Battery bother

[crankedup]

The 12v battery on my 1928 Vauxhall was replaced two years ago when I purchased the car, previous owner fitted it and I have the purchase invoice in the cars records. Battery has a three year warranty. Last week I was testing the lights on the car and had to leave the side lights with trailer lights on for about twenty minutes. This fairly left the battery drained and so I used a slave battery for engine start. Drove about sixty day light miles and parked up for three days, by which time the battery had again lost most of its charge. My dynamo is working. I'm assuming the battery is cream-crackered and I need to replace it, the current battery is 55ah (whatever that means)and I would like a battery that has more oomph in it. Recommendations please.
Engine is 2.8lt straight six long stroke.

[MiseryStreak]

I've heard nothing but good things about Odyssey batteries:

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/applications/auto....

Have you got a battery master cut-out? It will isolate the battery when you're not using it so any electrical problems you have won't drain it.

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/battery-...

That said probably better to cure the cause than the symptoms...

[LordBretSinclair]

Is the dynamo 1928 as well??? Are you sure its charging??
Once a battery is "sulphated" though there's little hope of recovery.
I've had very good service from http://www.carbatteries-online.co.uk
Good luck

[crankedup]

Thanks for reply. I do have a battery cut out but not in use as its under the car floor and a pain to get to it! The car is used intermittently and I should use a 'conditioner', well I did until it broke. All in its my fault the battery has given up, all the worst 'care in use', the opposite is true of my battery care.
Just looking at some batteries, some priced 170 pounds and others 36 pounds and every price in between! I know we get what we pay for but how the heck can battery prices vary so much.

[Aar0sc]

MiseryStreak said:

Have you got a battery master cut-out? It will isolate the battery when you're not using it so any electrical problems you have won't drain it.

Very useful to check if it's something draining it or a crap battery, the one in the Spitfire when I got it wouldn't hold charge for 24 hours with nothing connected to it - and the one in the Dolomite doesn't hold charge for 10 seconds! (as in engine running, alternator pumping out the power, everything electrical on and no problems, turn off the engine and there's not even enough power to turn it over...!).

[crankedup]

Yes the dynamo is 1928 vintage, its huge! I shall check the output, but it shows a charge on the dash board ammeter and discharge with the running lights on, however fast the engine is running. Not unusual by all accounts the old dynamos do not keep up with demand. I only use lights about twice a year, almost all my vintage driving is during the day time. I have the old battery (two years old only!) on charge right now and will put a volt meter on it tonight. I just thought the battery is not holding its charge and its three year warranty has 10 months to run, I may contact the dealer.

[na]

LordBretSinclair said:

Once a battery is "sulphated" though there's little hope of recovery

you could try using 'sulphated' tablets to try and clear the plates (LBS, they're a bit like the Sterodent you use on your star like teeth that come out ovenight)

a battery condition is good for cars that are not used for periods

do all your checks first before contacting manufacturer, faulty batteries are rare but battery problems are not, no disrecpt to you but those problem usually originate from the car user

Edited by na on Monday 8th October 17:14

[LordBretSinclair]

na said:

LBS, they're a bit like the Sterodent you use on your star like teeth that come out ovenight)

Harsh Nigel, but true

[crankedup]

Thanks for all advise/comments. I charged the battery overnight and find that one of the cells is completely inactive and would appear not to be accepting the charge. The other five cells are nice and active bubbling away as expected. Seems that the battery appears to be defective, I will contact the retailer now and discuss. Thanks again.