Battery life question

[3rensho]

Hi all.  I've got seven years on my battery and with winter coming on I was wondering what peoples experience is with battery longevity.  Car is driven several times a week on 30-60 minute trips and the battery never falters but, I don't want to take the chance that I drive somewhere out in the boondocks and then it goes totally dead.  So, whatcha y'all think???  Thanks in advance

Tom

[polar]

In the UK a decent battery can last around 10 years - you usually tend to hear when starting if the battery is tied.

[Gravity]

Very rarely does a battery go dead just like that. If it is starting to die, it will show symptoms - like slower turnover when starting, lights going brighter when you rev the engine, etc.

Rather than buying a new battery when your's is still working well and might go on for years yet, why not invest in a booster that you can keep in the car? Peace of mind is what you're after, and this gives it. I have one that will start the car if my battery ever fails, although I seem to use it more to help other people!

Gravity

[Silverberlingo]

Just test it and there will be the answer !! Had to buy a AGM battery for the mini this week stop start etc. It hadn't failed but was low on it's output only putting out half it's recommended output. But that was 5 years old and just out of warranty, new battery has a 3 year warranty but not worth the extra £££ for the 5 year one.

[ffrenchie]

When I used the car a lot I never had battery problems but nowadays only doing a few thousand miles a year and less in winter they seem to last about 5 or 6 years. I thought about buying one of the small capacitor jump starters just in case or or for those colder mornings,

[3rensho]

Thank you all for your input. Gravity, I hadn't thought about a booster - will look into it. I have had a battery go south over a relatively short period of time in the past. We haven't had very cold winters here over the last three years but prior to that it could get below -20C and we leave the car parked at the tram stop when we go to concerts at night and get back late. Thanks again

[ron]

My old '57 reg Berlingo is still on its original battery.The C15 before that,the battery saw it out.My tip is to fully charge the battery every month.I'm now using one of these pulse? chargers as it was recommended here.If I do too many short trips,I charge the battery more often.

[ajcommercial]

Sorry I don't see the point in a Booster pack, I have had one and the battery in it died before I needed it, how often are you likely to need it ? They have to be kept on charge all the time which is a waste of electricity that you're paying for, you buy a booster for £50 only to find it isn't powerful enough for a Diesel.. If you have a Petrol I suppose you will be OK.. I just keep a spare battery on charge and use it when I need it with jump leads, it will do petrol and Diesel and cost about £40.. If I need to replace the battery in my 'lingo I always have a spare waiting so I'm not 'off the road'.. I do believe in battery care so a trickle charge is preferable if the vehicle isn't being use regularly..

 Just my 2pee...

[Gravity]

Sorry I don't see the point in a Booster pack, I have had one and the battery in it died before I needed it ...I just keep a spare battery on charge and use it when I need it with jump leads ... I do believe in battery care so a trickle charge is preferable if the vehicle isn't being use regularly..

You've just answered your own point really.
If you care like that for your spare battery but you neglect your booster pack, what do you expect? Of course it will fail you when you need it.

My booster pack is serviced just like the rest of my gear. I not only keep it for an emergency, I also use it for camping, charging my mobile and tablet, watching tv, etc when I'm off-grid. It also has an invertor, so I can use 240v supply if I need it. It will start any of my diesels, and friends cars also.
I have found it a great piece of kit - but it needs routine care just like any other bit of kit you rely on.

Each to his own.

Gravity

[ghost123uk]

My booster pack is serviced just like the rest of my gear. I not only keep it for an emergency, I also use it for camping, charging my mobile and tablet, watching tv, etc when I'm off-grid. It also has an invertor, so I can use 240v supply if I need it. It will start any of my diesels, and friends cars also.

I have found it a great piece of kit - but it needs routine care just like any other bit of kit you rely on.

Hi Mr Gravity

I have been looking at Booster Packs for all the reasons you state above (my B59 is a micro camper as well as my daily). What make model is your Booster Pack please?

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p.s. - I agree regarding regularly charging them, it's not a problem and costs nowt.

By the way, the 12V sockets by the gear stick go off when you remove the ignition key, so you can leave any device that needs re-charging plugged into those, and they only charge whilst the ignition is on, therefore no danger of them depleting the main battery overnight. I have a "4 way" adapter plugged into one of those sockets.

I also have a similar "4 way" adapter plugged into the roof 12V socket(s), they stay live all the time. That adapter has an LED voltmeter incorporated into it too, useful in camping situations