12v battery health options

[badlywornroy]

Ok,  winter approaching. We live in rural North Yorkshire, gets cold around here. While I haven't as yet had any flat/low Battery problems I am conscious that our corolla will be used less frequently and mostly short journeys (10 miles) return. I prefer to take preventive measures, so I see my options as:-

1. Place car in 'ready mode' for 1 hour as necessary.  N:B I can do this securely with  the car on my drive and myself inside in the warm. 😀

2. Buy the AA solar charger ( plugs into  OBD port ) leave plugged in when  car parked up. (+) Cost minimal,  (-) inconvenience ? due to position OBD port would appear to require me to be on my knees to plug in / remove the cable.

3. Buy a Battery charger (ctex ?) charge Battery  x's  per week ?  (+) Charge & maintain battery in A1 condition.  (-) Most expensive option.

4.  Buy battery jump/starter, (+) Cost  minimal. (-) Not preventative but reactive.

What do you consider my best option, or options, 1 or more of the above ?
 

Many thanks for your thoughts. 

 

 

 

[fred88]

I've had this car since Feb 2023 without problem until a couple of months ago when, in the middle of summer, I had a flat Battery. Car had been driven on 2 x 30 minute journeys 2 days prior but been parked up since. Dealer admitted it just happens on these cars, completely out of the blue. I'm curious to see if it happens again so in the meantime I've gone for option 4. If it happens again I might go for 2 or 3.