Battery woes!

[Valeite]

As my car [S2 Type 23] is seldom used during the winter, and being fed up with having to keep on charging up the battery after a couple of weeks of non-use, I invested in a CTEK charger/conditioner as recommended by others here.
Anyhow, I connected it up and all seemed fine until last night when I noticed that the charging and maintenance lights were flashing alternatively, whereas for days now, only the green light was lit. indicating that the battery was fully charged.
Sure enough, when I tried to start the car, the battery was as flat as a pancake!
According to the CTEK instructions, it appears as though my battery needs replacing "If the lamps flash for more than 30 minutes, this indicates that the battery is dead and needs replacing".
Is this just coincidental that the battery is "dead" since using this charger/conditioner, or could the CTEK be the cause?
My old battery charger did the trick ok before, but obviously it was not left connected longer than necessary to charge the battery.
The car is not yet 3 years old so is this a reasonable life for a battery?
Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[hbaumhardt]

I have an Accumate (or maybe Optimate, seem to be the same thing) connected to my S2 for weeks at a time between track visits and its fine.

It may be that after so many deep discharges the battery just wont hold a charge.

[turnamere]

I bought a battery conditioner after my battery had fully discharged on a couple of occasions when I'd been sent away on business and my other half hadn't driven the car. Despte this the damage had been done and the battery continued to deteriorate. Finally bit the bullet and had a new battery fitted at my local Lucas Electrical place; for the sake of a few extra quid they skinned their knuckles and disposed of the old battery. The difference is amazing now feels like I could drive the car for miles on the starter alone.

Possibly worth popping into local motor electrical place and having the battery tested and replaced if required, then using the conditioner whenever the car isn't in use.

[Valeite]

Thanks for that hbaumhardt. That was my initial thought, it just seems strange why this happened only since using the new gizmo.
Maybe coincidences do happen!

I know what you mean turnamere, it seems like a right "knuckle scraping" exercise to remove the battery!

Thanks guys.





>> Edited by Valeite on Tuesday 7th March 08:40