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nivekau
Member Since: 19 Apr 2012
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Posts: 85
  
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| Leave car idling to charge battery? |
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I've been away from home for the last two weeks and have some people looking after our house. They are not driving our Disco but needed to move it and have commented that the battery seemed to struggle to start the car.
Obviously the car alarm system will draw a little current but I would have thought the battery would still be okay after two weeks. From memory on previous trips it has been okay after being left for four weeks. I can't recall how old the battery is but it could be on the way out.
They have asked if they should start the car every few days and let it idle for 10-15 minutes to keep the battery charged up.
Is this advisable practice and/or is it actually wortwhile?
Alternatively I could ask them to charge the battery using a battery charger just before we return. If I do that does the battery need to disconnected from the car before charging? 2007 Land Rover LR3 4.0L V6
Other current other cars
2022 BMW X3 xDrive 30i
2000 Mercedes ML430 (enjoying the challenge of keeping it going!)
1973 Bristol 411 S5
If you are interested in Bristols (the cars), click on my WWW button below...
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 31st Dec 2019 10:28 am |
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Flack
Member Since: 06 Sep 2006
Location: Preston Lancashire
Posts: 6307
 
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No as it will have little or do anything to charge the battery up, it needs a good run of at least and hour to make any difference to the state of charge.
Flack
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| 31st Dec 2019 12:16 pm |
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Motolab
Member Since: 18 Oct 2019
Location: Sleen
Posts: 1820
 
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| Re: Leave car idling to charge battery? |
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nivekau wrote:
Alternatively I could ask them to charge the battery using a battery charger just before we return. If I do that does the battery need to disconnected from the car before charging?
that is the way! but keep in mind that for a big battery like the one from a Disco, can need up to 24H to charge to full again, if empty (empty is 12V or lower)
there is NO need to disconnect it... Best regards
Harold
Always looking for Pre '55's & Pre war British Motorcycles! knowing or having one for sale? PM please. I visit the UK 6 times a year
Ps. I edit my texts quite often, english is not my native language, so I will edit My “typo’s” etc. 
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| 31st Dec 2019 1:39 pm |
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M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8221
 
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Providing it is a smart charger and the -negative is not connected directly to the battery, it can also be left connected indefinitely.  It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
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| 31st Dec 2019 2:06 pm |
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aja4x4
Member Since: 14 Apr 2019
Location: Westbury
Posts: 2463
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A smart charger will recondition your battery as well making it last longer.
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| 31st Dec 2019 4:30 pm |
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Motolab
Member Since: 18 Oct 2019
Location: Sleen
Posts: 1820
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Well we are going off-topic, but the last sentence from aja4x4 is maybe open to debate, since this depends on the use of the battery in real life...
We have here in our car and motorcycle company all variants around..
From, only long distance use minimum 4 times a week, the battery’s on them seem to last almost “forever“
To short running distances motors, with smart chargers (A brands like c-tek) who seem to last maximum of 2 years... with or without the use of smart charges, the only difference is that the ones with the smart chargers are always ready to start.. but after 2 years still end of life... Best regards
Harold
Always looking for Pre '55's & Pre war British Motorcycles! knowing or having one for sale? PM please. I visit the UK 6 times a year
Ps. I edit my texts quite often, english is not my native language, so I will edit My “typo’s” etc.
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| 31st Dec 2019 4:57 pm |
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nivekau
Member Since: 19 Apr 2012
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Posts: 85
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Thanks for all the responses. I'll ask them to put it on charge for 24 hours before we get home. Worst case scenario I've got a lithium battery pack that will start it if need be.
On car battery life in general. There was a time when batteries seemed to last for many years. I mentioned this while buying a new one a few years back from an auto parts store and the guy serving me said they are now made to fail in a much shorter time. It wouldn't surprise me if that was true. 2007 Land Rover LR3 4.0L V6
Other current other cars
2022 BMW X3 xDrive 30i
2000 Mercedes ML430 (enjoying the challenge of keeping it going!)
1973 Bristol 411 S5
If you are interested in Bristols (the cars), click on my WWW button below...
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| 31st Dec 2019 9:47 pm |
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Admirable
Member Since: 19 Jul 2015
Location: Fife
Posts: 1037
 
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I replaced my original LR battery this year on my 07 Disco 3
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| 31st Dec 2019 9:58 pm |
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Motolab
Member Since: 18 Oct 2019
Location: Sleen
Posts: 1820
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nivekau wrote:said they are now made to fail in a much shorter time. It wouldn't surprise me if that was true.
well not really... its all into pricing.. (and the way you use them)
most of the people and company's want cheap... but high quality lead is not cheap.. lower quality lead is cheaper. so that is what they sell to you
if you buy a optima Yellow top or a Oddessy Extreme series (i am sure there are others with more capacity maybe) who both contain very high /pure quality lead, they still last very long if well maintained pricing although is at least 50% more maybe double
i did find the Odyssey PC1350 for AU $520.00 /£ 274 / € 325
(not sure if the poles are on the correct side for LR) Best regards
Harold
Always looking for Pre '55's & Pre war British Motorcycles! knowing or having one for sale? PM please. I visit the UK 6 times a year
Ps. I edit my texts quite often, english is not my native language, so I will edit My “typo’s” etc.
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| 31st Dec 2019 10:11 pm |
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aja4x4
Member Since: 14 Apr 2019
Location: Westbury
Posts: 2463
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As said before lead quality being used these days has been reduced to save money but still give a 2-3 year lifespan.
A lot of batteries have gone over to silver and calcium which improves there lifespan and ability to withstand higher temperatures, The downside is they need higher charging voltages.
I have also had problems with AGM batteries where the acid is impregnated into glass fibre matting between the lead plates these batteries do not like high current loads or charging as the acid evaporates from the matting when it gets hot and the battery dies, it all comes back to life when the battery cools down.
I have a 9.5t winch fitted to my recovery trailer and it drained both my Aux and vehicle battery with the engine running when doing a very difficult recovery. It was a big problem when the D4 cut out with no power at all but 20mins later i had 12.4v and it started again. After much testing and head scratching we found the problem.
I now use a Calcium battery that is charged using a 40amp 12v to 12v battery charger when driving and delivers the extra voltage required to keep a calcuim battery happy. The winch has never missed a beat just running off the Aux battery.
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| 31st Dec 2019 11:29 pm |
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nivekau
Member Since: 19 Apr 2012
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Posts: 85
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Admirable wrote:I replaced my original LR battery this year on my 07 Disco 3
My 07 D3 is on at least its 3rd or 4th battery. It does a lot of short trips, but there's not much I can do about that. 2007 Land Rover LR3 4.0L V6
Other current other cars
2022 BMW X3 xDrive 30i
2000 Mercedes ML430 (enjoying the challenge of keeping it going!)
1973 Bristol 411 S5
If you are interested in Bristols (the cars), click on my WWW button below...
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| 4th Jan 2020 5:24 pm |
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