Battery Coditioner
Discussion
I posted up in the Chimaera page on here yesterday for advice on which type of battery to buy next (thanks for all the advice, much appreciated) as it appears to be fubar'd. It's 7 years old (was brand new as a condition of buying the car) so doesn't really owe me anything.
However, I'm not sure the story ends there... The car is always garaged and is connected to an Accumate trickle charger - which must be around 10 years old now. The lights on the unit do all the right things, although it can take around 15 hours these days for the yellow light to turn green - but once at green, it remains there. (Again, maybe a warning that the battery is on its way out.)
Yesterday I disconnected the Accumate as usual and turned the key. Now in cold weather my car takes a good crank or 5 before it catches. Never a problem and in the warmer wether it catches much more quickly. Yesterday the engine turned 3 or 4 times and simply ground to a halt. Classic flat battery sydrome.
As said, the battery doesn't owe me anything but should it really behave like this if the Accumate has been working properly? Does anyone know how I can test the Accumate with a meter to check correct operation? Maybe it's time for a new trickle charger AND a new battery, but I'd rather be sure before spending unnecessarily.
However, I'm not sure the story ends there... The car is always garaged and is connected to an Accumate trickle charger - which must be around 10 years old now. The lights on the unit do all the right things, although it can take around 15 hours these days for the yellow light to turn green - but once at green, it remains there. (Again, maybe a warning that the battery is on its way out.)
Yesterday I disconnected the Accumate as usual and turned the key. Now in cold weather my car takes a good crank or 5 before it catches. Never a problem and in the warmer wether it catches much more quickly. Yesterday the engine turned 3 or 4 times and simply ground to a halt. Classic flat battery sydrome.
As said, the battery doesn't owe me anything but should it really behave like this if the Accumate has been working properly? Does anyone know how I can test the Accumate with a meter to check correct operation? Maybe it's time for a new trickle charger AND a new battery, but I'd rather be sure before spending unnecessarily.
I would say your battery is goosed. There is only so much a trickle charger can do. Taking so long for the light to turn green is, as you say, a sign that the battery is on the way out. You should check that the charging circuit is in good working order before replacing the battery though.
Bobhon said:
Aldi do their own version of a battery charger/conditioner. Supposed to be as good as anything else on the market. But only £13.
Brought one today and will try it when I get another TVR in the garage.
As do Lidl, for a similar price. I've had one for a while, it does exactly what it says. They were on sale again last week so I bought another, for the 'bike.Brought one today and will try it when I get another TVR in the garage.
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