[Rushman]

Hello at all! Newbie here!

I have a 2005 Corolla CE manual. I really like it but she doesn’t get all the love she needs...

I use it maybe once every other week, and mostly for really short hauls. So, the battery dies on me often.

I bought a solar panel hoping that I’d be able to trickle charge the battery when I’m not using it. I hoped to just plug the thing in the cigarette lighter and voilà! It seems it doesn’t work that way ?

Since the lighter is only on when you are running the car (or switch the key to ACC) it fails.

Does anyone here know how I could do that? Can I rewire the cigarette lighter to be always on?

Can I charge the battery through another power outlet? If so, where?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Trying to get this old lady more energy,

Rushman

 

[John Anthony]

I think something similar to this is what you need:

Battery Tender Junior 12volt Charger
Battery Tender Jr. is an automatic smart battery charger and battery maintenance device.

As it charges at a rate of only 0.75 amps per hour, it is best used as a trickle charger. This means that the battery charges slowly for a long period.

Fortunately, the operation of a Jr. battery tender is quite easy, even for those who are not accustomed to the use of battery chargers.

This marvelous gadget is geared with reverse polarization protection that doesn’t allow the charger to operate unless it is connected correctly.

It is lightweight, fully automatic and sparks proof. It is best for the vehicles that are not used often. So, it keeps them charged.

Pros

• Automatically switches to float mode after full charging
• Suitable for all 12v AGM, gel and lead acid flooded batteries

Cons

• It is not intended to work fast
• Less wear resistance

 

[puremetal89]

You can't charge through a cigarette lighter, the circuit doesn't go directly to the batter nor is it intended to have very much current routed through it.

What John Anthony suggested is what car batteries love the most. A slow trickle charge.

 

[Rushman]

Hi all!

Would it be possible to install an auxiliary power outlet, like the ones in newer cars, which is always on? This would solve my problem.

If so, how much could this cost?

 

[Rushman]

I think something similar to this is what you need:

Battery Tender Junior 12volt Charger
Battery Tender Jr. is an automatic smart battery charger and battery maintenance device.

As it charges at a rate of only 0.75 amps per hour, it is best used as a trickle charger. This means that the battery charges slowly for a long period.

Fortunately, the operation of a Jr. battery tender is quite easy, even for those who are not accustomed to the use of battery chargers.

This marvelous gadget is geared with reverse polarization protection that doesn’t allow the charger to operate unless it is connected correctly.

It is lightweight, fully automatic and sparks proof. It is best for the vehicles that are not used often. So, it keeps them charged.

Pros

• Automatically switches to float mode after full charging
• Suitable for all 12v AGM, gel and lead acid flooded batteries

Cons

• It is not intended to work fast
• Less wear resistance

View attachment 284571

Unfortunately, this won’t work for me as I park my car in a lot waaaayyyy to far from a traditional 110v outlet ?

 

[Rushman]

This is the solar panel I want to hook to recharge my battery:

Coleman 40- Watts, 12 Volt Crystalline Solar Panel with Stand. Includes 7 Amp Charge Controller. Weatherproof. Portable. (Silver): Amazon.ca: Automotive

Coleman 40- Watts, 12 Volt Crystalline Solar Panel with Stand. Includes 7 Amp Charge Controller. Weatherproof. Portable. (Silver): Amazon.ca: Automotive

www.amazon.ca

 

[BUFFO]

Hi all!

Would it be possible to install an auxiliary power outlet, like the ones in newer cars, which is always on? This would solve my problem.

Curious...where will solar panel be installed ? I installed a *12V cig lighter (got at auto store) in my camper with inline fuse wired directly to my truck battery & its always on (hot) Used to run various 12V things. What I don't know is...will solar panel charge batt. thru that hot lighter connection ? Im not an electrician. Also might find info using..google. Good luck.

btw...* its not actual cig lighter, just female plug in.

 

[Vangm25]

We've had this talk about for an Highlander just last month. If you want to charge it, you will have to directly connect it to the battery. Charging through any power outlet is likely impossible unless you modify the wires so that the vehicle is always on which is just a bad idea. If you want to make sure the battery does not die, you are better off disconnecting the battery.

I suggest learning how to read a electrical wiring diagram if you want to understand how electrical systems work. My bet is there is some diode somewhere that will prevent power from... "reversing".

Among other types of items:

Amazon.com: Top Post Battery Master Disconnect Switch: Automotive

Buy Top Post Battery Master Disconnect Switch: Battery Switches - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[Rushman]

Curious...where will solar panel be installed ? I installed a *12V cig lighter (got at auto store) in my camper with inline fuse wired directly to my truck battery & its always on (hot) Used to run various 12V things. What I don't know is...will solar panel charge batt. thru that hot lighter connection ? Im not an electrician. Also might find info using..google. Good luck.

btw...* its not actual cig lighter, just female plug in.

The solar panel will be inside my car, on the back widow. If I can get an always on plug, I could charge the battery, provided I reverse the poles on the « lighter » plug.

