I have an idea...

...for which I expect to be attacked. But here it is: Since I have had quite a bit of trouble with dead batteries lately, I'm considering mounting a jump starter pack to my 12V system. I could figure out a way of triggering it remotely, either with a pushbutton, of some other solution. As it stands, I am connecting a jump pack under the hood as needed, but to serve my lazy streak, I'd like to make it easier, without opening the hood and removing the cover off the fusebox. Ideally, it should sense the undervoltage condition, and be triggered automatically by touching the starter button. But because of a number of unknowns, I think I'd like to avoid this option.

I have located a jumpstarter that has a power switch, so I might be able to mount it in the driver space, connected through the socket power lead, to a live auxiliary socket which I have protected with a circuit breaker. I think it could work.

What do you think? I don't mind criticism, but I don't need the insults, thanks.

 

Battery drain seems to be a persistent problem with my type of vehicle. I have addressed it with several dealers, and it's apparent that nothing more can be done. Sometimes the car can be parked for several days with enough battery to start the car, and other times, it has gone flat in as little as 2 hours. When I say "flat," the voltage only has to drop below about 11.5V, which renders the car disabled, requiring a boost or a service call. Several people have stupidly suggested that replacing the battery will fix it, but I have made it abundantly clear that doing so solves nothing.

I consider it a design flaw that no way has been devised to tap into the enormous power reserve of the hybrid battery, to activate the DC-DC converter, so that the car can start. I've given up on trying to engineer a solution along these lines. I carry a jumper pack at all times, but I'd like to wire it in such a way that I don't have to go under the hood to hook it up.