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Battery maintenance question?

Discussion in '348/355' started by i_love_cph, Dec 30, 2007.

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  1. i_love_cph

    i_love_cph Karting

    Apr 26, 2007
    144
    MONACO
    #1 i_love_cph, Dec 30, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    After a good season of driving is my car finaly parked for the winter. To avoid the battery from going flat, I just got this Battery Charger (BDV1084) from Black and Decker.

    So the question is: Is it okay to charge the Battery all winter through the plus/ and frame pole in the engine room or should I get a charger with a cabel for 12 volts socket in the ashtray?

    Thanx everybody!
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  2. dkilka

    dkilka Formula Junior

    May 8, 2007
    289
    Australia
    #2 dkilka, Dec 30, 2007
    I have a 348 and a Lotus elise which are both weekend cars. As you can imagine flat batterys were a problem with the lack of use. I purchased a "Mobitronic battery conditioner". I think this is made in Germany. This actually cycles your battery (charges and discharges). This is a great deal better than just placing the battery on charge with a normal charger. It charges at 1A to 14v and then discharges at 0.5A to 13 or 12v. So even if you catch it on the bottom of the curve when you want to start the car it is still in a charged state. I now use this alternatively between the 2 cars (swap over every week) and no longer suffer from any flat battery issues. This cycling forms the battery which is supposed to extend its life.
    The unit cost me about £40 from a battery shop and comes with a cig plug which you can plug into the lighter and an adaptor with 2 croc clips that you can fit direct to your battery. I use the cig lighter option on the Lotus and the croc clips on the 348 as the battery is in the back and is easy to get at.
    As I now live in Australia I can use the cars all year around but back in the UK I did what you are doing and laid the car up for winter. I used to start it once every 2 wks or so. I would let it get up to temp and then just drive up and down my driveway to try and get some oil moving around the gearbox and work the brakes. Also used the aircon as there is oil in the system and if you don't use it your seals can dry out. These cars don't like being stood for a long time.
     
  3. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
    Sponsor

    Sep 11, 2004
    20,961
    MD and NE
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    Robbie
    #3 285ferrari, Dec 30, 2007
  4. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,047
    USA
    #4 f355spider, Dec 30, 2007
    Either method is fine. The advantage of the cigarette lighter adapter is you will not have to remove/install the engine side cover.
     
  5. elgin328

    elgin328 Formula 3

    Apr 11, 2004
    1,034
    near Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Mark
    #5 elgin328, Dec 30, 2007
    Yes, you can trickel charge the battery from the engine bay (per Ferrari of Atlanta)

    just be sure the anti theft battery knob(or what ever you call it) is not off.
     
  6. i_love_cph

    i_love_cph Karting

    Apr 26, 2007
    144
    MONACO
    #6 i_love_cph, Jan 2, 2008
    Thanks for the help!

    dkilka: The "Mobitronic battery conditioner" sounds like a winner. I will try get one online.
     
  7. Jeff Pintler

    Jeff Pintler Formula Junior

    Jul 20, 2005
    537
    Richland
    Full Name:
    Jeff Pintler
    #7 Jeff Pintler, Jan 4, 2008
    Or you could get a ctek charger. That is the company that Ferrari includes with their new cars. Made by the Swiss and have a 7 stage charge cycle including float. Very well made compared to the units I have from sears and schumacher (sc-6000a and their small float maintainer). Their site is: www.ctek.com I just bought one two weeks ago. YMMV

    Jeff Pintler
    89 348tb, 86tr
     

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