So, you’ve finally saved up for that much anticipated long holiday abroad, or perhaps you’re going on that extended boat trip of your dreams, which means your car will be sitting unused for a long period of time. The last thing you want is to arrive home to a dead car battery, so here are some tips to keep that car battery in tip top shape ready for your return.
Why does a car battery drain even when not in use?
All car batteries have what is known as self-discharge rate. This discharge rate can be affected by a number of things. The obvious one here being when a battery is connected to a car or something else that draws current, the discharge process can accelerate significantly. Extreme temperatures (either hot or cold) can also accelerate the discharge process.
So, what can you do to prevent coming home to a dead car battery? Below we’ll run through two of the best options available to you.
- Make sure your car battery is fully charged before you go, and then disconnect it from your car, or if that is not practical for you;
- Plug a quality battery maintenance charger into your car battery before you go, and it will keep your battery charged for you.
Don’t let someone give you the absolute rubbish advice to get someone to start your car once a week or take it for a drive every now and again to keep the battery charged. Not only does this present a whole host of risks and problems, from a potential crash or prang, but it also results in unnecessary wear and tear to your car, coupled with the uncertainly of how often they should start your car, how long they should let it idle or how far and for how long they should drive, and let’s not even get started on the additional cost of petrol.
Need help finding the right battery maintenance charger for you? Pop into the Battery Warehouse found here, or give the guys a call on 0800 228 748.
