Keeping battery charged up when not using car

[Fiat88]

Right now I'm not using my battery since I'm doing some front resto work and maintenance. Can't start the car up becuase I have the rad out. What's the best way to keep the battery from dying. I have the negative off, should I buy a trickle charger?

[htchevyii]

A "floating" type battery charger, Battery Tender is one brand, works good and won't overcharge your batery.

[SLOSpider]

Solar panel plug in if it sits outside!

[MikeR]

I have been using a (Swedish) CTEK Multi XS 3600 charger / multi-cycle conditioner successfully over the last couple of winters. They are becoming very popular with classic car owners in Europe but I dont know if they are sold in the US.

It comes with a semi-permanent eyelet connection and plug-in connection and croc-clips are included for a less permanent set up. I have fixed the eyelets to my battery with the connector plug external to the battery cover. The unit is designed for long term connection and it works very well.

[So Cal Mark]

a really inexpensive trickle charger can be made from an old ac adapter. Cut the lead off and use two alligator clips

[baltobernie]

I dunno about that, Mark. Even the tiny output of an AC adaptor will eventually overcharge an auto battery. (Ditto with the solar cells). Better to get a float charger made for that purpose. Some of them are pretty inexpensive; the Chinese ones are ten bucks.

If the battery is in good shape, it should be able to go for several months (disconnected) with no ill effects. Can you maybe put jumper cables on it from another car once in a while?

[Fiat88]

Went to pepboys and picked this one up:

http://store.schumachermart.com/sc-600a.html

[wachuko]

Went to pepboys and picked this one up:

http://store.schumachermart.com/sc-600a.html

+1

I use this one for the cars and for the motorcycles. Who said our cars were not hybrid...

http://store.schumachermart.com/sem-1562a.html