Battery Optimiser

[gasgas]

Anyone recommend a battery optimiser,and how long can the car be laid up before using one,cheers.

[robin]

If you don't need the alarm functionality then I would recommend disconnecting the battery rather than using an optimizer. Of course some of the optimizers are OK, but some can actually make matters worse, not better (if you overcharge a battery you wreck it). Note that the immobiliser will automatically arm if the battery is reconnected, so that will still protect the vehicle.

The alarm can go a bit bonkers if you let the battery run flat - if the car is old enough to have the master override switch, I would use that too ...

Disconnected a fully charged lead acid battery has a shelf life of months and months, even years if stored at a reasonable temperature.

Cheers,
Robin

[gasgas]

If you don't need the alarm functionality then I would recommend disconnecting the battery rather than using an optimizer. Of course some of the optimizers are OK, but some can actually make matters worse, not better (if you overcharge a battery you wreck it). Note that the immobiliser will automatically arm if the battery is reconnected, so that will still protect the vehicle.

The alarm can go a bit bonkers if you let the battery run flat - if the car is old enough to have the master override switch, I would use that too ...

Disconnected a fully charged lead acid battery has a shelf life of months and months, even years if stored at a reasonable temperature.

Cheers,
Robin

Hi Robin,thanks for the advice.The car is garaged so i think i`ll go down the route of battery disconnection,first year with this car so i just want to get it right,thanks for your help,Eric.

[campbell]

I have found that my garaged S1 can go for 2-3 wks in warmer months before the battery lets go - this is with the alarm set but the ultrasonics disabled (pressing the second small button the fob just after arming).

Maybe a bit longer with just the immob setting itself.

Over winter it shortens considerably.

I have a Halfords battery conditioner (not sure what an optimiser is) which cuts into trickle mode when the battery is fully charged. Works well, including for restoring a fully discharged battery to health (which Robin will also rightly tell us is bad for a battery I know - the full discharing bit - but hey sh!t happens...even used it to restore the Skoda diesel battery after I left our portable fridge running in it overnight after return from a camping trip!!!)

I always thought it would be funny to set up a wiring run from the battery which terminated in a robust elec connector (a 13amp plug comes to mind!) which you could attach to the trickle charger almost like you would when hooking up a leccy car to a charge point "Hi honey, I'm home...yes, just plugging the Elise in, with you in a jiffy!"

Needless to say, never had the time, but a modest connector which can stow easily would be well worthwhile. I believe you can also get devices that just plug into the "cigarette lighter" socket these days, rather than needing to use the batt terminals.

Campbell

[s29ttc]

http://www.thegreenreaper.co.uk/showdetails.asp?id=761

I've used this for over a year with no issues as yet. The car has sat for few months and always starts first turn, also it claims that this will not overcharge

" No risk of overcharging - AccuMate's special monitoring circuits vary and regulate the current and voltage exactly according to the battery manufacturer’s specifications. "

EDIT: I notice they mention a discount for group buying so I have emailed to see if they could give me an idea of price on a group buy and see if there was enough interest to get these cheaper!

[DDtB]

http://www.thegreenreaper.co.uk/showdetails.asp?id=761

I've used this for over a year with no issues as yet. The car has sat for few months and always starts first turn, also it claims that this will not overcharge

" No risk of overcharging - AccuMate's special monitoring circuits vary and regulate the current and voltage exactly according to the battery manufacturer’s specifications. "

I've used that one for years too. Taking the battery out of an S1 isn't something I particularly enjoy or something I'm very good at! The Accumate apparently charges the battery up, then lets charge back out for a bit before charging again .... to simulate actual use and keep the battery happy.

I'd recommend it

[renmure]

http://www.thegreenreaper.co.uk/showdetails.asp?id=761

I've used this for over a year with no issues as yet. The car has sat for few months and always starts first turn, also it claims that this will not overcharge

" No risk of overcharging - AccuMate's special monitoring circuits vary and regulate the current and voltage exactly according to the battery manufacturer’s specifications. "

I've used that one for years too. Taking the battery out of an S1 isn't something I particularly enjoy or something I'm very good at! The Accumate apparently charges the battery up, then lets charge back out for a bit before charging again .... to simulate actual use and keep the battery happy.

I'd recommend it

Same here. 3 of them connected up in the garage and been in use for 3+ years.
Perfect solution for me.

[neil]

I'd be interested in one of these if you organise a group buy. The cigarette lighter addon looks like it'd make life easier too

[s29ttc]

The normal price of an AccuMate if £31.99 plus £5 delivery.

Yes, discount can be given on more than 1 AccuMate, if delivered to the same delivery address.

Basically, if you wanted to order up to 4 we can send these to you for £31.99 each plus one £5 delivery charge.

Up to 24 we could supply at £31.99 each plus one £10 delivery charge.

Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Above is the response from the guy so basically someone would need to confirm orders and take the risk of sending this to their house and distributing. Means probably posting them again which would likely defeat the purpose on the saving of delivery really.

[neil]

Above is the response from the guy so basically someone would need to confirm orders and take the risk of sending this to their house and distributing. Means probably posting them again which would likely defeat the purpose on the saving of delivery really.

Yeah not worth it, I'll just order one direct.
Cheers

[s29ttc]

I emailed them back basically explaining that it wouldn't work!

Good morning,

Many thanks for the speedy response. I understand the discount offered below but not sure it would be something that would work on the forum. The people are from all areas over the uk therefore this would mean someone taking responsibility for orders and being sent to their address and them reposting these out to the people who ordered one which in effect would negate the saving made on the delivery.

The usual process for group buys which I have had experience on in the past is the company to offer say 20% discount with a discount code which they enter when they are purchasing. Benefit to us is we receive a product cheaper obviously and the benefit to the company is most people impulse buy because everyone else is buying one and they don't want to miss out on a bargain, also it highlights product to an audience who would likely purchase the product and the companies sales for the most part would increase for the product ( if all goes well) hence the sales out weight the discount given.

Many thanks for your assistance in this matter.

Kind regards,

Scott Cruickshanks

[renmure]

They ran a Group Buy on one of the Ferrari Forums a couple of years ago with all the Optomisers being set to one guy who then sent them out to others. If I remeber correctly the overall "saving" if you were buying one was about £2. Not worth the bother IMHO

[douglasgdmw]

If you are looking at an Optimate then try you local Hein Gericke or motorcycle store.

I use an Optimate to keep the bikes battery topped up as I do not use them over the winter, correct that I do not use them very often throughout the year(Monster did a paltry 200 miles this year, 748 lucky if its half that ).

The Optimate's have a very good rep (although available for correction by Robin )

Cheers
George

[gasgas]

If you are looking at an Optimate then try you local Hein Gericke or motorcycle store.

I use an Optimate to keep the bikes battery topped up as I do not use them over the winter, correct that I do not use them very often throughout the year(Monster did a paltry 200 miles this year, 748 lucky if its half that ).

The Optimate's have a very good rep (although available for correction by Robin )

Cheers
George

Hi George,think i`ll go with the Optimate,i`m in the same position as you ,got a Triumph Daytona 675 and hardly used it this year although had a great blast up to Applecross for the games.Think a few of the boys on this site have bikes it would be good to have a meet up next year.Cheers Eric.