Battery/ electrics help please....(keeping battery charged)

[papillon]

hi,
Perhaps someone could help me with this (probably very simple) query.
In order to stop the battery from running flat...can I connect my sealey power pack directly to the battery terminals and also connect the power pack to mains? It seems like it would work to me ...but...not sure if I might be creating problems somewhere.
Thanks for any advice

[mister munkey]

1st question - Why is it running flat? I'd be tempted to cure that first.

Or are you planning on laying it up over the winter months?, in which case just disconnect it.

[papillon]

1st question - Why is it running flat? I'd be tempted to cure that first.

I have the radio on etc...but do not often run the engine.

I will be using it over the winter months but it will remain 'static' for periods of time.

[francophile1947]

Why not just get one of these excellent little chargers http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl ... _14694.htm

[mister munkey]

I think I need your postcode to make that link work John . . . .

[francophile1947]

Hmm - I guess they know me but it's under the current offers on the Lidl site

[papillon]

ahh...so is the answer; I can't use the power pack in that way?
It says in the instructions that it can be plugged into the cigarette lighter socket to keep the accessories running...but tried that and it doesn't seem to work....hence....flat battery.

[francophile1947]

ahh...so is the answer; I can't use the power pack in that way?
It says in the instructions that it can be plugged into the cigarette lighter socket to keep the accessories running...but tried that and it doesn't seem to work....hence....flat battery.

Your cigar lighter sockets only work with the ignition on, so your suggestion won't work, unless you rewire the sockets.

[papillon]

ahh...so is the answer; I can't use the power pack in that way?
It says in the instructions that it can be plugged into the cigarette lighter socket to keep the accessories running...but tried that and it doesn't seem to work....hence....flat battery.

Your cigar lighter sockets only work with the ignition on, so your suggestion won't work, unless you rewire the sockets.

yes the ignition was on (key turned to acc. and the socket was working) and the power pack via socket but it didn't keep the radio from running the battery flat.

Does anyone know if, attaching the power pack direct to the battery and simultaneously to the mains, is likely to cause a problem.
Thanks

[g8dhe]

The only way you can be reasonably certain is to turn the Ignition to OFF, then measure the current being drawn from the L/B, provided its less than a 100mA then that would be the expected and connecting the charger directly to the battery and leaving the battery on float charge it will be fine.

However its normally just as easy to disconnect the battery completely and connect the charger and then you have no worries, just make sure that the charger does go to float charge mode where it will be only pushing a few hundred milliamp's into the battery to keep it topped up.

[maxi_77]

ahh...so is the answer; I can't use the power pack in that way?
It says in the instructions that it can be plugged into the cigarette lighter socket to keep the accessories running...but tried that and it doesn't seem to work....hence....flat battery.

Your cigar lighter sockets only work with the ignition on, so your suggestion won't work, unless you rewire the sockets.

yes the ignition was on (key turned to acc. and the socket was working) and the power pack via socket but it didn't keep the radio from running the battery flat.

Does anyone know if, attaching the power pack direct to the battery and simultaneously to the mains, is likely to cause a problem.
Thanks

Coupling another battery will not sop the main one going flat they will just go flat together. As the battery in one of those power packs is a mere 7 ot 12 AH it will not extend the life of your main battery very long, and as an aside flattening the stasrter battery dramatically shortens it's life. In fact flattening ang lead acid battery does not do much for it's life leisure batteries should never go below 50% to achieve their planned life.

Most of the power packs I have fiddled with have a nasty electric interlock to prevent them giving power through the sockets whilst on charge.

Your best bet would be to look at fitting a small charger direct and cutting out the power pack