05' V70, almost dead battery, alarm going off, what to do? Topic is solved

[abscate]

This is great info Oragex, thank you so much!

The car was indeed parked for about 2 1/2 weeks. And I didn't drive any kind of long distance prior to that, which is probably the reason why this happened.
From now on I will drive it to work every once in a while (85 miles per day) to prevent this from happening again. Lesson learned.

Install a float charger and plug it in. Float chargers cost $7.00 +, a whole lot less then a new battery.

+12 Volts

[850 LPT]

This is great info Oragex, thank you so much!

The car was indeed parked for about 2 1/2 weeks. And I didn't drive any kind of long distance prior to that, which is probably the reason why this happened.
From now on I will drive it to work every once in a while (85 miles per day) to prevent this from happening again. Lesson learned.

Install a float charger and plug it in. Float chargers cost $7.00 +, a whole lot less then a new battery.

Hi Rick, this is a great idea, I agree.

I actually own a couple of float chargers.. The thing is that the carport is quite far away from the house with no chance for electrical hookup. Plus, the charger would be somewhat exposed to the elements which makes me uncomfortable as far as safety.
I think I will just make it a point to drive it at least once a week and sometimes even to work. Hopefully this will keep the battery from draining too much.

This afternoon I installed the battery, fully charged, and everything is back to normal.

[RickHaleParker]

The thing is that the carport is quite far away from the house with no chance for electrical hookup.

The solar powered float chargers don't cost that much more. Maintaining a charge does not take a lot of power or energy.

I am seeing 20 Watts Solar Float chargers on eBay for < $20.00. Still way way less then a battery. A 20 Watt solar panel + a Charge controller $26.99. That is a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) charger controller, it would go easy on the battery.

The 5 Watt units might do in sunny Florida but for CT I would get a 20W unit to insure it makes it through the winter.

[abscate]

I tuck the small chargers under hood somewhere. On a P2 plenty of room in the trunk, run an outdoor cord to the car port. You do needs protocol to prevent Corded drive offs, or a really long extension cord.

[RickHaleParker]

You do needs protocol to prevent Corded drive offs, or a really long extension cord.

Normally closed relay with a 120Vac coil across the 120V line.
Use the switch side to open a critical circuit like the power to the fuel injectors or the wire to the Starter solenoid.

[abscate]

You do needs protocol to prevent Corded drive offs, or a really long extension cord.

Normally closed relay with a 120Vac coil across the 120V line.
Use the switch side to open a critical circuit like the power to the fuel injectors or the wire to the Starter solenoid.

Nice. I do the Human Engineering Approach - a orange marked lock out clothes pin on the steering wheel, but why let good technology sit on the shelf ?

[850 LPT]

The solar panel charger idea is very intriguing. I will investigate that further.

Thanks guys!