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[dbdb]

I need to take out the battery and charge it.  I can't charge it in situ.   I've done this many times and it is a bit of a chore - making sure the alarm doesn't sound on removal,  re-programming the radio code,  the windows and the sunroof on replacement.  I assume the Elite seats retain their memory or will I have to re-store them as well?

Anyway what I'm thinking of is a small 12v battery (the 20a/h one built into my jump starter) plugged in to the rear cigar lighter socket, positive to positive and neg to neg.  So it's connected in parallel with the main battery.  Then take out the main battery and let the 20ah one keep all my settings while I swap it immediately for a spare main I have or even overnight while I charge the flat main. Are there any disadvantages?  Obviously I won't run anything big like the starter or the HRW on the small batt.

After that I need to identify what the drain is, with my shiny new DC amps clamp meter  .  I do know the batt wasn't self draining.

[Andy B]

The flaw in your thinking is ...... that the rear ciggy lighter is only live for a short time after the ignition is switched off, so connecting  A N Other battery to it will make no difference to the main battery at all.  Leave the main car battery connected & connect your battery charger to it, and charge it in situ. 
HRW will only switch when the engine is running 

[dbdb]

The flaw in your thinking is ...... that the rear ciggy lighter is only live for a short time after the ignition is switched off, so connecting  A N Other battery to it will make no difference to the main battery at all.  Leave the main car battery connected & connect your battery charger to it, and charge it in situ. 
HRW will only switch when the engine is running 

Yes had heard that but my rear cig soc seems to be live 24/7.  Timer gone or something, may be connected to the leak.  Anyway 15 minutes is enought to swap main batteries, could do it in 1 even.   

Can't charge it in situ without running a mains lead along the road.

[Andy B]

....   

Can't charge it in situ without running a mains lead along the road.

Ah! 

[robson]

Plug it into the lamp post?

[Entwood]

Can you not CAREFULLY connect your jump starter to the battery leads in such a way as to enable you to disconnect them from the dead battery and lift them clear, whilst remaining connected to the jump starter ??

This would give the continuous voltage to the system you require and enable the batteries to be swapped out ??


If worried about the spring clamps popping off replace them with some screw on ones ??

[robson]

Sorry about my comment.  Entwood beat me to it about the battery connections I have done this in the past by just twisting a bare lead onto  the battery connectors prior to removal

[dbdb]

Can you not CAREFULLY connect your jump starter to the battery leads in such a way as to enable you to disconnect them from the dead battery and lift them clear, whilst remaining connected to the jump starter ??

This would give the continuous voltage to the system you require and enable the batteries to be swapped out ??

If worried about the spring clamps popping off replace them with some screw on ones ??

Yes that is exactly what I tried last time.  All was going well but you can imagine how difficult it is to manage the 6Kg jump starter resting on the engine and stopping the clips jumping off while removing and replacing a 20kg battery.  I was almost there when a clip went, just befopre I connected up the new battery.  Dangerous and more pain than doing the resets which I then had to do anyway.  Using screw on connections is a good idea but then that is close to just wiring a cigar lighter plug to a spare battery or the jump starter.  Plus then you wouldn't have to unscrew them.

[dbdb]

Plug it into the lamp post?

There is one nearby and the panel is off it last time I looked .  It's two criminal offences instead of one mind .

Made me think though, what I could do is just put one of those cheap solar chargers in the window plugged into the lighter and park in the sun . When it returns.

[robson]

Shame your not near me you could borrow my golf trolley battery to connect in.

[scottambrose]

connect a battery and cable to the box above the battery with the large fuses, i cant remember which fuse it is ill find out. that one runs all the interior memory radio, windows etc etc, i found that out when trying to find my battery drain. then you wont loose your settings.

[kevinp58]

Why not use jump leads to start the car then take it for a run and let the alternator do its job

[dbdb]

A long run is an option, I really wanted to charge it at least overnight though.  Won't need the jump leads I hope,  it will start, just that the little ball showing is red.

[Tick Tock]

If you remove and throw away the power sounder (fire hazard), then the alarm won't sound when you disconnect battery!

[dbdb]

but then I wont' have an alarm This is London not Hereford.