Optimate problems

[gerjo]

Got an Accumate charger recently and decided to try it. Hooked it up a few weeks ago using the cigarette lighter connection. Two weeks later I went for a drive: car wouldn't start, battery seemed drained. Charged it using my other (simple) charger and all was cured.

Any ideas why the Accumate is draining my battery? Is it the cigarette lighter connection maybe?

[tvrinbfg]

When you get them, they're set to 6 volts for bikes. So my guess is you have to switch it to 12V?

[gerjo]

Sorry, it's an Optimate III, not an Accumate; it only does 12V. (how do I change the title?)

[GreenV8S]

Maybe the fuse for the ciggy lighter socket has blown? Also, on my V8S the socket is ignition switched so no good to charge the battery - other TVRs differ though. It's also conceivable that the socket is wired back to front. Do you have a meter? Would be worth checking the charger is putting out any voltage at all, and also that the output voltage drops to roughly battery voltage when it is connected.

[gerjo]

I think the socket is working. My 12V lamp and airpump are working fine, even with the ignition switched off, but I'll dubble check.
Don't have a meter, I'll see if I can borrow one somewhere. Any other way to check it, connecting a 12V lamp maybe?

PS. how is the supercharger coming along, Peter?

>> Edited by gerjo on Saturday 12th November 15:41

[antonyj]

gerjo said:

I think the socket is working. My 12V lamp and airpump are working fine, even with the ignition switched off, but I'll dubble check. Don't have a meter, I'll see if I can borrow one somewhere. Any other way to check it, connecting a 12V lamp maybe? PS. how is the supercharger coming along, Peter? >> Edited by gerjo on Saturday 12th November 15:41

I use a trickle charger too, sometimes when I close the door the cable pulls the plug out of the socket, so you think it is charging but it aint.
I make sure the charger is registering the voltage from the battery before starting the charge.
On my charger it indicates the battery voltage, not sure on the 'mates as I havent used one, but I imagine they can.

Just use the charger to check the battery first.

[tvr4ever]

gerjo said:

Sorry, it's an Optimate III, not an Accumate; it only does 12V. (how do I change the title?)

I use one of them, works like perfect. Make sure when you plug in the lighter socket that the led light turns yellow (or green when its charged). Sometimes when you plug it in there's a bad connection and that's when your battery isn't charged, you can tell by the fact that the battery condition led isn't giving you an indication.

Fred

[gerjo]

tvr4ever said:

gerjo said: Sorry, it's an Optimate III, not an Accumate; it only does 12V. (how do I change the title?) I use one of them, works like perfect. Make sure when you plug in the lighter socket that the led light turns yellow (or green when its charged). Sometimes when you plug it in there's a bad connection and that's when your battery isn't charged, you can tell by the fact that the battery condition led isn't giving you an indication. Fred

thanks Fred,

I did make sure the "charge" light came on and then after a few hours it turned to green, so I thought it was working perfectly. But then it wouldn't start ...
The battery is almost brand new and works perfectly, so in excess of not charging, the charger drained it!

>> Edited by gerjo on Sunday 13th November 15:48