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Flat battery in Lockdown
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Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4850
Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 7:51 pm    Post subject: Flat battery in Lockdown Reply with quote

Hi
My battery on the V40, about 18mths old, went flat between Easter Monday and Tuesday this week.
I haven't been using a blipper for years as either it or the receiver packed up and it was just as easy to get in using the drivers door key.
BUT with the battery flat the door locks won't work; fortunately the boot lock does so I had to get in the boot, fold down the back seat and reach down under the off side of the steering wheel to release the bonnet catch.
Got the battery charged up and now the locks are working again.
I think I'm going to have to do more 10ml return supermarket trips at least that's what it seems like.

Has anyone experience of dashboard solar trickle chargers, are they worth having?
Alternatively is it possible to put a 12v power plug on my ordinary charger so that i could plug it into my cigarette lighter (nowadays called a power socket) if so which wire goes to which terminal in the plug in order to charge?
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Rick
Site Admin


Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22779
Location: UK

PostPosted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 8:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I used to have a solar trickle charger set up in the back window of a V70 I had, and it seemed to work - you need to have a 12v cigar socket in the car though that remains live with the ignition off (iirc) to plug it into, not all do.

RJ
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peter scott



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 7211
Location: Edinburgh

PostPosted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 9:40 pm    Post subject: Re: Flat battery in Lockdown Reply with quote

Penman wrote:
which wire goes to which terminal in the plug in order to charge?


Assuming the car has negative earth your cigar lighter will have the outer earthed and the inner positive and the positive of your charger should be connected to that inner positive connection.

Peter
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Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4850
Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Thu Apr 23, 2020 9:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi
Thanks gents.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
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V8 V10
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emmerson



Joined: 30 Sep 2008
Posts: 1268
Location: South East Wales

PostPosted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 1:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Penman, my Land Rover is doing the same thing. I just put the battery on charge once a week.
I think its down to all the alarms and electric gadgets they have nowadays.
My old Talbot camper can sit for 6 months and still start!
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ukdave2002



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4231
Location: South Cheshire

PostPosted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 2:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I get an email and a text from the modern if my battery is getting low!

Dave
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V8 Nutter



Joined: 27 Aug 2012
Posts: 601

PostPosted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 7:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have been using a small solar powered charger on the Cadillac for some years now, it does the job. Although I do disconnect the battery
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Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4850
Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Fri Apr 24, 2020 9:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi
Well I have now made up an adaptor which can go between the power socket and the crocodile clips on my charger. I will still need to get in through the rear hatch but I can then reach the power socket, put in a bit of charge and then open the doors.
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Clactonguy



Joined: 20 Mar 2018
Posts: 107
Location: clacton on sea

PostPosted: Fri Jun 26, 2020 10:13 pm    Post subject: flat batteries Reply with quote

I disconnect mine if not using car for over 3 weeks. sons Land Rover is nightmare .changed battery and can go flat over night.unabel to trace issues other than lighting circuit. have fitted a simple battery connect /disconnect switch .no more flat batteries Smile
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Mog



Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Posts: 663
Location: Sydney

PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2020 7:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just buy and use a float charger. Once it gets to 12 volts it stops charging. Holding the charge , depends on the age of the battery .
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lowdrag



Joined: 10 Apr 2009
Posts: 1600
Location: Le Mans

PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2020 6:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I bought several battery conditioners from Lidl for £15 each. A great investment, because the battery is always kept charged and they cost pence a year to run. In the winter, when all is tucked up, it is nice to know you can start the car (and the garden tractor!) when you want. Peace of mind! The other thing I use is a battery cutout.

https://www.frost.co.uk/battery-cut-out-switch/
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Ray White



Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 7075
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 9:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Will the Volvo doors not open from the inside and over ride the central locking system?

I think it is quite dangerous to be able to lock the car with someone inside unable to open the doors. If you couldn't open the tailgate - for whatever reason - you could have a problem.
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ukdave2002



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4231
Location: South Cheshire

PostPosted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 9:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Most moderns allow you to either just lock, that can be opened from the inside, or deadlocked where you can't. If I lock my car with my phone its deadlock only, however it does warn you that this is the case.

Dave
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Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4850
Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Wed Jul 01, 2020 12:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Ray
Ray White wrote:
Will the Volvo doors not open from the inside and over ride the central locking system?

I think it is quite dangerous to be able to lock the car with someone inside unable to open the doors. If you couldn't open the tailgate - for whatever reason - you could have a problem.


What I posted originally only seems to apply when the battery is dead. I've just tried locking it from outside, with the key, while sat inside, I then shut the windows and waited till the immobiliser clicked on and I was still able to open the door from inside.
When My neighbour gets home tonight I'll check it by getting him to lock it from outside while I'm in it just to make sure.
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Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10
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