Trickle charger - 12 v battery

[mavg]

Hi All,

I have a EX30 SM ER and will leave it parked for months at a time over the couple years or so (probably around 3-5 month's at a time).

I had the idea of buying a CTEK trickle charger, to leave it plugged on the car, to ensure the 12V is always charged. I also plan to leave the propulsion battery at around 85% when leaving the car.

When looking at the Manual (https://www.volvocars.com/lb/support/ca ... 870d1a409/), it notes:

12 V battery charging

The car keeps the 12 V battery charged as long as the traction battery has sufficient charge.

What is everyone's experience here? Normally, it is quite simple to add the trickle charger on cars, how is it on the EX30? Anyone has tried?

I am looking for some info from someone who is used to doing that....I have done it for years on a XC60 without any issues

Thanks

[gloucester]

Welcome to this forum.

It shouldn't be necessary.

[mavg]

Would it be better to leave the car always plugged in with a cap to charge to 85%? That way the 12v doesn’t get depleated if the main battery goes to 0%?

Bearing in mind even if locked the car would loose the charge over a period of time

[PF EX30]

I simply wouldn't worry. I had an XC90 hybrid and it did similar, the traction battery kept the 12v battery in good shape. I left for many weeks and never really saw a depletion of thr traction battery.

Shorter period, but I left my EX30 for 2 weeks in the summer and I am not sure it even lost 1% of charge.

[PF EX30]

Also look at it this way....

An 85% charged traction battery will be able to completely charge (from nothing to 100%) the 12v battery about 40 times before it gets near to zero itself!

[mavg]

Thanks, the thing is the car is at a holiday home, so will be used only about 6 weeks of the year, two sets of 3 weeks and stay parked for the rest of the year, hence the concern

[kildare]

What is everyone's experience here? Normally, it is quite simple to add the trickle charger on cars, how is it on the EX30? Anyone has tried?
I am looking for some info from someone who is used to doing that....I have done it for years on a XC60 without any issues

Left my EX30 for 35 days the last summer for my vacation with charge at 60% (as recommended) and locked.

When back the charge was at 55%...

[gloucester]

Why not hire a car instead?

[Donny Simm]

Hi All,

I have a EX30 SM ER and will leave it parked for months at a time over the couple years or so (probably around 3-5 month's at a time).

I had the idea of buying a CTEK trickle charger, to leave it plugged on the car, to ensure the 12V is always charged. I also plan to leave the propulsion battery at around 85% when leaving the car.

When looking at the Manual (https://www.volvocars.com/lb/support/ca ... 870d1a409/), it notes:

12 V battery charging

The car keeps the 12 V battery charged as long as the traction battery has sufficient charge.

What is everyone's experience here? Normally, it is quite simple to add the trickle charger on cars, how is it on the EX30? Anyone has tried?

I am looking for some info from someone who is used to doing that....I have done it for years on a XC60 without any issues

Thanks

Also what about the tyres if you leave the car for nearly six month without the wheels turning those tyres ,all four, are gonna get a flat spot on them. That could be a bigger issue for you than a flat battery.

[mavg]

I can just add the tyre cushions, should protect them. Re renting, I prefer to have my car rather than getting a rental one