Disconnect battery?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Perth Western Australia
Disconnect battery?
hi, i have one of those battery disconnecting keys on my car.
im just wondering, if i only drive my vette once or twice a fortnight, should i be disconnecting the battery between drives? or is this only necessary for long periods of time, like winter, where the car will not be used?
im just wondering, if i only drive my vette once or twice a fortnight, should i be disconnecting the battery between drives? or is this only necessary for long periods of time, like winter, where the car will not be used?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
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From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
I see little advantage to disconnecting your battery during periods of non use. You have to reset your radio stations and lose your mpg and miles and miles to go info when you reconnect. While you do reduce the current drain, lead acid batteries self discharge up to 1% each day even disconnected and you should NEVER let car batteries sit doing nothing for long periods because they collect lead sulphate on the plates and a fully sulfated battery is a door stop. Buy a battery tender which charges the battery only when it detects its charge has dropped about 10% and then turns off. You will then experience normal battery life.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
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From: backwoods upstate ny
i've seen several gm FSM's that recommend disconnecting the battery when the veh will not be used for 11 days (nice round number?), maybe the ecm or the alternator are low level draw?....i know one C4 owner that has a dead battery if he leaves the car stand for two weeks, had it to the dealer about this ''complaint'' many times without resolve....it is a pita to loose the ecm ''learned'' fuel curve,etc, if the batterty is diconnected--i put the battery charger on if its been a week without run time of an hour minimum, disconn the battery during winter storage and give it 4 hour boost once a month.
batteries usually last 3 years in all my cars, then i replace just for comfort anyway
batteries usually last 3 years in all my cars, then i replace just for comfort anyway
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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Get a battery float charger. They're only like $14 or less at Harbor Freight Tools.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42292
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42292
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
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From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
BAD BAD advice. First, charging for only 15 minutes doesn't necessarily even make up the energy lost in cranking the engine. Also, if the battery is discharged, charging current will be high and this heats the alternator and shortens its life. Alternators aren't intended to charge up discharged batteries. Always use a battery charger to charge a battery, NEVER use the alternator.
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 132
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From: Torrington CT
Never said 15 min. you do what you want ..He wasn't asking to recharge dead. his guestion was to disconnect if not able to drive for a while. I bet if you poll, a ton of people start their vets let them run and even move them a few inchecs to curb tire flat spots . No running to cure dead batterys. just starting to start her up . let her run. top off the battery. let the fluids circulate. and best of all listen to her purr. read my post i never condoned charging dead battery's with alternators. alternator would be last thing i would worry about
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Perth Western Australia
Thanks guy's, yeah, never heard of harbour freight. but i know a few places that may the charger.
is there a way to 'poll' i would like to see how any people do actually do that.
is there a way to 'poll' i would like to see how any people do actually do that.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,001
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From: sd
If you're not going to use the car for an extended period of time disconnect it. Say longer than a month or so. I store my car for 6 months of the year and don't start it once during that time. Take the battery out, hook up the trickle charger to it and put in the basement on a peice of cardboard. After storage put the battery in, start the car up and I'm good to go. I don't understand the idea of heat it up for a little bit and then shut it down. What purpose does it serve? None!!! Waste of time. These are cars......not some delicate machinery that needs to be treated with kid gloves. Take care of them yes, pamper them no.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: eastern NC
Originally Posted by ozvette87
Thanks guy's, yeah, never heard of harbour freight. but i know a few places that may the charger.
is there a way to 'poll' i would like to see how any people do actually do that.
is there a way to 'poll' i would like to see how any people do actually do that.
I too drive most of my Corvettes less than once a fortnight, so I use one of these rather than disconnect the batteries...
It's only about $50 and is able to condition sulfated batteries which is the number one premature killer of lead acid batteries. I rotate it between vehicles and haven't had a battery failure in years. (I guess I should go look for some wood about now...) I can start any of the vehicles at any time. It's well worth the peace of mind.
http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?p=VDC-12117
On the other hand there is little harm beyond the inconvenience of disconnecting the battery as you've suggested. Keep in mind that the battery will still lose charge over time, although at a lower rate. Allowing the battery to discharge repeatedly leads to sulfate deposits on the plates internally.
Good luck... GUSTO
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 418
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From: Houston Texas
Mine is a 96 LT1, so decide for yourself if this info fits you.
Take the key out of the ignition. Don't believe---measure the amp draw with the key in and out. It's about 3x the draw with the key in.
Be carefull attaching any charger--float or otherwise. Make sure it is unplugged when attaching the leads. Otherwise, SYS warning will appear on the digital dash.
A really new high grade battery will not have a problem up to a month and still be able to start. When that batt gets to be 2-3 years old, it's getting marginal on a 2-3 week wait, especially if you left the key in.
As to Harbor Freight, why can't he get one of those container ships to drop off a floater on it's way from China to LA - wouldn't be too far out of the way.
Take the key out of the ignition. Don't believe---measure the amp draw with the key in and out. It's about 3x the draw with the key in.
Be carefull attaching any charger--float or otherwise. Make sure it is unplugged when attaching the leads. Otherwise, SYS warning will appear on the digital dash.
A really new high grade battery will not have a problem up to a month and still be able to start. When that batt gets to be 2-3 years old, it's getting marginal on a 2-3 week wait, especially if you left the key in.
As to Harbor Freight, why can't he get one of those container ships to drop off a floater on it's way from China to LA - wouldn't be too far out of the way.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Perth Western Australia
Thanks guys, i never leave the key in the ignition though.... over here vettes are close to the rare end of the car list (hence the cost in aussie dollars) and there is always going to be a *** shiner that wants a piece of the action (illegally) so its safer keeping the keys with me and definitely not in the ignition (even with a lock up garage)i think i can handle the small inconvenience of disconnecting the battery, but i guess, with the amount of time between drives i dont think it will be worth it, i guess it would almost be once a week.
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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Originally Posted by ozvette87
Thanks guys, i never leave the key in the ignition though.... over here vettes are close to the rare end of the car list (hence the cost in aussie dollars) and there is always going to be a *** shiner that wants a piece of the action (illegally) so its safer keeping the keys with me and definitely not in the ignition (even with a lock up garage)i think i can handle the small inconvenience of disconnecting the battery, but i guess, with the amount of time between drives i dont think it will be worth it, i guess it would almost be once a week.
The thing doesn't weigh much since the electrical transformer is the heaviest part of the device.
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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Originally Posted by daca
Can you tell me how this float charger works?
Thanks
Thanks
They are not intended to recharge dead batteries, but rather keep charged batteries from dying and prevent lead-acid batteries from experiencing sulfation.
For 12-volt batteries, depending on the battery type, they usually have fixed float voltages between 13.1 VDC and 13.9 VDC, measured at 80° F (26.7° C) with an accurate (.5% or better) digital voltmeter.
Hope that helps.