I Know that this is a realy stupid question, and i feel that i know the answer, but......

last night i tried to fire up my car for the first time.

i spent some time checking oil pressure and fuel... too long and the battery died on me before the fuel got through.

I currently live with my girlfriend 30miles from my house and I am only there a couple of nights a week to see my son.

what are the risks of leaving my battery on charge for several days?

I have a battery charger that is 10 years old, am i at risk of starting a fire?

do the older chargers just switch off once the battery is charged?

your advice and thoughts are welcome.

Ditch

I've accidentally left a normal car battery on charge for more than a day or so before now with no ill effect/fire.
I think if the batterys in good condition it self regulates to some extent, ie it draws less current as it reaches fully charged.
However, I dont think i'd do it deliberatly, I like to sleep at night. I would either get a plug in timer that turns it off after a few hours or bring the battery home with you.

I wouldn't leave an old charger on - they depended on a crude regulation system that will still mean that a fair old current goes through the battery. You'll be generating hydrogen, and boiling off your electrolyte.

Get a trickle maintenance charger - doesn't charge the battery very quickly, but can be left on for as long as you like. Halfrauds have them.

rgds,
David

many thanks you confirmed what i thought. not worth the risk as i have spent far to much to have it all burn down.

i had been thinking about a trickle charger and that sound like the best way forwards.

yet more money, but i have to get it finished soon as i have a kitchen to fit and a house to sell. Then the car and i will be together for all time...

Ditch

trickle charger - ebay - £11'ish! Just got one, great!

HTH

You dont say what type of battery it is... some you can't rechare with a standard charger anyway. i.e. Gel type.

as hellfire says...a trickle charger like the optimate etc can be left on indefinitely....I often leave my bike or MK plugged in for weeks..

Halfords do one for not too much money, that is a normal charger that you can charge car, bike, sealed and normal battery types with. Once the battery is charged it switches and just keeps the battery topped up so doesnt matter how long you leave it one.

Some people who store their cars away over the winter leave the batteries connection to a trickle charger to keep it topped up, otherwise the battery would probably be dead after a few months.

Including p&p, I've ordered one for my bike. Thanks for the tip, I was looking at the optimate at £30ish before that. My 12 amp charger is too strong for the bike battery, gets the battery too hot.