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So, staying at home and no family outing lead to my car being idle for too long (used once around 1+ month back). Did not anticipate that around a month without use would add another task to my TODO list.
One of the task to close on today - get mechanic and get it jump started and charge up the battery. 
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Yeah, mine did that as well - alarms and suchlike use more power than you might think!
I got one of these: Röhr Battery Charger 100 Amp 12V / 24V DFC-650P Intelligent Turbo/Trickle with Repair, Maintain and Jump Start - HGV/Lorry/Car: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike[^] It's vastly overkill for what I needed, but the Jump Start has come in handy twice (on neighbours cars in the same position). It delivers up to 480A starting current in Jump Start mode for up to 5 seconds (then needs 20s to cool down) and if that won't start the car, nothing will! 
I wasn't expecting it to be so big or heavy, but my word it does what is says on the tin and saves a callout / mechanic fee!
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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OriginalGriff wrote: he Jump Start has come in handy twice (on neighbours cars in the same position)
Don't have the wire to connect! No other option then to get a mechanic with tools.
OriginalGriff wrote: I wasn't expecting it to be so big or heavy, b
I hope I don't need to buy a new one now!
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I had the same problem, but it worked OK after a few hours on the charger. Until, of course, the day when I was away from home and it died completely. All well again after installing a new one.
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Hoping the same for me - a recharge and all back.
I still am confused if I can/should put on AC or not once my car is charged 30 min or so.
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It is best to ensure everything is switched off while charging. And once charged and you are driving keep all accessories switched off for a few days at least.
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Richard MacCutchan wrote: And once charged and you are driving keep all accessories switched off for a few days at least.
You're far nicer to your vehicles than I am. I'd be blasting all of the accessories simultaneously and if anything went wrong I'd just blame Toyota. 
Real programmers use butterflies
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Richard MacCutchan wrote: It is best to ensure everything is switched off while charging.
Richard MacCutchan wrote: And once charged and you are driving keep all accessories switched off for a few days at least.
That is going to be difficult. Would prefer keeping windows up and AC on if I go out in car for now. Lets see.
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You look at your "volt meter" (if you have one) to see how much your alternator is charging.
It was only in wine that he laid down no limit for himself, but he did not allow himself to be confused by it.
― Confucian Analects: Rules of Confucius about his food
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Don't think so I have. Will check if any indicator similar.
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Computerised cars (i.e. built this century) often have a "Secret" way to show the battery status on the car display: for mine it's "turn the ignition to position one, and press the trip reset button three times in quick succession"
That stays available until the engine is turned off.
Google your make and model plus "show battery voltage" and you'll likely find it.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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OriginalGriff wrote: press the trip reset button three times in quick succession"
That stays available until the engine is turned off.
I will surely try this tomorrow on my car - though I think Indian cars are behind and not comparable. Further, I don't think my car is computerized. Bought it in 2012 and probably after couple of years later some computerization started kicking in cars.
OriginalGriff wrote: Google your make and model plus "show battery voltage" and you'll likely find it.
Nada. Tried it.
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Oh, I see you are Bangalore - that makes sense.
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Bangalore is known as an Air Conditioned city. No need to use AC in cars. As a resident of Bangalore, I have never switched on AC in my car; don't even know how to turn it on.
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I must admit on my short visits I found the air nice and fresh. But it was rather warm for someone used to British weather.
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Ah! So you have been to Bangalore earlier. Seems few number of times. When was your last visit?
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15 years ago when our company was outsourcing some work to MindTree. I was working at their HQ and living in a hotel the other side of town. Technically it was largely a waste of time and money to send me over there, but I met some nice people, and ate some wonderful real Indian food.
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Richard MacCutchan wrote: ate some wonderful real Indian food.
So I take it you don't scare away from spicy food. 
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You still in Bangalore?
Summers are hot now. Currently, if it rains, yes - we would not need ac or else usual days, going out does need.
But again, intent of AC here was to keep windows rolled up and travel.
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Yes. Am a resident of Bangalore for the past 53 years. In my childhood, there were no fans at home. Then, over time, a fan was purchased. But never an AC. Even in the hottest of Bangalore summers, I don't switch on the fan. But then, I may be different.
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Yep - different.
last 4-5 years, summers are hot with need of cooler for sure if ac not possible. Earlier, though it was really good weather all year round, not anymore.
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Get a solar trickle charger.
It was only in wine that he laid down no limit for himself, but he did not allow himself to be confused by it.
― Confucian Analects: Rules of Confucius about his food
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Well, there are other chargers if I have to go down that road. Thanks, though didn't knew of this option.
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My dad was a mechanic for 40+ years (and I know I've posted plenty of messages starting with this exact same sentence), and used to go to training courses pretty much every year. Decades ago, when manufacturers started putting computers in cars, he had a teacher tell them that, with the number of computers in a car each drawing a little bit of current 24/7, it was considered "absolutely to be expected" that a battery would be drained in as little as 21 days of no use, even when brand new.
There's a lot more electronics in cars nowadays, but OTOH they're also a lot more power-efficient than they used to be. But still, the story holds true - the manufacturer will tell you it's not a defect if the battery in your brand new car consistently gets drained after X many weeks of no use.
Go on a long drive, and as long as the engine is running and the alternator is doing its job, it doesn't matter if you're using accessories as you're driving around.
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