is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when not in use?

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drewtee
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Is there a nice easy way to keep the battery charged on a little used G500. Can you connect a trickle charge to the positive and negative under the hood without airing the battery by the back seat or do you need to expose the battery to ventilate it.

Sorry for the silly question but the G,s battery is in an odd place and mine needs to be kept on charge through lack of current use.

Thanks

Andy

M2dxb
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Re: is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when ...

How little do you use it?
On the G500 back in Dubai it sits for 1-2 weeks between runs, and the battery lasts a few years no problem, so I'd be surprised if yours runs out so soon.

Alternatively park it up at my place and I'll gladly start it up for you every week :)

phileas
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Re: is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when ...

hi drewtee,

I have run cables out of my battery box to an Anderson plug which is bolted on top of my front bumper (and has a dust cap when not in use). To this (via another Anderson plug) I have attached a battery trickle charger. The car can go unused and always is fully charged (very important on the 500 because the central locking controls everything and I can only get into the car via the passenger door or the back door). I've tried other solutions (i.e. solar panels and the like) and they have all been useless.

Hope that helps,
Ph

phileas
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Re: is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when ...

hi drewtee,

I have run cables out of my battery box to an Anderson plug which is bolted on top of my front bumper (and has a dust cap when not in use). To this (via another Anderson plug) I have attached a battery trickle charger. The car can go unused and always is fully charged (very important on the 500 because the central locking controls everything and I can only get into the car via the passenger door or the back door). I've tried other solutions (i.e. solar panels and the like) and they have all been useless.

Hope that helps,
Ph

G-Restorations
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Re: is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when ...

This is what you need, I use one on my TVR which only comes out on sunny days, charges and discharges your battery  to keep it tip top
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Accumate-Optimate-6v-12v-Battery-charger-NEW-/2508...

Regards Gordon

drewtee
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Re: is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when ...

The G is in storage and not being started up at all really so i want to hook up to a trickle charge ideally.

Thanks Philieas for your solution but that would be too 'hardcore' for my G ; )

I suppose my question is when trickle charging does anybody use the positive and neg point under the hood/ bonnet rather than directly to the battery. I charged the car before from this point and it works. I have forgotton what they are under the hood for but will take a picture and post if no-one know what i mean.

Finally, when you do trickle charge would you take the cover of the battery and leave windows on the car open (seems to make sense) to aireate..

Finally, finally. I've heard of trickle chargers whick plug into cigerete lighters, do these work on G?

Thanks again and if you are not sure what i mean under the hood i will go to the car in storage and take a pic.

drewtee
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Re: is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when ...

The G is in storage and not being started up at all really so i want to hook up to a trickle charge ideally.

Thanks Philieas for your solution but that would be too 'hardcore' for my G ; )

I suppose my question is when trickle charging does anybody use the positive and neg point under the hood/ bonnet rather than directly to the battery. I charged the car before from this point and it works. I have forgotton what they are under the hood for but will take a picture and post if no-one know what i mean.

Finally, when you do trickle charge would you take the cover of the battery and leave windows on the car open (seems to make sense) to aireate..

Finally, finally. I've heard of trickle chargers whick plug into cigerete lighters, do these work on G?

Thanks again and if you are not sure what i mean under the hood i will go to the car in storage and take a pic.

Roly
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Re: is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when ...

There is a small vent tube from the battery to vent it during normal operation. I imagine that a trickle charger would not create too much gas for the vent to handle.
The terminals under the bonnet are connected directly to the battery so there is no difference where you actually put the charger. The lighter is disconnected when the key is off, so it wouldn't be any good for the charger.

bigblock
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Re: is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when ...

If a battery is placed on continuous charge over a lengthy period of time without regulating the input charge the battery will become overcharged which will cause "gassing".  This goes relatively unnoticed when the battery is located under the bonnet and the gas can escape, however when the battery is located within the vehicle it has more serious implications.

For continuous charging of a G500 with an internal battery I would strongly recommend a multi stage charger (like Optimate etc) which has the ability to monitor and vary the batterys state of charge keeping it within safe limits.

Mountain Goat 7
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Re: is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when ...

Mercedes stock a compact high quality Swedish made trickle charger with maintenance function. I have one for our SLK AMG which tends to not go out very much in Winter up here in the North West Highlands!

Part No.: A 000 982 01 21.

This would also work fine with any G and can easily be connected to the terminals under the bonnet rather than directly to the battery.

drewtee
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Re: is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when ...

Thanks for all the fantastic info,

I will use my CTEK xs 700 multi charger, which is a great bit of kit, and attached to the terminals under the hood.

I think that should be ok.

drewtee
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Re: is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when ...

Thanks for all the fantastic info,

I will use my CTEK xs 700 multi charger, which is a great bit of kit, and attached to the terminals under the hood.

I think that should be ok.

M2dxb
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Re: is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when ...

Interesting one that is, didn't know they marketed their own in the UK:
http://www.mercedes-benz-parts.co.uk/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&sku...

prwales
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Re: is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when ...

run it for 20 minutes every week ought to do it as well and help keep the engine rust free and the internal seals coated so they don't dry out.

gav.helme
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Re: is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when ...

The MB kit listed earlier is only £72.00 + vat from the dealer

Bargin

drewtee
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Re: is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when ...

I've just looked at the Mb one and it is a 'ctek" rebranded by Mercedes. I know Bentley do the same.

So go look at CTEK trickle chargers, they may be slightly cheaper unbranded. Great Kit and very safe.

peter perfect
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Re: is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when ...

 To be on the safe side you could put the charger on a timer to come On an hour a day

drewtee
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Re: is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when ...

 Now that would be even safer. Good thinking

Roly
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Re: is there an easy method to keep the battery charged when ...

If you intend to store the G for many months without use you could remove the battery from the G and chagre it in the workshop