Second battery?

JakeS76 · Post by **JakeS76** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 1:58 pm

I don't have a driveway so no way to charge my battery. So would it make sense to buy a second battery then swap them over every month so that one can be charged while the other is in the car? I don't use the car that often so don't want to be stuck with a flat battery.

As you can't open the boot once the battery is removed (for charging)I thought this might be a good solution. I do have the ski hatch though. But it sounds like this is a very awkward way to access the boot catch?

Reamesy · Post by **Reamesy** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 2:05 pm

If your new battery is good and the car has no issues then it should start no problem after a month

B21 · Post by **B21** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 2:05 pm

The issue is that with ever swap you then need to re-register the battery..a bit off faff..

You could take the battery out and lock the car manually..

Then manually unlock the car..pop the bonnet..momentarily use the jump connector to give power to release the boot then re-attach battery etc..

Obviously fraught with f€£k up issues..

B21 · Post by **B21** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 2:06 pm

Reamesy wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2024 2:05 pm If your new battery is good and the car has no issues then it should start no problem after a month

Battery is good for 6 weeks but relies on it being fully charged to start with..

JakeS76 · Post by **JakeS76** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 9:43 pm

I've got the BimmerLink app so it's only a couple of minutes to re-register the battery each time. But if you keep doing this does it screw up the electronics?

flybobbie · Post by **flybobbie** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 10:08 pm

Why not drop solar panel in window and run to battery.
All you need is something pushing electrons the right way around.
100w panel for £50.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 10:11 pm

Solar panel sounds like a good idea, but the easiest option might be to just use the car a bit more often and get more fun out of it!

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 11:27 pm

JakeS76 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2024 1:58 pm I don't have a driveway so no way to charge my battery. So would it make sense to buy a second battery then swap them over every month so that one can be charged while the other is in the car? I don't use the car that often so don't want to be stuck with a flat battery.

As you can't open the boot once the battery is removed (for charging)I thought this might be a good solution. I do have the ski hatch though. But it sounds like this is a very awkward way to access the boot catch?

Sounds like a good idea to me. Don't see an issue with multiple re-registering.
If you buy a duplicate of the existing one, I am not convinced you would need to keep re-registering them, either.
Bit of a ball-ache keep lugging heavy batteries around, though.

Big Andra · Post by **Big Andra** » Sun Apr 28, 2024 7:54 am

flybobbie wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2024 10:08 pm Why not drop solar panel in window and run to battery.
All you need is something pushing electrons the right way around.
100w panel for £50.

This is what I do with my van as it can sometimes sit for a couple of weeks without turning a wheel. It works a treat.

DonDon · Post by **DonDon** » Sun Apr 28, 2024 9:02 am

B21 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2024 2:05 pm Then manually unlock the car..pop the bonnet..momentarily use the jump connector to give power to release the boot then re-attach battery etc..

Just to reiterate - the battery is always charged via the red terminal in the engine bay (near the windscreen) and a ground connection, not via the boot.

MarshMA10 · Post by **MarshMA10** » Sun Apr 28, 2024 12:07 pm

Solar panel solution works really well for motorbikes in my experience! In your shoes this is what I’d do. Or, lend the keys to a pal once a month! That’s what I used to do with the Vette.

javis20 · Post by **javis20** » Tue Apr 30, 2024 1:54 am

I would avoid frequently disconnecting and reconnecting the battery option. In my experience the FRM module doesn't like it. and can be killed. It's not an inexpensive item. Just run a cable from the house to the car and bring it up under the car to the terminals in the bonnet. Make it a ground fault outlet and it will be safe.

B21 · Post by **B21** » Tue Apr 30, 2024 7:03 pm

javis20 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 1:54 am I would avoid frequently disconnecting and reconnecting the battery option. In my experience the FRM module doesn't like it. and can be killed. It's not an inexpensive item. Just run a cable from the house to the car and bring it up under the car to the terminals in the bonnet. Make it a ground fault outlet and it will be safe.

JakeS76 · Post by **JakeS76** » Thu May 09, 2024 12:05 pm

Thanks everyone. My car isn't parked where I can run a cable to it, so either driving it more often or getting a solar trickle charger looks the best option.

Would an AA solar charger that plugs into the OBD2 socket work ok?