Help! Charging from 12v car battery at track?

[kaszal]

Please excuse me if this is an obvious question. I'm getting back into racing (1/10 off-road electric) and I wondered if my the battery in my Ford Focus has sufficient power to top up my rc batteries for the day e.g. practice, 4 rounds and (hopefully) a final? Will it make no difference to the 12v battery or will I be stuck there asking for jump leads at the end of the day? I'm just getting back into it so would rather put off spending £50 or more on a 12v battery and charger. Any advice appreciated.

[mark christopher]

it will do it id advise tho you run the car for half an hour mid day to top its 12volt back up. focus modules wont work below 10 volts, and if its only a small battery it wont take much to discharge it
when were programming pcm's at work just ignition on can drop them enough not to start over half an hour

[kaszal]

Thanks. If I wanted to get a separate 12v battery and mains charger (for the 12v) what should I be looking for? Are there any special deals and what might I expect to pay? Should I just go down to my local auto-parts store or Halfords?

[ianhaye]

you wana pick up a lesure battery not a car battery, as car batterys antmade to take a discharge and the charge again all the time, a lesure battery is made for this thou.

[MatJohnson]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_cycle_battery

More info on the above and the reason why you shouldn't use a car battery

[mark christopher]

go to a caravan/camping stoe and buy a leisure battery and a good mainatanence charger

[Colinevan]

All good advice however...


I bought me a car battery from a scrap yard some 4 years ago. I asked for the biggest with handles and i use a solar 12v charger on it permanently which i reckon has probably extended the life of it.

Battery cost me £15 and is just a normal hd battery from a large car.

Solar charger was £15 maplins

Battery charger £45 halfords.

After racing, charge up then connect 12v solar and leave till i next need it.

Hope this helps.

Col.