I don't drive my 2000 XK8 very often. Is there way to put a battery maintainer on the car without disconnecting the battery. It would be nice to just unplug and go.

 

Sure, as long as you use one of the 'intelligent' chargers. Mount it under the hood or in the trunk and provide power only as needed. The battery is vented, or certainly should be so charging it in place is not a problem.

A 'trickle' charger will provide power past the point that the battery is fully charged and evaporate the electrolyte.

 

Check out a Battery Tender on the Web. They run from $10 to $50. I got a couple from Newegg for about $20 each that had a pigtail that connected to the battery terminals and was long enough to lay in the corner of the trunk and plugs in and out with a snap. That way you can take the charger out of the trunk and keep it from rolling around.


Wayne

 

I use a CTEC charger on my XKR all winter never had a problem with my battery. just leave it plugged in and forget it, then when you want to drive just unplug and away you go

 

While I have the 'Battery Tender' brand I also have one from Harbor Freight that does exactly the same thing and cost $5.99.

 

Once the weather breaks here, temps get to and stay above 50 degree or so does it matter to even have this thing on the battery if you are driving the car 3 to 4 times in a 7 day week?

 

hell if it is even colder and you are driving 2-4x a week (weather permitting) does it matter?

 

The key to the truly "intelligent" or "smart" chargers is not just that they can be quickly unplugged/replugged when you want to go/return . . . nor that they taper off the charge as the car battery nears full charge . . . nor that they turn off when fully charged, to prevent overcharging and evaporation, as stated.

It lies in the fact that, whilst connected to the vehicle battery, and having SHUTDOWN at full charge, it will RESTART the charge process when the vehicle battery drains over time . . . this it is recommended for permanent connection when the vehicle is not being used.

Permanent connection raises another issue fully explored in the S-Type Stickies (but just as critical for the X100) . . . arrange your leads out from the boot/trunk (big hole at back with lid; holding car battery) so that the lid can be closed. Vehicle needs that to be able to fully descend into "sleep" mode and thus allow PATS and other onboard systems to lower the quiescent current drain below the factory specified threshold.

The CTEK (and many similar brands) are such intelligent chargers, but that level of smarts will NOT come in a $5-6 price bracket! Even at $50, if such a device maximizes your battery life (my last died at 9-10 years) it is a great investment.

Cheers,

Ken

 

I can vouch for the value of battery maintainers. I've use Battery Tenders, but will accept others' positive review of the CTEK. The Tender has saved me hundreds of dollars over the years, just in motorcycle batteries alone. They are phenomenal investments! If you're laying up your vehicle for weeks or months at a time, using these things is a no-brainer.

 

+1 on the Battery Tender.

 

Ken,

I'm grateful for your explanation of the mysterious lid at the back. I've now opened mine to find a mask, sawn off shotgun and a bag full of money.

Looking forward to your follow up on the other strange lid at the front. Haven't dared open that yet.

Graham

 

DON'T . . . Gosh Graham don't even think of going there!!!

Up front, under that bonnet/hood (big hole with lid, in which lurks all manner of things going rattle; rattle, bang) . . . far too technical for newborn chums, but for the super-intelligent among us, I can afford to get technical.

There's thingies in there that go UP; BANG; DOWN . . . narrowly missing other thingies that go DOWN; BANG; UP and lots of boxes with magic smoke or fluid inside. Beware letting the magic smoke or fluid escape!!!
Magic smoke has a pungent aroma . . . much like the smell of many $100 notes burning away before your nose!

All this is carefully explained in the Owners Manual. Unfortunately, most of my manuals are now so tear-stained they are barely legible. Gosh, it's so good to know I still have the knack of translating these highly technical principles to be understood by my fellow feeble minded inmates.

Shhhh! Here comes the nurse again! There will be hell to pay if she finds I have been feeding my medicine to the unconscious chap in the next bed!!!

Cheers,

Ken