BATTERY COMPARTMENT

[Solentview]

I changed the battery in the Alhambra (09 Ecomotive/BRT engine) about one month ago, by using  jump leads off my wife's car to avoid losing codes and settings etc. Whilst the old battery was out, I noticed that the battery bay is becoming corroded and would certainly benefit from cleaning and repainting. Can anybody recommend the best method of maintaining codes and settings while the main battery is removed for an extended period, may be 24 hours or so, to allow for refinishing? I do not want to use the jump method, as that would mean our other vehicle could not be used. Any advice gratefully received.

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Could u perhaps get a 12v dc adaptor (one of those ones u use for powering laptop computers or electronic keyboards, that sort of thing) and hook that up to it, to keep it powered? If u keep devices turned off and don't use the central locking (ie nothing to draw more than a very low amount of power which can be handled by the adaptor) then that should do the trick? But u would need to make sure the polarity is correct and also not leave it hooked up for too long while the battery is connected in case current tries to flow the wrong way from the battery to the adaptor (battery is probably slightly more than 12.0v).

Or, could u run jump leads from the battery to the power terminals on the car and leave it hooked up while the battery is on the floor? Although you would need to be careful not to wiggle the jump leads and momentarily cause a brief disconnection because that might reset things. Also I guess u would need to be careful not to cause a short circuit when moving the battery.

Personally I would probably just re/enter the codes and settings though... hopefully not too big a job?

It sounds like you are looking after your motor car really well!! These vehicles are great and will last a lifetime if well maintained!

[regw]

I'd just whip it out for day and reset after refit but if I really had to
keep the volatile memory alive, I'd connect one of my old motorbike/scooter batteries in parallel to the terminals before disconnection and tuck it out of the way to do the work
They're small and mostly spill proof nowadays so little chance of acid spillage.
I'd use screw/bolt connections for the cables not crop clips!

A cheap 12v alarm battery may do as well as long as it can provide the relatively small
standby current (circa 50mA ?) needed for 24 hours or so.

[Solentview]

Thanks, both, for your advice. I had been leaning towards the idea of using a 12v supply to the OBD socket, but I think I will go with Regw's suggestion of a small battery securely fastened to the +ve and -ve connections under the bonnet.

My jump leads, which are gov. surplus kit from a Sherman tank, are not really suitable, so I will make up some lighter leads with secure fasteners. All this electrickery is not really my thing, but I reckon I could manage that. Thanks again.

[regw]

You wont need thick cable unless you try and start the thing or turn the headlights on
so some old flex from a discard fridge/vac for instance will do just fine.
I would turn the interior lights off just to be on the safe side as they may pull down the
battery if left on for extended periods