16M flat battery

[AndrewD]

Haven't driven it for about 6 weeks and it has been plugged into a Ferrari trickle charger. So imagine the irritation to find the thing's as dead as a dodo. I've never let the battery run low but I'm not sure how it was treated at the dealership before I got it, it was new and unregistered until I got it in June, so the car was sitting in the dealer's storage area for a few months and I guess the battery may have been allowed to discharge and become damaged.

I'm thinking a battery can still go flat when on a charger if it simply can't hold the charge?

Thing is, I've never had any problems starting.

Similar experiences out there?

[RevHappy]

Did the trickle charger ever get turned off before unplugging, if it was for any reason it will flatten the battery.
Just a thought.

[AndrewD]

Hmm, that's possible. How does that flatten the battery? Never had a problem starting

[andy74b]

AndrewD said:

Hmm, that's possible. How does that flatten the battery? Never had a problem starting

Battery replaced on my 430 spider when it was less than a year old. I kept it on trickle charger and it was used every week. Very annoying as had to get jump start after taking it out on 100mile drive.

[Mr Purple]

Most car batteries do not like being continuously connected to a battery conditioner, it damages them especially if its a gel type or similar. Best thing to do is connect up on 4 day on , 3 day off type arrangement . This gets the best out of the batteries i have had on my cars . HTH

[RevHappy]

AndrewD said:

Hmm, that's possible. How does that flatten the battery? Never had a problem starting

The trickle charger will work in reverse if there's no power going to the battery. I was warned by the dealer when I picked up the 430 as the later ones came with a branded trickle charger that plugs in under the glove box.

[KenC]

RevHappy said:

AndrewD said:

Hmm, that's possible. How does that flatten the battery? Never had a problem starting

The trickle charger will work in reverse if there's no power going to the battery. I was warned by the dealer when I picked up the 430 as the later ones came with a branded trickle charger that plugs in under the glove box.

I can confirm this from first hand experience with a 430. I left my car on the factory conditioner and went away for two weeks only to be called by Navtrak after 10 days saying my battery was flat. I came home to find that the conditioner had failed and drained the battery completely.

[AndrewD]

Thanks all.
My branded charger also plugs in below the dash on the passenger side.
I'll get the dealer to check the charger as well, sounds like it might have failed and drained the battery.

And I'll do the 4 days on/3 off routine from now too, thanks

[d8ean]

never had a problem with a ctek one, leave it plugged in all the time, even when the ankle was broken - started first time when i was able to drive. It does have various settings on it which i assume do various cycles to the battery - best 50 quid ive spent

[AndrewD]

Dealer's tech just came over and replaced the battery. He tested the charger and confirmed it wasn't working properly, so it seems this drained the old battery. Good service.

[andrew]

andrewd in premature discharge shock

[Don1]

Interesting - I've got a 55 plate F430, and it didn't come with a trickle charger. I got one of my Optimates (have several thanks to TVR ownership!), but it refused to charge in the normal way (via the cigarette lighter). So 1 hard point charger wired into the battery, 4 hours of charge a night (via a time switch), and all is fine and dandy.

[AndrewD]

andrew said:

andrewd in premature discharge shock

Only when I'm thinking of you

[Soovy]

God how I want a 16M.

You jammy sod.

[TonyHetherington]

Mr Purple said:

Most car batteries do not like being continuously connected to a battery conditioner, it damages them especially if its a gel type or similar. Best thing to do is connect up on 4 day on , 3 day off type arrangement . This gets the best out of the batteries i have had on my cars . HTH

Isn't that the whole point of a battery conditioner, though, that you can just leave it plugged in? I thoght they turned on/off as needed and used the battery for a while before chargine again, to keep it active?

[Webber3]

RevHappy said:

AndrewD said:

Hmm, that's possible. How does that flatten the battery? Never had a problem starting

The trickle charger will work in reverse if there's no power going to the battery. I was warned by the dealer when I picked up the 430 as the later ones came with a branded trickle charger that plugs in under the glove box.

That's shocking, you'd think they'd have a diode in the circuit to stop this.

[rubystone]

Mr Purple said:

Most car batteries do not like being continuously connected to a battery conditioner, it damages them especially if its a gel type or similar. Best thing to do is connect up on 4 day on , 3 day off type arrangement . This gets the best out of the batteries i have had on my cars . HTH

I think that may be a bit of a broad answer. Buy a conditioner that also desulphates and you will have no problems. Optimate have a good selection.

HTH