmoore wrote:Anyone had any success in fitting the type of device that attaches to the battery and stops it supplying any power to things like lights, if they're left on ( :oops: ) just before it becomes so discharged that it wouldn't be able to start the car?

I understand there may be one that even "wakes up" if the alarm is activated?

Any info?

I think this is what you are after, both sourced from the states:

The Battery Brain is an automotive accessory product that easily installs onto the battery of a regular or custom car, truck, SUV, van, or RV. It uses unique electronic technology to ensure the battery always maintains enough power to start the engine.
There are a couple of different versions listed HERE

Another is the Priority Start which monitors battery voltage and automatically disconnects any undesired drain on your battery as the voltage reduces, when the engine is not running. The disconnect threshold is factory set at 11.7 Volts.
2011 NC2 PRHT SE in Dolphin Grey
2001 NB8B in Crystal Blue - Sold :(
Motorkhana Video

User avatar
davekmoore
Speed Racer
Posts: 4681
Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2009 1:53 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Esprick, UK

Re: Flat battery avoidance

Postby davekmoore » Sat Aug 07, 2010 8:04 pm

Thanks de Bounce.

Those are indeed the type of thing I need. Still can't see if they would wake up if the alarm was triggered. I'll find out more from your kindly provided links and report back.

Thanks for the suggestions from others for clever chargers. The car is a daily high mileage user though, so shouldn't be getting a flat battery overnight unless I leave the lights on or the boot open, or the battery reaches the end of its life.
UK since return: Standard NC2 (horrid), C200K, ND2 BBR, NC2 BBR200 (loved it), NC BBR300 (better than BARMY), V-Special, turbo NB8B (my 84th car)

Mr Morlock
Speed Racer
Posts: 6444
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2008 11:40 am
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Melbourne

Re: Flat battery avoidance

Postby Mr Morlock » Sun Aug 08, 2010 4:20 pm

For a daily driver these devices sound more like a solution without a problem.

User avatar
davekmoore
Speed Racer
Posts: 4681
Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2009 1:53 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Esprick, UK

Re: Flat battery avoidance

Postby davekmoore » Mon Aug 09, 2010 10:19 am

Mr Morlock wrote:For a daily driver these devices sound more like a solution without a problem.


Unless, of course, as revealed in the first post, the driver (me) is capable of stupidity.
UK since return: Standard NC2 (horrid), C200K, ND2 BBR, NC2 BBR200 (loved it), NC BBR300 (better than BARMY), V-Special, turbo NB8B (my 84th car)


Return to “MX5 Audio, Electronics & Lighting”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 111 guests