Morris Minor Owners Club

My convertible won't be used very much now until the spring. Is it alright to keep the battery permanantly connected to a charger so it's not flat when I do want to use the car? If not what's the best thing to do with it? Any advice please?

If the battery is good and fully charged just disconnect the neg lead and the battery will remain charged for when you need it. If, however, the battery is marginal it would be wise to charge it evry month. In reality a good battery should stay charged even connected as there is nothing on a Minor that uses battery power when its not running - unless you have a modern radio / clock etc fitted.

Thanks for the reply PSL. Stupid of me not to have realised that the radio would drain it over a period of time.

Only if it is a modern radio with a permanent supply for a memory etc....

I always disconnect the earth leads on the batteries of cars I am not using for a while, it does stop them draining, but if the car is not being used for a long time the battery should still be charged up regularly, batteries do not like being idle, a battery conditioner is a very worthwhile buy.

I bought a solar charger from Maplins (£8 in the sale) - it provides 100 mA charge in good daylight - the idea being to keep the battery topped up without over charging it. So far - ebven with barely 8 hours of light up here - it's working! I have set it up so it gets the very best of the winter sun - ie pointing south and aligned to catch the low sun. It's under the overhang of the roof - so in summer it will be in shade from the direct bright sun (which may damage it /shorten it's life) - but will still get 'daylight'. An ordinary charger will give too much and can do just as much damage as allowing the battery to go flat. there are little specialist 'top up' chargers out there - but v expensive ! The solar thing seems good to me - I'll be getting another in the New Year sale - for the other car!

I have about 6 solar chargers (I got a discount..) and I find them excellent for long term stored cars. I got mine for under £10 each including delivery.