Going on Holiday

[comports]

Hi All,

Question please - I'm going on Holiday for a couple of weeks (Not taking the clk). It and the RR will be locked up in the garage but I wanted to ask if it's necessary to disconnect the battery whilst I'm away..?

Do you guys do this and if so should I just remove the -ve terminal..?

Thanks

 

[Dieselman]

I wouldn't bother unless your battery is getting tired anyway. At the worst you will need to charge it on return.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

It and the RR will be locked up in the garage but I wanted to ask if it's necessary to disconnect the battery whilst I'm away..?

Do you guys do this and if so should I just remove the -ve terminal..?

An MB tech advised me never to disconnect unnecessarily, as expensive control units are more likely to go bang when they re-start.

 

[Dieselman]

Less likely if you switch the headlights on during reconnection to absorb the sudden voltage surge. Though I have never bothered and haven't had a problem.

 

[television]

If you do need to charge it when you get back, do not use an automatic charger,it must be a switchable charger to stop any serge, auto chargers can put out up to 20 volts to start the charge, and that is the last thing that you need on your car

 

[comports]

Not sure what you mean by "Switchable" charger. I have a heavy duty one (for the RR) which has 2 settings - fast or trickle... Is that no good..?

 

[Dieselman]

That'll be fine, use trickle if you can or fast if the batteries are properly flat.

Switch the lights on when connecting to absorb the surge. I wouldn't normally bother but better safe than sorry...especially when dishing out advice to a 3rd party.

 

[television]

That'll be fine, use trickle if you can or fast if the batteries are properly flat.

Switch the lights on when connecting to absorb the surge. I wouldn't normally bother but better safe than sorry...especially when dishing out advice to a 3rd party.

I love the words in the workshop manual, do not use the lights but turn on the heated rear window, do not turn on ignition. I have never worked out how you can do this as the rear window is key2

 

[DansSlk]

I agree with the others don't disconnect the battery unless you need to, not so much for the benefit of the control units but just the time taken doing it why bother.

Instead of just letting the battery run down and then charging on your return could you not just put the car on charge before you go and let the charger maintain it?

 

[DieselE]

I agree with the others don't disconnect the battery unless you need to, not so much for the benefit of the control units but just the time taken doing it why bother.

Instead of just letting the battery run down and then charging on your return could you not just put the car on charge before you go and let the charger maintain it?

The attached link gives a few types of battery chargers that would be suitable to leave connected while you're on holiday.

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=37184&highlight=battery+chargers

More likely to be kind to your battery than a standard trickle charger.