Dead battery

[vilant]

Last week when I tried starting it (it's been sitting for a couple of weeks), I got the clicking of a dead battery. I jumped it w/ another car (although after reading an old post after I did that, where someone fried there BCM, I'll never do that again) and she started right up, and I let it run for 15-20min. Figured I drive it around today and give it some exercise and maybe recharge the battery again. Unfortunately it wouldn't turn over berfore the clicking of a dead battery was back. I know the battery shouldn't be more than a few years old (at least the PO told it was changed recently), but the car has been sitting a lot before I got it and little bit recently. I've also been working inside the car, so the interior lights have been on more than they should have.I bought a battery charger and I'm trickle charging at 2A for @14hrs (charger recommendation, I also disconnected the battery leads, just in case).
My question is how to do you best preserve the life of your battery? At least for those who have to store their car for long periods of time (don't think LA or Vegas drivers have to worry to much about this). I'm not sure if just starting it, and letting it run, really charges the battery.
Or is just disconnecting the negative lead good enough?
Or do you leave it connected to a battery tender?

[GOLDCYLON]

Battery tender

[Dynomite]

My question is how to do you best preserve the life of your battery? Or is just disconnecting the negative lead good enough?


I disconnect the negative battery cable if I know it is going to sit for a week or more. I use an 8 mm flex head ratchet wrench I keep in the center console :p

[RICHARD TILL]

My experience is that a brand new battery will be discharged after about 6 weeks of sitting.

[Fully Vetted]

Battery Tender. That's what they were made for.

[Paul Workman]

Battery Tender (again). Battery in the Z is more than 5 years old, and the one in Ami's 69 C3 is 8 years old - both on BTs, both crank like new - even in winter!

Soon as they're put in the garage, the Tenders are hooked up and they stay connected until the next outing.

P.

[efnfast]

I use a tender. Only during winter storage, car rarely sits for more than a week in driving weather.
Keep in mind, 5-7 years on a battery is pretty good these days.
15 minutes of engine run time is like being a big charger for 15 minutes, not really that long to fully charge the battery.
Good quality batteries will certainly last longer than cheap ones. -Steve

[scottfab]

I've been using a battery float changer since 1997.

Disconnecting a battery does not prevent hard sulfation.
Best practice is still the a battery float charger, however on the horizon is a new type of charger (de-sulfator) wish promises to be even better. Price could be an issue but technically speaking "the best" approach.
Read about it at the bottom of this article. I've been tracking this technology.

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/sulfation_and_how_to_prevent_it/

One example of an intelligent changer de-sulfator is:
http://jlzg.en.alibaba.com/product/610227124-212826491/Ultipower_intelligent_12V15A_lead_acid_battery_cha rger_desulfator.html


PS. a Kleenex is a general term for tissue but is a specific brand.
Tender is a specific type/brand of "float charger".

[efnfast]

Nice article Scott, thanks.

[vilant]

I read the article on sulfation that Cliff had in Solutions. It talked about sulfation while the battery is discharging, but I was wondering if it happens while the battery sits. Apparently it does. Makes you wonder how much it occurs while it sits on the shelf, before you buy one. Was also wondering if just running the car in idle charged it, that article says it doesn't, which is also nice to know. Looks like I need to add a Tender or float charger or maintainer to my inventory. Thanks for everyone's input, it helps a novice like myself a lot.:cheers:

[efnfast]

I don't know what amp output of the alternator is at idle.

[Dynomite]

I read the article on sulfation that Cliff had in Solutions. It talked about sulfation while the battery is discharging, but I was wondering if it happens while the battery sits. Apparently it does. Makes you wonder how much it occurs while it sits on the shelf, before you buy one. Was also wondering if just running the car in idle charged it, that article says it doesn't, which is also nice to know. Looks like I need to add a Tender or float charger or maintainer to my inventory. Thanks for everyone's input, it helps a novice like myself a lot.

I am the only one that disconnects the battery negative cable ;)
Just like ALL the batteries on the Walmart shelf :p

I used to use battery tenders (many of them) on tractors, ATVs, trucks, cars and had electrical extension cords running all over in the shed. I figured there was more chance of fire than damage from a sulfated/dead battery.

I finally got rid of all electrical extension cords and just disconnected the battery negative terminals. I have found that over winter storage (including the Z) and even compared to a week of leaving the battery connected there is a BIG difference in battery condition (disconnected negative battery cable) once I reconnect the negative battery cable (I make sure the battery is FULLY CHARHED before disconnecting the battery negative cable) :thumbsup:

From experience I get normal battery life using the battery negative cable disconnect method with no issues (not even an issue of wearing out the battery side connect stud on the Z) :D

Even after several months of battery disconnect I can reconnect the battery and the Z (as well as all other tractors, ATV, trucks, cars) start normally. And....I have NO battery cable connection corrosion and have possibly reduced corrosion of ALL ground connections on frame and engine block.

Now.....lets talk about mice :sign10:
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll142/dynomite007/A%20Babes/b9776e1e-a257-4a17-a8d9-a7529b08f212.jpg

[scottfab]

I read the article on sulfation that Cliff had in Solutions. It talked about sulfation while the battery is discharging, but I was wondering if it happens while the battery sits. Apparently it does. Makes you wonder how much it occurs while it sits on the shelf, before you buy one. Was also wondering if just running the car in idle charged it, that article says it doesn't, which is also nice to know. Looks like I need to add a Tender or float charger or maintainer to my inventory. Thanks for everyone's input, it helps a novice like myself a lot.:cheers:

The Battery U. article explains that there is "normal" sulating that is reversible then there is "hard" sulfating which is not. Yes batteries on the shelf present a problem. The industry tries to mitigate this by taking them off the self and "freshening" them (recharge) but the damage is done. A battery that sits starts to develop hard sufate.

Choosing a battery brand is no less important than knowing how long a battery has been sitting. My approach is not always possible but I try to find new auto stores, the ones that have just opened. The batteries are bound to be actually new.

The science of de-sulfating is promising. It purports to recover some amount of the hard sulfating. How this is done is a very large subject.

[vilant]

Even after several months of battery disconnect I can reconnect the battery and the Z (as well as all other tractors, ATV, trucks, cars) start normally. And....I have NO battery cable connection corrosion and have possibly reduced corrosion of ALL ground connections on frame and engine block.


That's interesting point. Considering how many ground points there are. They're also in hard to get to spots and apparently start to corrode. They need to be cleaned and retightened. I found this tidbit of info when searching about auto repair on our cars.

WARNING
To prevent the possibility of permanent control module damage, the ignition switch MUST always be OFF when disconnecting power from or reconnecting power to the module. This includes unplugging the module connector, disconnecting the negative battery cable, removing the module fuse or even attempting to jump start your dead battery using jumper cables.

Never heard of this before. What caught my eye was disconnecting the battery and jumping it. Is there a concern of damaging any modules when disconnecting the negative? I have disconnected the negative for various maintenance reasons. I did notice arcing when I first reconnected the bolt. Am I risking module damage by connecting and reconnecting the negative without unplugging the ECM?

[cvette98pacecar]

My 98 has the original battery since new. I keep it on a tender always, When she travels there is no tender and I have never had any problem.

[Paul in SC]

Battery tender on the Z if it is going to be in the garage over a few days. Installed a disconnect on the battery for the '80. No problems with either on starts.

Since moving to the South, my experience has been that battery life is limited to 3-5 years with the heat unless supported. I have a Jeep that sets outside all the time and it just cooks the battery without a tender.

Paul

[nelson007]

I put battery tenders on all my cars have so for the last 40 years and never had any problems.
Nelson 007