Solar trickle charger?
Moderator: RichardW
bxbodger, love your comment about the output of the alternator. I always thought that the alternator only worked when there was enough battery power to start the engine in the first place!
Perhaps you leave your car running 24/7 and never switch the engine off, in which case you are, of course, correct.
Perhaps you leave your car running 24/7 and never switch the engine off, in which case you are, of course, correct.
2000 Xantia HDI 110 Exclusive which lives in the Dordogne. Previous: XM Diesel, C3 HDI 92 bhp, CX DTR Turbo2, BX TZD Turbo, CX D, GSA, GSA estate, 2CV
The alternator will start charging if there is just the slightest power left on the battery - even if the battery is down on 2-3 cells.madmanbob wrote:bxbodger, love your comment about the output of the alternator. I always thought that the alternator only worked when there was enough battery power to start the engine in the first place!
Perhaps you leave your car running 24/7 and never switch the engine off, in which case you are, of course, correct.
This is because the exitation voltage only needs to be a few volts for the alternator to start feeding back some real power - and then the system is self containing. As long as there is rotation on the alternator that is.
Anders (DK) - '90 BX16Image
But the car won't start with the battery too far down so the alternator cannot start charging without the engine running. The original question was asking if a solar charger would help keep the battery topped up without the engine running, and it will.
2000 Xantia HDI 110 Exclusive which lives in the Dordogne. Previous: XM Diesel, C3 HDI 92 bhp, CX DTR Turbo2, BX TZD Turbo, CX D, GSA, GSA estate, 2CV
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No, but to be fair I had also bought it to keep the battery fresh, since my Xantia is left standing for fairly long periods and I've got through batteries slightly faster than I might have liked in the past.
The radio continues to lose its memory as I've said i the other "Xantia electrics thread". Even though I managed to patch a fresh 12v line to it from the cigarette lighter.
The radio continues to lose its memory as I've said i the other "Xantia electrics thread". Even though I managed to patch a fresh 12v line to it from the cigarette lighter.
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@ Panther:
Might be worth clicking 'Profile' at the top right of the screen, and scrolling down to the 'Signature' box and simply adding the past and currents cars you have driven (Citroens of course).
I can see you have already used the Signature box to add your Citroen banner so may be worth just adding in your current car to.
Might be worth clicking 'Profile' at the top right of the screen, and scrolling down to the 'Signature' box and simply adding the past and currents cars you have driven (Citroens of course).
I can see you have already used the Signature box to add your Citroen banner so may be worth just adding in your current car to.
Volkswagen Golf 59' 1.6TD S
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You can get software off the web do unlock stereo's, but I imagine with older stereos they tend to be a bit hit and miss.
Citroen would be able to unlock it for you but its whether or not you can find a dealer who will do it free for you (someone has had that once on here) or just how little it will cost.
Citroen would be able to unlock it for you but its whether or not you can find a dealer who will do it free for you (someone has had that once on here) or just how little it will cost.
Volkswagen Golf 59' 1.6TD S