I have the necessity to leave the car unused for long periods... and, as I had installed anti-theft satellite localization wich use power also with car off, I'm worried it will drain the battery...

As I don't like to disconnect battery cables, I tried to use a battery manteiner (original from Porsche, I use it for a Boxter and works well) wich plugs into the lighter socket, with a tiny cable that exits from closed door and connect it to the manteiner plugged in the power.

But... it doesn't works... Thelight on the manteiner don't turn on...

I think it is because The RX-8 give no power under off key's position... Is it right???

And, if yes, there is a way to mantein battery charget without disconnecting cables???

Thanks and sorry for my english...

Ambrogio

Milano - Italy

 

That's correct, the lighter sockets are disabled when the key is off. But all they're doing is providing a path to the battery, and this device of yours is in essence providing a trickle charge to the battery. So if you cut off the lighter plug and connect the wires directly to the battery of the car it will have the same effect. Be carefuly to get the positive and negative connections correct though... if you get them backwards bad things will happen.