On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:48:50 +0000, asahartz wrote:

[...]

A good modern battery should last a long time if nothing's taking any
significant current from it.

Battery technology in respect of the amount of charge it will loose when
there is no current drain hasn't changed significantly.

What has changed is the amount of current drain that occurs when a modern
car is left standing.

The AA are called to jump-start a significant number of relatively new
vehicles that have been left for just two weeks; for some reason, these
often tend to be VAG.

As others have said, the best option for the OP's friend's car is to get
someone to drive it every couple of weeks.

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.

Chris Whelan wrote:
On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:48:50 +0000, asahartz wrote:

[...]

A good modern battery should last a long time if nothing's taking any
significant current from it.

Battery technology in respect of the amount of charge it will loose
when there is no current drain hasn't changed significantly.

What has changed is the amount of current drain that occurs when a
modern car is left standing.

The AA are called to jump-start a significant number of relatively new
vehicles that have been left for just two weeks; for some reason,
these often tend to be VAG.

As others have said, the best option for the OP's friend's car is to
get someone to drive it every couple of weeks.

Chris

or stick a solar powered charger in it.

On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:30:26 +0000, Mrcheerful wrote:

[...]

or stick a solar powered charger in it.

I've not been too impressed with one that is used to provide a small LED
light in an outbuilding; I don't think they had the UK in mind when they
designed it!

The vehicle in question is going to be left outside the house, in a
private road; would the presence of the charger not compromise security?

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.

On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:51:16 -0000, Chris Whelan
wrote:

On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:30:26 +0000, Mrcheerful wrote:

[...]

or stick a solar powered charger in it.

I've not been too impressed with one that is used to provide a small LED
light in an outbuilding; I don't think they had the UK in mind when they
designed it!

The vehicle in question is going to be left outside the house, in a
private road; would the presence of the charger not compromise security?

Chris


If it's not moved for 3 months that'll be rather more obvious.

In article ,
Adrian wrote:
Mate has a new Audi A2 - 1.4 petrol IIRC. Later this year he will be
going away in his camper van for three months - touring Europe.

I'd hazard a guess that it'll be fine, since it's clearly been sat
around for five years since production ended.

;-) I did put IIRC - which I obviously didn't. 1.6?

--
*One nice thing about egotists: they don't talk about other people.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
asahartz wrote:
On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:02:14 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

Mate has a new Audi A2 - 1.4 petrol IIRC. Later this year he will be going
away in his camper van for three months - touring Europe. It will be
parked outside his front door in a private road.
Now I'd guess there's no way the battery will last that long.

Why not? After my daughter wrecked one on my Minis I left it in the back
garden for several months. When I came to move it, having finally
decided to break the car, it started up straightaway!

Depending on the age of the Mini it might have no electronics whatsoever
that draw current with the ignition off. Can't think of any modern car
where this is the case.

A good modern battery should last a long time if nothing's taking any
significant current from it.

But all cars these days do. Even the simplest radio will have a memory
that needs power to keep it. Remote locking requires some form of receiver
alive at all times. Etc.

--
*I love cats...they taste just like chicken.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Dave Plowman (News)" gurgled happily, sounding
much like they were saying:

Mate has a new Audi A2 - 1.4 petrol IIRC. Later this year he will be
going away in his camper van for three months - touring Europe.

I'd hazard a guess that it'll be fine, since it's clearly been sat
around for five years since production ended.

;-) I did put IIRC - which I obviously didn't. 1.6?

A3, at a guess...

On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:03:47 +0000, Duncan Wood wrote:

On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:51:16 -0000, Chris Whelan
wrote:

On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:30:26 +0000, Mrcheerful wrote:

[...]

or stick a solar powered charger in it.

I've not been too impressed with one that is used to provide a small
LED light in an outbuilding; I don't think they had the UK in mind when
they designed it!

The vehicle in question is going to be left outside the house, in a
private road; would the presence of the charger not compromise
security?

Chris


If it's not moved for 3 months that'll be rather more obvious.

I don't agree; many folk park in the same place every day, but not many
of them leave a solar panel on the roof!

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.

On Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:26:49 -0000, Chris Whelan
wrote:

On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:03:47 +0000, Duncan Wood wrote:

On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:51:16 -0000, Chris Whelan
wrote:

On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:30:26 +0000, Mrcheerful wrote:

[...]

or stick a solar powered charger in it.

I've not been too impressed with one that is used to provide a small
LED light in an outbuilding; I don't think they had the UK in mind when
they designed it!

The vehicle in question is going to be left outside the house, in a
private road; would the presence of the charger not compromise
security?

Chris


If it's not moved for 3 months that'll be rather more obvious.

I don't agree; many folk park in the same place every day, but not many
of them leave a solar panel on the roof!

Chris


How does adding a solar panel compromise security any more than not moving
it for weeks?

--
Duncan Wood

Duncan Wood wrote:
On Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:26:49 -0000, Chris Whelan
wrote:

On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:03:47 +0000, Duncan Wood wrote:

On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:51:16 -0000, Chris Whelan
wrote:

On Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:30:26 +0000, Mrcheerful wrote:

[...]

or stick a solar powered charger in it.

I've not been too impressed with one that is used to provide a
small LED light in an outbuilding; I don't think they had the UK
in mind when they designed it!

The vehicle in question is going to be left outside the house, in a
private road; would the presence of the charger not compromise
security?

Chris


If it's not moved for 3 months that'll be rather more obvious.

I don't agree; many folk park in the same place every day, but not
many of them leave a solar panel on the roof!

Chris


How does adding a solar panel compromise security any more than not
moving it for weeks?

I was actually thinking of leaving it on the parcel shelf or dashboard
rather than the roof. Personally I think it is all a waste of time, the
battery will be fine for three months, worse way it will need a jump start.
Far more expensive long term damage will be done by running it for a few
minutes every couple of weeks than the slim chance of damaging the battery
(which will still be under guarantee in any case.) Either drive it or leave
it.