Isolate battery in disco2??

**adonuff** · 14th June 2010, 02:53 PM

Hi all
I'm wondering if I can fit an isolater to shut off the main starting battery in a D2 TD5 during periods of low use. Problem I am having is the d2 is not getting much use at the moment due to me getting a company car and even with the Girlfriend driving it occasionally 4-5 k's to work or the shops it's not enough to keep the battery charged.

I realise I will lose the alarm, radio code and have to reset the clock, wondering if anything else will happen computerwise etc??

The battery is just over a year old and seems in good order and the alt was replaced about 10 months back and the charging rate is ok when the moter is running.

I used to have a bus set up as a mobile home and often left it for months with the batterys switched off with a couple of small solar panels, it always started .

I have hooked up a small solar panel direct to the battery and will see if this helps (See pics.) Realise it's not in the best position but it still putting a decent amount into the battery, only about 1v less than it was sitting on the roof rack. Showing 15 v on an over cast day.

Your thoughts please

**drivesafe** · 14th June 2010, 03:46 PM

Hi adonuff, if your getting 15v at the battery terminals from your solar panel, thats way to high.

You should have no more than 13.8v on a fully charged battery or you will eventually cook the battery.

If you haven’t got a solar regulator, get two or three festoon globes and wire them in PARALLEL and put them in the positive wire coming from the solar panel.

The lower your cranking battery is, the brighter the globes will glow.

As the battery reaches the required level, the globes will be very dull.

You will need to experiment with the size and number of globes you need to keep the battery at between 13.2v and 13.8v, with the battery fully charged and on a sunny day.

**adonuff** · 14th June 2010, 04:01 PM

Thanks Drivesafe
15 V was from the solar panel only, once hooked up to the battery I get a reading of 12.4 v Think the panel only is showing 15 v but only has very small amount of amps or milli amps

**PhilipA** · 14th June 2010, 06:51 PM

I have 2X Projecta brand 1.5 amp trickle chargers connected to my RRC using a marine 4 pin plug on the front bumper. I have it set up so that if I forget to diconnect the plug , it will pull out as I reverse out of the garage. No need to disconnect anything as the chargers provide far more than the drain.
AGM now old enough for school and still going.

Regards Philip A

**adonuff** · 15th June 2010, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by PhilipA

I have 2X Projecta brand 1.5 amp trickle chargers connected to my RRC using a marine 4 pin plug on the front bumper. I have it set up so that if I forget to diconnect the plug , it will pull out as I reverse out of the garage. No need to disconnect anything as the chargers provide far more than the drain.
AGM now old enough for school and still going.

Regards Philip A

That would be a great way to go, trouble is The Disco doesnt fit in the garage and I have to park on the front lawn cause the the kids who are never gpoing to leave home till thier 40 fill up the driveway

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