12 replies to this topic

[dodiedon]

I have a 1 year old Mini Cooper, but I don't use it a lot, so every 2 months a Battery Low message is displayed. So I tried to connect a small Solar Trickle top up panel, but it need to be connected via the cigar lighter and with my Mini, when the ignition is turned off, then you cannot transmit to the battery, so is there any solution?. The Alarm System in the Mini must use quite alot of power, so for every 2 months I have to get out the battery charger, and put it on charge for 24 hours, surely there must be a better solution?. Hope someone can help me with a serious solution.

[Mayfair_Bateson]

Disconnect the battery then nothing can be taken out of it?

[Scallywag630]

I would ask the question on a BMW Mini forum such as MINI2.COM. There may be computer problems just disconnecting the battery.

[The_Mistro]

are you sure the battery itself isnt faulty?

[steverose]

If its in a garage you could always connect a battery conditioner. I keep one plugged onto mine as the battery is a lightweight race version so will loose power very quickly.

[ukcooper]

5 mile run every two week or so??

[Tinkerbelle]

My wife's six week old Cooper D Clubman goes flat after a week or so (car build was delayed so came just after she gave birth, so it is barely used) I connect a CTEK charger to it and plug it in, I am lucky enough to have an outside power point 0.5metres infront of the car. This keeps it in tip top condition.

To asnwer your question, the solar panels that are within a normal price range (upto £100) only kick out something like 0.3 amp so won't even power the alarm I don't think, let alone kepp the battery topped up?

Matt

Edited by Tinkerbelle, 23 March 2011 - 04:58 PM.

[AndyMiniMad.]

Just keep the battery charger connected. It should have a cut out on it so you wont overcharge the battery.

[Bungle]

if it was a classic mini i would say disconnect the battery but i'm not sure the electrics of a modern car would like this

[Dan]

To asnwer your question, the solar panels that are within a normal price range (upto £100) only kick out something like 0.3 amp so won't even power the alarm I don't think, let alone kepp the battery topped up?

10w panels cost less than £100, and if the alarm is using more than 10w just to stay armed there is something wrong with it! All the charger will have to do to keep the battery happy is power the running equipment.

Go to your dealer and ask them if the lighter socket can be reconficured to be pernamantly live. Almost everything in the car runs through the body computer rather than being hard wired, if it can be altered it will just be a setting in the software that the dealer can change.

[miniman1969]

My wife's six week old Cooper D Clubman goes flat after a week or so (car build was delayed so came just after she gave birth, so it is barely used) I connect a CTEK charger to it and plug it in, I am lucky enough to have an outside power point 0.5metres infront of the car. This keeps it in tip top condition.

To asnwer your question, the solar panels that are within a normal price range (upto £100) only kick out something like 0.3 amp so won't even power the alarm I don't think, let alone kepp the battery topped up?

Matt

CTEK chargers are the way ahead, I had my Mini off the road for 18mths with one of these plugged in with no probs, you don't even need to disconnect the battery

[dodiedon]

I would ask the question on a BMW Mini forum such as MINI2.COM. There may be computer problems just disconnecting the battery.

I took thhe car to local BMW garage, there they could not really advise me as the senior technician was not in!. They did say do not disconnect the battery as everything is computerised and it will all hang up. They were also concerned about rewiring the Cigar Lighter to be permanently on.
So will take your advice and see what the Mini12.com forum has to say, so thanks.
Keeping the car conected to a battery charger is not really an option, as when the bonnet is open, the alarm cannot be turned on.

[dodiedon]

I would ask the question on a BMW Mini forum such as MINI2.COM. There may be computer problems just disconnecting the battery.

I took the car to local BMW garage, there they could not really advise me as the senior technician was not in!. They did say do not disconnect the battery as everything is computerised and it will all hang up. They were also concerned about rewiring the Cigar Lighter to be permanently on.
So will take your advice and see what the Mini12.com forum has to say, so thanks.
Keeping the car conected to a battery charger is not really an option, as when the bonnet is open, the alarm cannot be turned on.