Battery question

[nickk]

Off skiing end of week,so car parked idle for a week,first time this morning I checked the volts across the terminals,got 12.4v is this satisfactory?thanks.

 

[Robert Weaver]

My Skoda sits at around 12.4 volts, charges around 14 volt. Not had any starting issues.

 

[angellonewolf]

just run it if been sat the car will drain a bit alarm /ecu might have droped it a bit take for a couple long runs and see if the battery shows a bit more ive seen 12.6 on my own car and starts fine

have you ever had problems starting the car recently ? if not dont worry unless it stops starting

 

[nickk]

Cars a daily driver,only difference is cold mornings,slightly slower cranking,to be expected really,just being cautious,batteries 4 years old in may.

 

[m_c]

Voltage alone tells you little about a battery's state of health.

If you're that concerned about it not starting after a week, stick a spare battery and set of jump leads in the boot.

 

[Barking Mat]

Voltage alone tells you little about a battery's state of health.

If you're that concerned about it not starting after a week, stick a spare battery and set of jump leads in the boot.

Or leave it on charge overnight.

 

[jsf55]

Cheapie solar panel plugged into the cigarette lighter will keep it topped up

 

[nickk]

Ah yes I have a couple I can borrow for the duration.

 

[Ross365]

Cheapie solar panel plugged into the cigarette lighter will keep it topped up

Don't you have to leave the key in the ignition on "accessories" to have that work?

 

[m_c]

Don't you have to leave the key in the ignition on "accessories" to have that work?

Depends on the vehicle, although I've not been aware of anything within the past 10 years where the 12V socket remains permanently live with the ignition off.

 

[voipio]

Depends on the vehicle, although I've not been aware of anything within the past 10 years where the 12V socket remains permanently live with the ignition off.

A Ford Ka+ accessory socket remains live with the ignition off, key out, and doors locked. At least that's the case for a 66 reg.

 

[m_c]

A Ford Ka+ accessory socket remains live with the ignition off, key out, and doors locked.

How confident are you?
Modern Fords have pretty good battery management systems, which will keep things like the 12V socket live for a set time, or until the battery drops below a set state of charge.

 

[mr haynes]

Length of cable fed through an existing grommet and croc clips onto the battery. Panel on dash or parcel shelf whichever closer to battery

 

[voipio]

How confident are you?
Modern Fords have pretty good battery management systems, which will keep things like the 12V socket live for a set time, or until the battery drops below a set state of charge.

The blue LED on a USB phone charger, plugged into the accessory socket, was still lit after several days of being parked up near us. The car hadn't moved in that time. Other Fords don't do that.

 

[Ubique]

That suggests someone has hardwired it to B+ or they've removed a relay and bridged it out.
It shouldn't happen by design.

 

[voipio]

That suggests someone has hardwired it to B+ or they've removed a relay and bridged it out.
It shouldn't happen by design.

Why not. It's an accessory socket. I suppose it might have been hardwired, though. Remember the days when cars had to show a light on a public highway all night, leading to the availability of a lamp with a single low power bulb in a housing with red lens to the rear and clear lens to the front, which clipped onto the top of the side window, and plugged into the cigar lighter socket, as it was called then.

Vintage Clip On Classic Car Parking Light, New Old Stock.

Clip on classic car parking lamp. White and red lens. Universal accessory back in the day so will fit anything you can hang it off....a few suggestions; Austin Cambridge A60. Morris Oxford. Austin A35, A40, A50, A55. Riley 4/72, Kestrel. Triumph Herald, Vitesse, 2000, 2.5. Ford Consul, Cortina...

www.oldstuff.org.uk

Interestingly, the Ford Ka+ user manual states this for the accessry socket: "Note:When you switch the ignition on, you can use the socket to power 12 volt appliances with a maximum current rating of 15 amps.If the power supply does not work after you switch the ignition off, switch the ignition on." - the last part seems to suggest that the power may continue to work after the ignition is switched off in some cases. Is there a setting that can be altered using Forscan, that determines how the accessory socket behaves?

 

[Cobbler]

My Skoda, the lighter socket is permanently live. I was a bit surprised by this as it leaves my sat nav on when parked unles I unplug it.

 

[sako243]

Off skiing end of week,so car parked idle for a week,first time this morning I checked the volts across the terminals,got 12.4v is this satisfactory?thanks.

Nominal open circuit voltage of a lead acid is 2.1V per cell, 6 cells in a car battery so 12.6V nominal.

Ideally stays above 1.8V / cell at full discharge so 10.8V. Generally speaking if they drop below 10.8V open circuit then they're goosed.

 

[Mark 5]

My Skoda, the lighter socket is permanently live. I was a bit surprised by this as it leaves my sat nav on when parked unles I unplug it.

Mine too.

 

[Morrisman]

Don't you have to leave the key in the ignition on "accessories" to have that work?

My 2012 Mondeo has permanent power to the ciggy lighter socket.