Charging Battery With Terminals Connected

[nick d]

Just got a phonecall from a mate his BF GT has a flat battery and he was going to use his trickle charger to charge the battery when he thought he should ask me first.

Never have I done myself but is it ok to have the battery in the car with the terminals connected and charge it ??? Cars been sittin gsince all ford day.

You info will help him out.

[ratter]

No!, he may cause damage to the altenator or ECU, disconnect a terminal first.

[bionicxr6t05]

It takes all of 5 seconds to disconnect the negative terminal...... Bit of a no brainer

[nick d]

Thanks guys. wouldn't the alarm go off if he disconnects the one terminal?

[bionicxr6t05]

If its factory ford alarm just turn the ignition on then disconnect the battery.... Wont hurt anything

[234Fpv]

I think you can get some chargers that are safe can't you? I'd never use a normal charger and do it but I had a trickle charger for my bike and it was designed to be wired up to the battery with a plug where you plug the charger in so all you do is plug the charger into the plug on the bike.

[ratter]

they are normally classed as battery maintainers, basically a low power charger, they charge when battery condition is down and the stop when a good charge is detected

[Paulie2256]

In the case of the bike there could be a relay in the electrical system that isolates the battery when charger is connected. I know fire trucks are put on charge using a separate connector when sitting at the station but they also have a manual isolator.

[ratter]

I have 3 bikes (well 1 is really Bels) that are on the maintainer all the time, I did not fit or believe them to have anything special in the wiring

[nick d]

Awesome guys very informative and many thanks from him.

I know abit about these cars but I always get asked by mates with the same models as everybody knows how I am Ford through and through, amd know my Fords.

Edited 25/04/12 11:16 AM by nick d