Another Battery Question

[K3NJW]

This time about charge, or lack of it. I use my car every day, but the drive to work is only 5 or 6 miles, obviously with the lights on, the windscreen wipers and the heater (interesting use of the word). Having started to use the alarm/immobilisor option whilst the car is stood the battery ended up dead flat on Saturday.

Given the usage, and I assume the heavy drain on starting, how long does the average recharge last. I must admit I'm now going to get a trickle charge thing from Leven, I can't afford for it to go flat late at night with my wife in high heels ....... doesn't bear thinking about.

[Prince_Charming]

Yeah that's what I'm really worried about with my new Griff. The girlfriend loves the car but if for some reason I take her away in it, and it doesn't start, I'm gonna get it in the neck - or somewhere else!

[MajorClanger]

A full recharge, depending on charger, will take at least 12 if not 24 hours. It could take as much as 30 miles to recharge a 'start' from the alternator, and depends on so many factors revs being one of them.
A trickle charger is definitely the way to go... either that or find a longer way to drive to and from work

It might be worth checking out the condition of the battery after recharging it. I went through a similar episode. Alarm wailing etc. and the battery was completely gone. No attempts at recharging, trickle or otherwise could recover it, and for £50 for a new battery it was money well spent. For another £30 or £40 a trickle charger will keep the battery in tip top!

MC

[M@H]

Bear in mind though that a lot of new battery chargers (Halfords post '99 as an example) will not charge a flat battery. They require about 3-4 volts to be in the battery to pull the charging plates together within the charger and complete the circuit (I think it has something to do with the trickle circuit in them that stopes them overcharging a full battery). I kept an old car battery at the back of the garage for years so that if I completely flattened one I could hook it up in paralel to the charger to get it going, then disconnect it a bit later on.

I'll bet loads of people have been and bought new batteries as they can't charge the old ones because of this reason...

Cheers
Matt.

[pbrettle]

M@H said: I'll bet loads of people have been and bought new batteries as they can't charge the old ones because of this reason...

That will be me then!!!! Some how the interior light got left on and drained the battery. Enough to keep it going 'just' but when I didnt use it for a couple of days, the cold weather took its toll.... new battery time....

Bugger.

Cheers,

Paul