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Renault Megane Cabrio 1998 2.0l - Maintaining Battery in Winter - Sleepy Pete

Hi all, I'm just looking for a little advice please.

I hardly ever use my car recently but need it to be ready to use in case of emergencies. So, as you would expect, the battery has packed in. I'm about to fit a new one and to prevent damaging that one, I'd like to know your opinion on...

Roughly how much should I drive my car to keep the battery in good condition?

e.g. is 15 mins once a week enough?

Renault Megane Cabrio 1998 2.0l - Maintaining Battery in Winter - skidpan

What you want is one of these.

www.ctekchargers.co.uk/mxs-3.8.php

Will keep the battery topped up and healthy.

Renault Megane Cabrio 1998 2.0l - Maintaining Battery in Winter - Peter.N.

That should be enough as long as it starts first time otherwise it will need longer to replace what you have taken out starting it. A new battery should stay charged for a month or more, if you are not using it for a long period disconnect one battery lead as most modern cars will draw some continious current.

Renault Megane Cabrio 1998 2.0l - Maintaining Battery in Winter - Andrew-T

Roughly how much should I drive my car to keep the battery in good condition?

e.g. is 15 mins once a week enough?

At this time of year you are likely to use headlamps, screen heaters and washers more than usual, and the car may have a constant drain for an immobiliser or alarm. As Skidpan says, an occasional - weekly - hour on a trickle charger is the simple solution.