Battery, shortened life.

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retneprac

retneprac

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Bedfordshire
My fault as only do home to the station most days. longer runs maybe once a month or less.

Frequency of getting a flat battery is increasing, guess I don't do the mileage after each start to recharge the amount taken to start it (especially this time of year)

Was thinking of going big on a new battery, Optima or similar.

Might look at a split charge thing for future use.

Any recommendations on type and price and who from?

Cheers.
 
retneprac said:
My fault as only do home to the station most days. longer runs maybe once a month or less.

Frequency of getting a flat battery is increasing, guess I don't do the mileage after each start to recharge the amount taken to start it (especially this time of year)

Was thinking of going big on a new battery, Optima or similar.

Might look at a split charge thing for future use.

Any recommendations on type and price and who from?

Cheers.
Click to expand...
Get as big (CCA) battery as will fit the place where it goes. But check all connections,and make sure they are clean and in good condition. also check the engine/starter ground strap.
 
Which model do you have? A TD5 battery in good condition should cope with that kind of use without going flat.
 
Its a TD5 2004, battery been in at least 5 years. Bought from my local LR independent/enthusiast garage. have cleaned the terminals for a good 6 months, and the starter earth strap hasn't been touched in 2 years! Guess i'll be under it next week. Cheers.
 
I use a battery cut-off or isolator.
Park up and just turn the knob under passenger seat.
 

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I have a 2004 td5 and like you all short trips, my original LR battery lasted nearly 13 years, I only changed because it struģgled to start one cold morning but after charging it up the indicator turned green and has kept its charge and is still working as a caravan battery for motor mover. (Once a battery shows any sign of struggling I prefer to change it for piece of mind)
After such good service I invested in another original spec LR battery from main dealer, not cheap but spread over 12 years a very good investment and I know it will last and be worry free.
 
Gmacz said:
I use a battery cut-off or isolator.
Park up and just turn the knob under passenger seat.
Click to expand...
+1. I have the same. Mine can stand for several days or a couple of weeks at a time and its only used for short runs. Never had a battery problem. I did have to change the Alternator a couple of years back as it wasn't providing a good charge.
 
Bought a battery for a friend's car the other day and the guy behind the counter mentioned that if she only does short journeys the guarantee might not be honoured because it's excludes the plates being sulphated.

He didn't seem to think any brand is less susceptible and a trickle charger is the best solution if it's an issue. That's a indy battery specialist.
 
Last edited:
As blue beasty says an overnight trickle charge will keep a battery toped up.Once a month should be good,if it needs more than that then recomend a replacement.
 
Fitting an isolator may be of little value if you aren't doing enough daily mileage to actually put the charge back in the battery in the first place. Seem to remember some old wives tale that you needed 20 mins run to put back in what a 5 second start takes out. Worth checking you are getting a good charging voltage at the battery terminals (with an accurate digital meter), should be getting around the 13.8 mark, anything less than about 13.4 / 13.5 is indicating an issue.
 
I have a solar panel plugged into the cig lighter, so that when she's parked up she gets trickle charged (£8.00 from Aldi)
 
Oldseadog said:
I have a solar panel plugged into the cig lighter, so that when she's parked up she gets trickle charged (£8.00 from Aldi)
Click to expand...

My 12 volt socket is only live when ignition turned to first postion so solar panel will not do anything when ignition turned off, is yours live all the time ?.
 
Oldseadog said:
Yup, and it takes nothing to fit a lighter socket on your battery box.
Click to expand...
I dont need one, my battery lasted over 12 years and have replaced it with the same battery.
Just wondered if your solar panel was actually doing anything as it would not charge if the socket was not live while ignition off.
 
retneprac said:
My fault as only do home to the station most days. longer runs maybe once a month or less.

Frequency of getting a flat battery is increasing, guess I don't do the mileage after each start to recharge the amount taken to start it (especially this time of year)

Was thinking of going big on a new battery, Optima or similar.

Might look at a split charge thing for future use.

Any recommendations on type and price and who from?

Cheers.
Click to expand...

Big battery won't make any difference unless total charging is more than total discharging.
The isolator is a good idea, good for safety and security as well as preventing incidental discharge.
But simple common sense procedures, like switching off all electrics, fans, stereo, etc, before switch off, and leaving it all off during restart, and for a few minutes warm up after restart, will probably be as much help as anything else.
 
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