Charge battery driving

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Dec 17, 2019 | 10:06 AM

danw64

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Charge battery driving

Being disabled without my wife now my van is rarely used. Last week the battery discharged after sitting about a week. I do have an Optima auxiliary battery for jump starting, so it fired right up. So my question is how may highway miles should it be driven to fully charge the battery. BTW the battery is 5 months old.
Also should this be daily? CT night time temperature next 7 nights are 10,10,10,20,25,30,25. This is a big factor. What about idling ? It's to icy today to go out and it will be 10 tonight. The battery is charged from yesterdays trip. Maybe idle time, how long though, to keep it topped off til the roads are safe tomorrow night. One last thing, next year do I go with a trickle charger or battery blanket.

Dec 17, 2019 | 12:07 PM

beartracks

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From: Albuquerque

I'd put a solar charger on the dash for the cigar lighter. Biggest you can.

Dec 17, 2019 | 12:50 PM

danw64

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Quote:

Originally Posted by beartracks

I'd put a solar charger on the dash for the cigar lighter. Biggest you can.

I don't mean to be rude, but I live in Connecticut. Right now it's 34 degrees and no sun. It's a typical northeast day. We had an ice storm last night and the roads are questionable as far as joy riding to keep the battery charged. Hopefully my caregiver will take it tomorrow for a 15 mile round trip.

Dec 17, 2019 | 06:37 PM

Tedster9

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From: Waterloo, Iowa

Roughly eighteen (18) hours of steady highway cruising should get it to 100%.

This is why you need a battery charger. It will pay for itself right away, in terms of maximizing the service life of both the battery, and alternator and charging system.

If you can get a disconnect switch, AND not diffuculate all the gee-gaws & security wankery modules as a result of disconnecting the battery, that would be the way to go with an infrequently driven car or truck.

A battery should hold a charge at least several months without external charging in cool dry weather. Not anymore, not unless disconnected from the vehicle. It "should" last more than a week, sounds like a parasitic drain - possibly a relay of some kind, a wiper that isn't parked, all kinds of things.

Dec 22, 2019 | 09:53 AM

beartracks

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From: Albuquerque

Is it fuel injection? If so a remote start might be an option.

Dec 22, 2019 | 12:37 PM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

A battery maintainer would be the most efficient way to keep it ready to go. No use wasting fuel trying to charge the battery. As long as you drive the van once a month or so, that should be enough to keep everything else working. I would put some sort of fuel preservative in it if you are going to let it sit like that. Or put non-ethanol fuel in it.

Dec 22, 2019 | 03:35 PM

alloro

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Quote:

Originally Posted by danw64

I don't mean to be rude, but I live in Connecticut. Right now it's 34 degrees and no sun.

A solar charger won't really charge up a battery, especially in those conditions. However, once you do get the battery charged, a solar charger will keep it maintained so the charge doesn't drop as the vehicle sits. I have this same issue with one of my vehicles that can sometimes sit for 2-months. Even with the limited sunlight I have the solar charger keeps the battery fully charged.