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4th June 2020, 20:37 | #31 |
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Analogy for some clarity about battery capacity.
Two tanks of water side by side. Both a metre in depth. One tank a metre in diameter and the other ten metres in diameter. Let the depth be the voltage ( 12 ) and the diameter be the capacity. ( Amps. ) Obviously the larger tank has the greater capacity but the depths ( voltages, are identical. ) It's possible to have two batteries with very similar voltages but, as the tanks described above, to have totally different capacities. It's the capacity that's needed to do the work. The starter motor is 12 volts but needs something like 150 amps to spin it. As a battery ages it loses capacity until it reaches the stage where it can't do what you want it to do. PS. At my age I have intimate understanding of that feeling and it makes my wife very happy to keep telling me so.-- |
4th June 2020, 21:58 | #32 | |
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When your battery is unable to turn the starter motor it should take 24 hours or more before your smart charger tells you that it's recharged. If this happens sooner, the battery may be beyond saving. I think the long term solution to your problems Vinnie is to use your charger more frequently. Simon
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5th June 2020, 04:40 | #33 | |||||
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In the beginning it could well take 2 days (at least when the sun was shining) to charge the battery. Since then, I have been trying to keep it charged. Getting it from 10 or 11v to 12v only take a couple of hours. Although I am thankful for the help and assistance, I am also still keeping in the back of my mind that this battery is fairly new. And a new battery shouldn't discharge completely in a week. There is a chance I got a bad one, but I rather double-check it's not just a parasitic drain. I've seen a drain of 0.45 amps on the multimeter earlier last week, and in theorie that should deplete a 100ah battery in about 9.3 days. Which seems fairly plausible considering my own experience. Take into account that the battery has been almost completely empty a few times (below 6v on the meter), the battery probably lost a fair few of those original 100 amps/hour. Maybe it only has 50 amps/hour left? That would mean it drains (with 0.45 amps) in about 4.6 days. Which is pretty much exactly what it does at the moment. Obviously, the battery would still need to be replaced. But I want to fix any drains in the system before I throw away another 100 bucks on another new battery. After all, a car like the 75, should well be able to stand still for a few weeks without getting a flat battery. Mine had no problems with my 19 days holiday in 2017.
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5th June 2020, 09:58 | #34 | |
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As per your photo, when the meter is on the 200mA range, the red probe needs to be plugged into the middle connector labelled 200mA MAX. When the meter is on the 10A range, you use the TOP connector, as in the photo. Using the top connector and 200mA range will give unpredictable results. I'm surprised nobody has noticed your error. |
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5th June 2020, 11:14 | #35 | |
I really should get out more.......
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Quote:
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5th June 2020, 11:26 | #36 | |
Doesn't do things by halves
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Caution!
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I pointed that out to you in post 22! You replied that you didn't think it mattered. The problem is that to move the probe to the 200mA socket involves breaking the circuit. When it's re-made the initial current will exceed 200mA and will almost certainly damage your meter. Simon
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5th June 2020, 13:15 | #37 |
I really should get out more.......
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I thought you where refering to the dial? Like I can't turn the switch without moving the red probe to something else (like the minus lead from the battery or something). It kinda did confuse me, but I assumed you knew what you are talking about. And you do, I just misunderstood it
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5th June 2020, 13:27 | #38 |
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Always use time as reference to battery charging NOT distance travelled.
An alternator and a battery charger put around, on average, about 5 amps into your battery. 24 hours charging on a charger equates to about 24 hours driving your car with the alternator doing the charging. The charger might cost you a pound or two. Driving your car for 24 hours might cost between £150.00 and £200.00.-- I'll leave you to guess which is the best option.--- |
5th June 2020, 15:51 | #39 |
I really should get out more.......
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Lol, the charger will be the prefered option haha.
But nonetheless, I am inclined in thinking that the car should be able to survive a few weeks without being used. Currently I get a few days max out of it. The search will continue tomorrow. Right now I'm testing the level of discharge when the battery is not connected.
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5th June 2020, 15:59 | #40 |
I really should get out more.......
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Just checked the voltage. It now says 12.25v. This after roughly 48 hours.
Just after being charged: 12.45 24 hours later: 12.29 Again after 24 hours: 12.25. Considering that the battery might give a high reading just after being charged, I rather look at the last 24 hours. Which says it lost 0.04 volts over 24 hours. I'm not sure what that really says, but if the car won't start with anything lower then 11 volts. I still have 31 days before the battery is at 11 volts. Off course, this is without any load on it. When I reconnect the leads, it will give a very different picture. Am I right in thinking that it is not very plausible that my battery is the problem? Have I rulled this out enough to say that I should keep looking at the amp-drain from the car's electronics?
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