 

[Vangm25]

The solar panel will be inside my car, on the back widow. If I can get an always on plug, I could charge the battery, provided I reverse the poles on the « lighter » plug.

Pigtail directly to the battery and you won't need to make many modifications other than getting through the firewall and routing the wires.

 

[Rushman]

We've had this talk about for an Highlander just last month. If you want to charge it, you will have to directly connect it to the battery. Charging through any power outlet is likely impossible unless you modify the wires so that the vehicle is always on which is just a bad idea. If you want to make sure the battery does not die, you are better off disconnecting the battery.

I suggest learning how to read a electrical wiring diagram if you want to understand how electrical systems work. My bet is there is some diode somewhere that will prevent power from... "reversing".

Among other types of items:

Amazon.com: Top Post Battery Master Disconnect Switch: Automotive

Buy Top Post Battery Master Disconnect Switch: Battery Switches - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Thank you bro’ but I already tried this...

In winter time here in Quebec, disconnecting the battery is not enough... The battery freezes!

Having a way to get it some power back in is my only way to get my old lady to start...

 

[Rushman]

 

[Vangm25]

Battery warmer.

 

[Rushman]

Pigtail directly to the battery and you won't need to make many modifications other than getting through the firewall and routing the wires.

I ain’t no electrical engineer. Please help me with some kind of diagram!

For the moment, I tried to put the solar panel wire outside the driver window, and back in under the hood using the clamps to connect to the battery...

I’d like a solution that would not be hanging wire outside...

 

[Vangm25]

I ain’t no electrical engineer. Please help me with some kind of diagram!

For the moment, I tried to put the solar panel wire outside the driver window, and back in under the hood using the clamps to connect to the battery...

I’d like a solution that would not be hanging wire outside...

You don't need to hang the wire outside, you can route it inside the vehicle. If you want a diagram you have to get your two days from Toyota TIS. Either way you still have to understand the components and everything else needed to make something like this work and even then I do not recommend modifying the wires to do it. More so if you have no clue what you are doing. Modifying your wires to essential keep the car ON engine OFF at all times is just asking for a dead battery assuming the solar panel is unable to keep it charged.

 

[Rushman]

You don't need to hang the wire outside, you can route it inside the vehicle. If you want a diagram you have to get your two days from Toyota TIS. Either way you still have to understand the components and everything else needed to make something like this work and even then I do not recommend modifying the wires to do it. More so if you have no clue what you are doing. Modifying your wires to essential keep the car ON engine OFF at all times is just asking for a dead battery assuming the solar panel is unable to keep it charged.

Give me a few minutes to get some pictures of what I did. Maybe you can help.

 

[Rushman]

You don't need to hang the wire outside, you can route it inside the vehicle. If you want a diagram you have to get your two days from Toyota TIS. Either way you still have to understand the components and everything else needed to make something like this work and even then I do not recommend modifying the wires to do it. More so if you have no clue what you are doing. Modifying your wires to essential keep the car ON engine OFF at all times is just asking for a dead battery assuming the solar panel is unable to keep it charged.

Here are the pics

 

[Vangm25]

If it is charging then it is charging. All you gotta do is cut off those clamps, strip the wires, attach some sort of pigtail end on it, bolt it to the battery, and find a way through the firewall to connect to the solar panel. Anything you want to do is up to you and at your own risk.

 

[bennor]

I use it maybe once every other week, and mostly for really short hauls. So, the battery dies on me often.

Dumb question. But have you checked the entire charging system and battery to ensure they are working properly? Couldn't tell from the pictures you posted what the age/manufacture date of the battery was.

The battery shouldn't be dying or draining fast if the Corolla is left for long periods of time (two or more weeks). As always check to ensure nothing (like radio, third party security system, light, etc.) is drawing constant power/current. Could be an old battery (or dead cells) combined with a alternator that isn't producing the proper output. Or short somewhere causing power drain.

Couple of months ago, left an 05 Corolla LE with an 8 year old battery sit for a month and a half without running and it started up fine. Because I currently work from home in a city that same car often isn't driven much and when it is it's for 5 to 10 minutes often every other week. No problems starting the car (knock on wood).

 

[Vangm25]

Dumb question. But have you checked the entire charging system and battery to ensure they are working properly? Couldn't tell from the pictures you posted what the age/manufacture date of the battery was.

The battery shouldn't be dying or draining fast if the Corolla is left for long periods of time (two or more weeks). As always check to ensure nothing (like radio, third party security system, light, etc.) is drawing constant power/current. Could be an old battery (or dead cells) combined with a alternator that isn't producing the proper output. Or short somewhere causing power drain.

Couple of months ago, left an 05 Corolla LE with an 8 year old battery sit for a month and a half without running and it started up fine. Because I currently work from home in a city that same car often isn't driven much and when it is it's for 5 to 10 minutes often every other week. No problems starting the car (knock on wood).

Given that the battery disconnect didn't work for him because the battery got cold, I would also blame the battery.