Battery conditioners

(22-01-2013 02:38pm)tyke2 Wrote:  Hi all

Can anyone confirm if you have to unplug the conditioners before you start the engine?
I'm leaving my car with valet parking whilst I'm away for a week and they deliver it back to my hotel on return. I was wondering if I could plug it in on leaving the car and not have to worry about the valet unplugging it before they start the car.

Thanks

Tyke2
I checked my Optimate 4 instructions and surprisingly it does not mention anything about starting the car when connected to the conditioner. However my wife has started up the V8 Defender reversed out the barn with the confitoner still connected! Fortunately the lead just unsnaps with no harm to vehicle or Optimate. I doubt if any harm will come to the car or conditioner as there is no caution against doing I in my instructions.

Paul

I plugged something into my boot whilst the car was off. No power?

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(08-10-2011 01:32pm)Spiderman Wrote:  No need Pete, the 12v socket in the boot is live 24/7....

Mine doesn't seem to be!??

It appears that late 2012 ad MY 2013 no longer have a live socket. The solar panel I use advises not to start the engine with the charger plugged in. It's one of Maplin's £9.99 specials

Any suggestions then for charging via solar? Will it be a case of going under the bonnet.

(30-01-2013 12:59am)Filski Wrote:  Any suggestions then for charging via solar? Will it be a case of going under the bonnet.

No, the sun dont shine under there

(29-01-2013 03:08pm)XFullFatTim Wrote:  It appears that late 2012 ad MY 2013 no longer have a live socket. The solar panel I use advises not to start the engine with the charger plugged in. It's one of Maplin's £9.99 specials

The instructions say "You must disconnect the charger from your cigarette lighter or battery when starting your engine or driving. Electrical surges from the car engine when starting and running may damage your charger"

I read that as saying that, in some circumstances, your £9 solar charger may 'die' and not that leaving the charger plugged in will damage the car - I currently do not unplug mine and have run it so for nearly a month.

I would also have thought that this would be more of an issue on older cars and that something like the Evoque would have some protection - the flow from the charger can't be that large surely ?

Ahhh you know what I mean.

CJ, the maplin charger had a blocking diode anyway, that is supposed to protect the panel, I suppose the warning is so you don't sue them fr damage to your car's circuits!

Guys, There's a huge potential current drawn when starting an engine and this has the potential to burn out any tiny diode or other circuit if it finds that's the easiest place to draw current from. The blocking diode is to stop you trying to heat your solar panel from the battery and draining the battery rather than charging when the charge current is too low (no sun), it will give no protection from many Amps of current draw and the fact the alternator will provide higher voltage and more current also potentially over-ranging the diodes blocking capability.

(30-01-2013 07:36pm)PhilSkill Wrote:  Guys, There's a huge potential current drawn when starting an engine and this has the potential to burn out any tiny diode or other circuit if it finds that's the easiest place to draw current from. The blocking diode is to stop you trying to heat your solar panel from the battery and draining the battery rather than charging when the charge current is too low (no sun), it will give no protection from many Amps of current draw and the fact the alternator will provide higher voltage and more current also potentially over-ranging the diodes blocking capability.

But are you confirming that it would be the charger that would die and not the car? I'm happy to chance the charger, but obviously not the car.

Also, does the Evoque not cut all power to all items when starting ? It appears like it does when first starting, but it obviously doesn't during the auto stop/start cycle.