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Old 1st April 2019, 21:06   #1
hogweed
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Default How far can I get on battery power...?

My alternator’s been suspect for a couple of days, and tonight it seems to have given up the ghost. I was driving home, got a smell of electrical burning, and the Charge Fault display came on. I switched the IPK to Voltage, and it’s reading about 11.5 while driving. I need to try and get it to my mechanic, but no way of towing it. It’s still running, mechanic’s only about 7-8 miles away, so I suppose I could just head that way and call the AA out if I don’t make it. But couple of questions please:

1. Is the 11.5V just what the battery’s giving out, or is the alternator still half-charging? Suppose the battery should be 12.5 or something…?
2. If I am just running on battery power, anybody able to estimate how far I might get?

Thanks
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Old 1st April 2019, 21:24   #2
sewerman
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I did about 30 miles on mine with battery only, fully charge it first aircon and rear screen off and you should be fine

Scott
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Old 1st April 2019, 21:25   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hogweed View Post
My alternator’s been suspect for a couple of days, and tonight it seems to have given up the ghost. I was driving home, got a smell of electrical burning, and the Charge Fault display came on. I switched the IPK to Voltage, and it’s reading about 11.5 while driving. I need to try and get it to my mechanic, but no way of towing it. It’s still running, mechanic’s only about 7-8 miles away, so I suppose I could just head that way and call the AA out if I don’t make it. But couple of questions please:

1. Is the 11.5V just what the battery’s giving out, or is the alternator still half-charging? Suppose the battery should be 12.5 or something…?
2. If I am just running on battery power, anybody able to estimate how far I might get?

Thanks
Charge the battery overnight Roger, and that will provide enough juice to get you to your mechanic

Brian
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Old 1st April 2019, 21:26   #4
hogweed
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marinabrian View Post
Charge the battery overnight Roger, and that will provide enough juice to get you to your mechanic

Brian

Thanks Brian - now, if only I had a charger
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Old 1st April 2019, 21:33   #5
COLVERT
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hogweed View Post
Thanks Brian - now, if only I had a charger
You'll need one as it won't start on that battery voltage.---
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Old 1st April 2019, 21:38   #6
hogweed
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You'll need one as it won't start on that battery voltage.---

OK.... anybody recommend a CHEAP charger, for very occasional use, which doesn't have some sort of inbuilt battery-destroying mechanism?


I see a couple on Screwfix, or I think LIDL sometimes do them...
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Old 1st April 2019, 21:40   #7
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I've got a LIDL one seems to work OK.--Cheap and cheerful.--
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Old 1st April 2019, 21:50   #8
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I managed 70 miles on just the battery,But that was with no electrics running,No Lights,heater,radio or anything and not having to start the car.
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Old 1st April 2019, 21:59   #9
rrobson
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Bloke at work just tried this, alternator packed in and he managed just over 20 miles in the dark, car packed in a couple hundred yards from his destination unfortunately but I thought that was good going, the lights would have been a big drain
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Old 1st April 2019, 22:32   #10
hogweed
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Originally Posted by rrobson View Post
Bloke at work just tried this, alternator packed in and he managed just over 20 miles in the dark, car packed in a couple hundred yards from his destination unfortunately but I thought that was good going, the lights would have been a big drain

Definitely!


Thanks guys – yes, the “sudden burn” was on the other side of Belfast, so I drove home on sidelights, quite fast… I expect it’s totally illegal tearing up the motorway on sidelights, but I figure from behind I’ll look the same, and it’s up to me to worry about what’s in front of me and drive accordingly. Fortunately motorway well lit anyway, and not too much traffic.

So anyway, I did about 10 miles on sidelights, still running OK when I got home, but I wouldn't like to speculate how much further it would get – maybe 70 miles like No 6… I suppose I really should possess a battery charger anyway.
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