"Smart chargers" are good for keeping batteries at optimum charge levels. Oxford Products do an "Oxymiser", which will charge a flat battery up to fully charged then maintain at that level. Fit and forget! They cost about £30.
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"Smart chargers" are good for keeping batteries at optimum charge levels. Oxford Products do an "Oxymiser", which will charge a flat battery up to fully charged then maintain at that level. Fit and forget! They cost about £30.
i used to have a solar one that was fitted in back side window of car. it trickle charged battery anytime it could and it did make a difference. The cheapo ones aint so good tho
Indeed... The best (and most reliable ones) work from the mains. I got caught out too last week, with the Brabster, but simply walked down and borrowed my dad's car to get the battery charged. Luckily his house is only a 5-minute walk, and I always keep jump leads handy:)Quote:
Originally Posted by struth
Failing that, we're got 'At Home' cover with the RAC, so I'd simply have called them to send someone out. We've always had great service from the RAC, and would never be without some form of 24-hour breakdown cover for our cars.
As for pumping up tyres, I use nitrogen-only in the Brabster's, and simply take the car along to our local ATS depot, as they're currently still trading. No hassles!:cool:
https://www.atseuromaster.co.uk/cons...ogen-inflation
Marco.
Another possible cause for concern is the brakes binding on, so even if the cars do start after a lay-off, they may make a horrid noise for a mile or so - perhaps more - if the rust and grit gets between the pads/discs or the pads/drums. Not sure how to overcome that issue, if we're strictly not allowed to drive anywhere without a very good reason.
Allowed to go for food etc.
Trying to only go out every 5 days, which is about the limit of fridge life for meat from the butcher, and alternating (pun intended) between my car, wive's and my Land Rover - so far they've all started ok, though Landy struggled when it was really cold. I have an Optima trickle charger, but it's currently with my uncle and my motorbike, the return of which is now extended due to COVID-19. Lockdown doesn't seem to have stopped the dozens of bikes passing the house today - I'm sure they're essential workers using they're bikes to get to work (though strange hours?) or possibly medical needs? Be difficult to do much of an "essential" shop on a bike?...
Not mixed with anyone for over 4 weeks. Can't get fresh shopping deliveries from anywhere at all but managed freezer stuff and some butcher meat from a butcher.
Pretty much living out of freezer. Son has a friend who is helping him fortunately as I can't due to risk.
He has one more delivery of groceries that I organised for him a while ago before it went tonto. I will hopefully get milk then, so keep my cereal and coffee going.
Got a saddle of lamb in fridge to cook. Might try it in foodi
Re the At Home service - we also have that, with another company. It can be a real pain though, as when the battery on my Prius goes down, the doors lock. Then one has to use the mechanical key to open the car, and sometimes it's necessary to get into the rear of the car. It really is a complete pain. Sometimes also, the car alarm goes off almost continuously while trying to get this done. In addition, some of the breakdown people are more clued up than others, and actually know how to get this sort of problem fixed with relatively little fuss - others don't.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Best to avoid this kind of thing, if at all possible, so probably trickle chargers are the way to go.
Re tyre pressures - we're trying not to go out at all. I'm not sure that going to pump up tyres counts as essential in the current climate - though one could argue the toss that if it isn't essential now, it might be in a few weeks. I have similar concerns about the locked on brakes phenomenon - caused I think by leaving a car standing for several weeks.
if you have to use the car for essential stuff - which you do - then driving around on low tire pressure is a safety issue - so I don't think you'd have a problem explaining that. Seems to me that vehicle maintenance is still an essential.
I get where you're coming from, but Macca's right. Keeping cars safely on the road, for any reason, is still being treated as an essential, which is why mechanics are still working and garages are open.
Also, the thing about Nitrogen inflation is that the correct tyre pressures remain constant for longer [and yes I've tested this over the last three years I've been using it, versus just air], so once your tyres are pumped up to the correct pressure, it won't need done again for a minimum of 6 months.
Once things are back to normal, you should try it:)
Marco.