| Author | Message | ||
| Verell Boaen (Verell)
Member Username: Verell Post Number: 538 Registered: 5-2001 |
Hmm, Actually the cold may help as the lowered chemical activity will reduce the self-discharge rate. Won't change the other trickle drains tho. I don't have an alarm, but do have a radio with a keep-alive connection for it's memory. | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Advanced Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 2606 Registered: 9-2001 |
i think it all depends on the car and whether there is small draw while its is off - alarm, radio mememory, bad electronics etc - also how well your alt is working to recharge | ||
| Phil Bryson (Phildo)
Junior Member Username: Phildo Post Number: 69 Registered: 8-2002 |
My recent experience says a brand new Optima battery can't go 2 months in my 85 308QV (US version). And this is in Texas, where it doesn't get really cold for very long. | ||
| Verell Boaen (Verell)
Member Username: Verell Post Number: 531 Registered: 5-2001 |
WHAT'S THE LONGEST ANYONE'S HAD THEIR SITTING IDLE W/THE BATTERY CONNECTED & IT STILL STARTED RIGHT UP? There seems to be a lot of difference in how long an idle 3x8 takes to draw down the battery. Both this winter & last My Euro '82 308 GTS QV sat for 2+ months & still spun over & started up 1st try as if it had never been idle! Both times I kept forgetting to disconnect the battery. Yet some other listers report the battery going flat after only a few weeks. BTW, my battery is now going on it's 4th year. It's nothing fancy, just basic std. foreign car battery from AutoZone that the dealer I bought the car from put in. Probably the cheapest battery he could find. | ||
| Odhran McConnell (Kryzian)
New member Username: Kryzian Post Number: 11 Registered: 11-2002 |
A little advice: When you leave the car alone for extended periods of time, disconnect the battery using the disconnecting switch (between the radiator and the spare wheel bay on the left hand side of the car. Works for me! | ||
| Matt Morgan (Kermit)
Junior Member Username: Kermit Post Number: 103 Registered: 8-2001 |
On the topic of "trickle chargers".I would suggest the newer style (called a smart charger),that cuts off entirely when up to charge. The old style keeps charging, and can cook a battery. | ||
| Phil Bryson (Phildo)
Junior Member Username: Phildo Post Number: 68 Registered: 8-2002 |
A stout charge and then a trickle overnight and she's back! A lesson to me not to let her sit idle so long! Thanks all. | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Advanced Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 2543 Registered: 9-2001 |
I hear ya - all I can tell you is I have read that unless you are in a hurry you are better using a slower rate of charge  in the end both ways will work | ||
| Verell Boaen (Verell)
Member Username: Verell Post Number: 521 Registered: 5-2001 |
Simple arithmetic gives you a reasonable estimate of the time to fully charge a flat battery. If the battery's rated at 80Ah (Ampere-Hours), & your trickle charger is rated at 2A, It will take AT LEAST 40 hours to fully charge it ie: 40H = 80Ah/2A Similarly, it will take 8h with a 10A charger. In reality it will take longer because most chargers drop way back on current as the battery gets close to fully charged. My 15A charger drops back to 5A when the battery's about 80% charged. IMHO, 10A is not a high charge rate. Most commercial chargers put out 15-20A 'slow charge' and 75-100A 'quick charge'. Your 80A alternator hits the battery with almost it's full output when you start up with a nearly flat battery!!! | ||
| Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
Member Username: Benjet Post Number: 981 Registered: 1-2001 |
just FYI in my group of car buddies, we've had 3 dead Optimas out of about 20 of us, including myself, they aren't as vibrant as I'd expect. All were replaced under warranty, but still... -Ben | ||
| JRV (Jrvall)
Member Username: Jrvall Post Number: 793 Registered: 11-2002 |
F O O O O O D FIGHT !!!!!!! hehehe | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Advanced Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 2541 Registered: 9-2001 |
I repectfully disagree as this is essentially a new battery and many time using higher power does into result in a complete recharge | ||
| Henry D. Chin (Hanknum)
Junior Member Username: Hanknum Post Number: 66 Registered: 2-2002 |
If the battery is completely dead a trickle charge will not be sufficient to charge the battery. I recommend charging with a full size (10 amp) battery charger for 24 hours. Just my $.02 Henry | ||
| Phil Bryson (Phildo)
Junior Member Username: Phildo Post Number: 66 Registered: 8-2002 |
A good plan - thanks Tom | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Advanced Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 2533 Registered: 9-2001 |
even better - throw the trickle charger on it when you don't use it - even with a cutoff it can still lose juice over time | ||
| Phil Bryson (Phildo)
Junior Member Username: Phildo Post Number: 65 Registered: 8-2002 |
Erik - good to know, thanks. Guess I need to start using the battery cut off switch while I'm on the road and not able to drive the car. | ||
| Erik R. K. Jonsson (Gamester)
Member Username: Gamester Post Number: 261 Registered: 11-2000 |
They take extreme abuse, charge it and it will be ready to go. If not, it is under warranty. I have deep cycled red tops many times and they always come back. | ||
| Phil Bryson (Phildo)
Junior Member Username: Phildo Post Number: 64 Registered: 8-2002 |
Yep, sure did - lots of juice in the Optima. Probably why I let it go too long. thank you, phil | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Advanced Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 2529 Registered: 9-2001 |
trickle charge for 24 hours, i assume you started as least once since you changed the battery? | ||
| Phil Bryson (Phildo)
Junior Member Username: Phildo Post Number: 63 Registered: 8-2002 |
I put a new Optima battery (Orange Top) in my 308QV about 3-4 months ago but, due to travel and my own neglect, haven't started the car in nearly 2 months. Yesterday when I tried, it was totally dead. What's the best way to bring back to life? Trickle charger? Bump start it and drive? Jump it and drive? Thanks in advance, phil |