Oct
Is it OK to do this without disconnecting the battery terminals please? Ours does so many short runs the dealer often has to charge the battery when it is serviced and winter is coming….
Answer:
You can charge the battery with it connected if you’ve a good quality stabilized charger.
Give the battery time to charge up before trying to begin the car.
Had you thought of buying a electronic float charger. These are not too pricey and are available from most accessory shops.
The idea of these chargers is that they can be permanently connected to the battery and you will not damage it by overcharging because the charger turns on and off as required.
With this type of charger you can fit the unit on your garage wall and have wires permanently connected to your vehicle battery. You would then just plug the wires from the automobile into the charger outlet when you park up.
Answer:
You cant charge the battery whilst it is still connected. You've said that your problem is because you only do short runs. Try starting the engine a few minutes beforehand, this will give the battery a bit more of a chance to recharge.
You should also look at whether you actually need to use the automobile for a short run. It's not only the battery you'll damage.
The oil won't have enough time to warm up and circulate properly, this will lead to increased engine wear. If there’s moisture in your exhaust, this will not burn off properly and will eat at the system from the inside. Short runs will also increase your fuel consumption. I'm sure I don't need to point out how costly it is at the pump these days!!
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