Going to be going back to work for the first time since I bought my rb5. I'll be away for 3 months and will be leaving my car in parents garage. I've done this before with previous cars with varying results. Sometimes I leave battery disconnected, sometimes Mum takes the car out every couple of weeks, (or not, hence two flat batteries)

RB5 has tracker so dont want to disconnect battery this time and dont trust mum so I'm going to put it on a trickle charger, any advice on models preferably cheap. I've seen a couple on ebay but not sure. Some very cheap.

Thanks for the help

Ian

I have used a pair of Schumacher battery maintainers for 18+ years on my Lotuses. My Esprit would sometimes sit for six or more months, but always start right up and the batteries always lastyed at least 5 years. Beware of Trickle chargers, if they are not automatic they will over charge your battery. A maintainer will not. See this site http://batteriesnorthwest.com/27.html The one I have used is Part No. SE1-12S. If you have a lighter/power port which is always hot you can install a 12 Plug and simply plug it in. I did it this way for the Elan, on the Esprit I mounted in the engine bay and permanently wired it in.Mike

Going to be going back to work for the first time since I bought my rb5. I'll be away for 3 months and will be leaving my car in parents garage. I've done this before with previous cars with varying results. Sometimes I leave battery disconnected, sometimes Mum takes the car out every couple of weeks, (or not, hence two flat batteries)

RB5 has tracker so dont want to disconnect battery this time and dont trust mum so I'm going to put it on a trickle charger, any advice on models preferably cheap. I've seen a couple on ebay but not sure. Some very cheap.

Thanks for the help

IanHalfords sell a draper battery master unit for £20. It will do the job very well indeed.

I've a Draper battery master installed on my Esprit as well. I've wired it so I can leave the car locked by using a water drain hole :

Have a look at :
http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EMaintenance/BatteryConditioner.html
It might give you some ideas.

What about a Solar Panel charger?

What about a Solar Panel charger?
In a garage?

In an English summer?

Serious reply - optimate do a couple of intelligent chargers you can leave connected here (http://www.accumate.co.uk/) Specific models are Accumate and Optimate III with the latter being favourite I think.

I've a Draper battery master installed on my Esprit as well. I've wired it so I can leave the car locked by using a water drain hole :

Have a look at :
http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EMaintenance/BatteryConditioner.html
It might give you some ideas. Well d*mn wish I had thought of that when I had my Esprit. I always left the boot open, then put the cable in the boot when leaving shore (garage) power.

Mike G

Bought a draper battery master today, pretty cheap from halfords. Going to leave insructions for mum or her more mechanically minded partner to keep and eye on car and maybe just put battery master on at weekends.

Thanks for the advice, much much appreciated.

Ian

In a garage?

You said you did'nt want to overcharge :)

Its not a water heater panel, just a trickle charge, so wont need direct sunlight on it.They normally sit on the rear shelf and need 'daylight'.

If you have a garage window, stick it to that and plug the end of the wire into your lighter.