Skotastic

Thank you. Good idea. I could also remove some of the insulation from said mains cable 🤫, but that could involve me in a different kind of charge! A post I saw recently suggested wrapping insulating tape around bits of the cable, simulating multiple repairs: makes the charger look like it’s in a bad way…

Thank you. The unit looks very robust and I realise that it is pretty much waterproof. I just felt that leaving the car on my drive all night with the bonnet open would be too much temptation for some!

Just an update. I have bought a Ring smart battery charger, direct from Ring. It is the latest 2024 version, 6 amp. (Model 906). Works well. Took around 12 hours. Glad I did not get the 4 amp, although if you have the luxury of a garage it could be that using 4 amps, all night, is better for the battery. My Scala now has a fully charged 4 year-old battery. Sadly the start-stop is working again 🥲, but you can’t have it all!

Will do. If the Scala blows up, it will be the fastest it has moved since I bought it 😂

Many thanks. The RSC range still looks good value for occasional use, and they never claim to “wake the dead”. The 800 series is now looking a bit ancient - there is a new trendy 900 series…

Finally managed to ease the two main clips holding the start-stop "gubbins" to the top of the battery (Just as Alf Ford did the other day) and glimpsed underneath. Behold, it is 59Ah 320 amps EFB (ie it is probably the factory-fitted battery), which presumably was why contrarian Alf was so adamant it was AGM. Obviously his real name is not Alf, but when you know, you know! Thanks again everyone. As someone posted on here in this topic, don't believe it until you have seen it!

Thanks for all the help. I may well get the RSC804. Another thing I have just noticed: my Scala alternator (smart-ish?) always, at least in winter, charges at 14.8v, which I assume is right for the battery, if it was coded correctly. 14.8v is also the winter setting for the RSC804, and probably many others.

Thank you. I’m sure some of it is pure marketing hype. The trick is to know which bit can be safely ignored!

Thanks. I was thinking of getting the Roco Genius 5 charger, which is highly recommended. It clearly has to be told if the battery is AGM. The instructions say that the AGM setting charges to a higher voltage. The standard 12v setting includes EFL, which I guess means that the AGM setting could overcook an EFL battery. Regarding charging at -4 degrees, I guess we’ve all been there: there is a lot of info around suggesting it is a bad thing to do, but so is having to get to work without the car!

Thank you

Thank you so very much. As it happens, the Halfords guy managed to flip off the stuff mounted on the top, primarily “to test the battery” and then clipped it down. He was 100% about it being AGM. So I shall proceed with caution! Fortunately the best charger seems to be a 60 mile trip this week, which temporarily activated the Start-Stop ☹️. Always possible that the previous owner fitted AGM. From what I understand, Halfords just change like for like, and code in a new battery serial number. Thanks again.

thanks. I have messaged you.

I am thinking of using a decent smart charger on my 1.5 Scala, so I would like to know whether the (start stop) battery is EFL or AGM. The Halfords guy says AGM, so I tend to the opposite view! MY 2020. Maybe somebody knows? Unfortunately the battery label is totally obscured by the wiring clipped to the top. Does anyone know how to safely remove it? I have sausage fingers and don’t want to break anything!

Which is why I am reluctant to change my 4 year-old Scala battery. The car is smart enough to turn off SS (permanently?) if the battery is old! I have also read that there is also a brute force procedure involving disconnecting the battery sensor wire, at the battery, if you are desperate!

AFAIK There is not much personal info, it’s more about detecting who is driving and setting preferences of temperature etc. Fine if you have a high spec Superbe, etc and have the seats adjusting automatically. For the likes of me, it is pointless. Your profile name can be anonymous. You can be greeted with “ Hi Batman” if that floats your boat. i have never understood the way the key profile, user profile, app etc all work with each other. Too much froth and not enough beer… You can easily delete your preferences and private info before selling the car.