V70: Electrical - Battery Charger

Topper · Dec 13th, 2016, 15:30

Using my V 70 2008 D5 a bit less than usual due to family illness..... complicated ! ... so I'm a bit worried about battery going flat with the onset of winter ... battery is in good condition and have not had a problem to date.

Have a decent battery charger in garage but to use that means removing battery from car which bothers me, due to possible subsequent electrical problems on car.

Any one have experience of using small on board charger connected via permanent socket/wiring to battery in boot, enabling occasional use via mains extension lead ?? .. or similar easy solution ?

Topper

andyg · Dec 13th, 2016, 16:38

I may be missing something here? But if I understand your question...... You can safely charge the car battery when it is in the car without disconnecting anything or needing to remove the battery. The Volvo manual just says that the negative lead of the charger should be clamped to the car chassis, not to the negative post of the battery. (I think that is something to do with sensors in the battery posts.) My previous car was a 2007 S80 D5 that has an identical front end to your V70. I gave the battery winter top ups that way with no problems. If you have a modern smart charger (like a CTEK for example) you can leave the battery on charge over night with no worries.

Topper · Dec 13th, 2016, 19:34

Thanks for that .... what I would like to do is to have "permanent" wiring from battery to a small charger with a connection point / socket in the boot ... to which I can then attach / plug in, a mains lead ... can be done ?????? .... if so recommendations for a suitable charger would be welcome.

Topper.

Packard999 · Dec 13th, 2016, 20:46

Have had my rover 75 trickle charging for months, with the battery on the car, it is an 'intelligent' charger

andyg · Dec 14th, 2016, 09:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topper

Thanks for that .... what I would like to do is to have "permanent" wiring from battery to a small charger with a connection point / socket in the boot ... to which I can then attach / plug in, a mains lead ... can be done ?????? .... if so recommendations for a suitable charger would be welcome.

Topper.

CTEK chargers (and no doubt others) come with a lead with spade terminals that can be permanently fixed to the battery positive post and to a point on the chassis for the negative/vehicle earth. I have one fixed in my engine compartment that makes connecting for a trickle charge quite convenient. No need for clamps, I just have to open the bonnet and plug in the charger. If you search for "CTEK charger lead" in Google Images you will see what I mean. I guess if you wanted you could splice in some extra cable to that lead and run it back through the car to your boot? CTEK even sell an extension cable with the correct plug and socket at both ends, but I do not know the length. My understanding is with modern CANBUS cars the positive connection has to be made direct to the battery post. It cannot be made to a live positive cable or connection anywhere else in the car. Would that connector in the engine compartment work for you?

Topper · Dec 14th, 2016, 18:21

Andyg...... excellent ...... that might work and with battery on the V70 being in the boot, there's probably room to install charger close by ... will check your info out ... grateful thanks.

Topper

Simon Jones · Dec 14th, 2016, 18:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topper

Andyg...... excellent ...... that might work and with battery on the V70 being in the boot, there's probably room to install charger close by ... will check your info out ... grateful thanks.

Topper

You might have one in your boot, but us P3 owners have it under the bonnet

.

RM955I · Dec 15th, 2016, 07:21

If it's semi-permanent trickle charging you need, there are 2 obvious choices.

The first is a solar power trickle charger: the second is an Optimate with the accessory lead that provides a permanent plug connector to the battery with a waterproof plug that you could have discreetly exiting the windscreen scuttle or similar. An optimate is really meant for bike batteries so I'd think of it purely as a trickle charger/conditioner, rather than a full-on charger.

Whyman · Dec 15th, 2016, 09:40

If you have a towing bracket you can do it through the 12s socket or the 13 pin if you have one.

Did this for two years with a Wolseley 6 many years ago. Worked a treat but you must remember to disconnect it before you drive off in the morning.

cheshired5 · Dec 15th, 2016, 10:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by RM955I

An optimate is really meant for bike batteries so I'd think of it purely as a trickle charger/conditioner, rather than a full-on charger.

Not at all. It depends on the version.
The Optimate 5 and more so the Optimate 6 have plenty enough grunt to be a car and leisure battery charger.

Dec 13th, 2016, 15:30	#1
Topper Member Last Online: Feb 26th, 2021 12:20 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sandbach, Cheshire	Battery Charger Using my V 70 2008 D5 a bit less than usual due to family illness..... complicated ! ... so I'm a bit worried about battery going flat with the onset of winter ... battery is in good condition and have not had a problem to date. Have a decent battery charger in garage but to use that means removing battery from car which bothers me, due to possible subsequent electrical problems on car. Any one have experience of using small on board charger connected via permanent socket/wiring to battery in boot, enabling occasional use via mains extension lead ?? .. or similar easy solution ? Topper

Dec 13th, 2016, 16:38	#2
andyg S80 D3 Geartonic 2013 Last Online: Oct 28th, 2019 17:01 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Warminster	I think you can charge the battery in the car? I may be missing something here? But if I understand your question...... You can safely charge the car battery when it is in the car without disconnecting anything or needing to remove the battery. The Volvo manual just says that the negative lead of the charger should be clamped to the car chassis, not to the negative post of the battery. (I think that is something to do with sensors in the battery posts.) My previous car was a 2007 S80 D5 that has an identical front end to your V70. I gave the battery winter top ups that way with no problems. If you have a modern smart charger (like a CTEK for example) you can leave the battery on charge over night with no worries. __________________ ____________________ 1980s: 1 x 745 petrol. 1990s: 3 x 855 petrol. 2000s: 1 x S60 diesel. 1 x S80 diesel. 2010s: 1 x S80 diesel.

Dec 15th, 2016, 07:21	#8
RM955I Premier Member Last Online: Jun 26th, 2022 23:42 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Midlands	If it's semi-permanent trickle charging you need, there are 2 obvious choices. The first is a solar power trickle charger: the second is an Optimate with the accessory lead that provides a permanent plug connector to the battery with a waterproof plug that you could have discreetly exiting the windscreen scuttle or similar. An optimate is really meant for bike batteries so I'd think of it purely as a trickle charger/conditioner, rather than a full-on charger. __________________ D5, 205 Phase 3 V70...love the grunt. Previous: 2004 (2005 facelift) 2.4 170

Dec 15th, 2016, 09:40	#9
Whyman Premier Member Last Online: Today 08:39 Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Newark	If you have a towing bracket you can do it through the 12s socket or the 13 pin if you have one. Did this for two years with a Wolseley 6 many years ago. Worked a treat but you must remember to disconnect it before you drive off in the morning. __________________ XC60 2013 D5 215 SE Lux Nav geartronic

Dec 13th, 2016, 19:34	#3
Topper Member Last Online: Feb 26th, 2021 12:20 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sandbach, Cheshire	Thanks for that .... what I would like to do is to have "permanent" wiring from battery to a small charger with a connection point / socket in the boot ... to which I can then attach / plug in, a mains lead ... can be done ?????? .... if so recommendations for a suitable charger would be welcome. Topper.

Dec 13th, 2016, 20:46	#4
Packard999 Junior Member Last Online: May 19th, 2024 10:23 Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Newcastle	Have had my rover 75 trickle charging for months, with the battery on the car, it is an 'intelligent' charger

Dec 14th, 2016, 18:21	#6
Topper Member Last Online: Feb 26th, 2021 12:20 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sandbach, Cheshire	Andyg...... excellent ...... that might work and with battery on the V70 being in the boot, there's probably room to install charger close by ... will check your info out ... grateful thanks. Topper

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