minimum run time to keep the battery charged

[DogLover]

My mom has a 2013 Nissan Altima with 95,000 miles. It has a four cylinder engine. The car has a difficult time keeping the battery charge due to the fact that she short trips the car, and that is infrequent. For example, she may not go anywhere for four or five days and then spend a day of running around town starting and stopping with a total run time of one hour. And then the car sits for several days.

The obvious solution would be a battery maintainer. But, she lives in an apartment and an outdoor electric receptacle is not available.

My question is, how much charging would the car get idling for an hour? If she started the car every other day and let it idle for an hour, would that keep the battery charged enough to reliably start on a thirty degree day. Assuming of course the rest of the car was maintained properly.

She can’t be the only person in this circumstance. What are others doing?

 

[spasm3]

An hour of driving a week, should be enough to keep it charged. Is there any parasitic draw? Like a dash cam?

 

[CleanSump]

A solar charger might be a solution. When I had a Jeep for fun, it would go for weeks with a solar panel plugged in.

 

[spasm3]

Has she had a starting problem? I would not idle an apartment parking lot, unless you are wanting the car stolen!

How old is the current battery?

 

[DogLover]

Has she had a starting problem? I would not idle an apartment parking lot, unless you are wanting the car stolen!

How old is the current battery?

Hmm, just checked. The battery is a little over three years old. I could've sworn I replaced it last year. She lives in Tennessee, the temperature was in the low thirty's this morning and the car would not start.

I'm thinking of getting her a solar powered battery maintainer. Any brand recommendations?

 

[GSCJR]

An hour of driving a week

This

 

[JimPghPA]

Searches indicate a 24F "might fit". Walmart MAXX is the best bang for the buck choice.

Do measurements of dimensions of a 24F, and space around existing battery, and pay attention to see if the polarity is proper and if and cable length will reach.

A 24F will provide about a 30 % increase of RC ( reserve capacity ).

A solar charger is a good idea. But go large if your going to degrade the power of the sunlight by placing in the vehicle, like under the back window. And tell her she must not put stuff on top of it. Wipe dust and dirt off of it every few months.

 

[svtrit]

I found my Altima had a hard time charging until I put a new battery in it. That may not be your issue though

 

[wings&wheels]

Make sure she is locking the vehicle when it sits if she is not. On most if not all recent vehicles locking puts certain systems to sleep that would otherwise be drawing current. Otherwise solar charger but first ensure that the power plug stays energized when the car is off as some disconnect at shutdown or after a period of time.

 

[JWC86]

That should be enough to keep it charged. Sounds like the battery is in the way out or the car has a parasitic draw.

 

[Astro_Guy]

One of my sons drives one mile to work each way. He comes home for lunch which means that he takes 4 x 1-mile runs per day five days per week. Sometimes the starting seems a bit weak when it's very cold but other than that all seems well. He takes it out for a longer drive at least once every two weeks. His car is a 2016 Honda Accord with the 2.4 liter 4-cylinder.

 

[Donald]

My mom has a 2013 Nissan Altima with 95,000 miles. It has a four cylinder engine. The car has a difficult time keeping the battery charge due to the fact that she short trips the car, and that is infrequent. For example, she may not go anywhere for four or five days and then spend a day of running around town starting and stopping with a total run time of one hour. And then the car sits for several days.

The obvious solution would be a battery maintainer. But, she lives in an apartment and an outdoor electric receptacle is not available.

My question is, how much charging would the car get idling for an hour? If she started the car every other day and let it idle for an hour, would that keep the battery charged enough to reliably start on a thirty degree day. Assuming of course the rest of the car was maintained properly.

She can’t be the only person in this circumstance. What are others doing?

I think an AGM battery would help. They self discharge much much slower than flooded. You can go 6 months or more and battery will not have self discharged much.

 

[Dave9]

The current battery may be a bit weak at this point, so the sooner it may be too low. That driving cycle would be expected to shorten the battery lifespan.

The problem is more that of sitting for several days unless it also has some other problem causing excessive cranking till it starts. You could check for parasitic drains (including the alternator itself in case it has a leaky diode) and need to fix any if there is a fault (or habit problem such as leaving things plugged in powered), but otherwise I agree with others that a solar charger might be the best alternative given the apartment dweller situation.

Yes it would help to idle it every few days, but it need not be every 2 (once it has a new battery and that new battery isn't let drain as low as the present one), and need not be anywhere near an hour long. 20 minutes every 3 days should suffice, and given the apartment dweller situation, might be better to drive it around for those minutes.

 

[JunkdrawerDog]

For example, she may not go anywhere for four or five days and then spend a day of running around town starting and stopping with a total run time of one hour. And then the car sits for several days.

Your Mom's driving routine sounds like mine for the last eight years. I've owned three different cars during that time and all three managed just fine until the battery aged out. I believe you just need to replace the battery.

 

[The Critic]

1 hr a week should be more than enough. My parents have a 2010 Altima V6 (same generation) and they probably drive 1/2 of that amount. Conventional batteries last about 2 years and AGM’s last a bit longer.

 

[Patman]

Why not just take her car out for a good long highway run once a week or once every two weeks? Not only will it be good for charging the battery but it will just be better for the car in general

 

[Donald]

Why not just take her car out for a good long highway run once a week or once every two weeks? Not only will it be good for charging the battery but it will just be better for the car in general

Take Mom with you. Quality mother & son time.

 

[meep]

I’ve built solar maintainers that work well. A 10W panel and a cheap charge controller can work wonders. They lose some oomph when put inside the windshield. Get one on the larger side.

 

[JHZR2]

I think an AGM battery would help. They self discharge much much slower than flooded. You can go 6 months or more and battery will not have self discharged much.

Depends on the vehicle parasitics.

 

[iCurious]

If it was me I would get a solar battery maintainer.