Re: alfa-digest V9 #423 - Battery

[AlfaNeely@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 4/16/2003 6:53:32 AM Central Daylight Time, 
owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:

> Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 04:10:32 -0700
> From: "Glenn Wasserman" <glennwa@domain.elided>
> Subject: Battery
> 
> Some have mentioned that it is unlikely that the short drive to work would
> have completely recharged the battery. Can anyone tell me - how long does 
> it
> take to recharge a battery? This was a half hour drive... I would have
> expected that to do the trick.
> 
> Thanks
> - -Glenn
> 

       Half an hour drive should have brought the battery up enough to start 
the car eight hours later - if the battery is good and you were not running a 
high power draw stereo at the same time.  It will take an hour or two for a 
decent charge.  Overnight if the battery is so low that the car would not 
start and you want it fully charged.
       Buy a battery charger.  The charge rate will start out close to the 
charger's rated capacity.  Over a period of time, the charge rate will 
gradually drop until the charge rate is about two amps.
       If the battery charger indicates the battery is taking a charge at a 
low rate, the battery may have a bad cell.  The charger should always start 
close to its maximum rating and drop in rate.  The speed the gauge drops 
indicates how charged the battery is.
       I have had batteries that appeared to not take a full charge.  
However, by leaving it connected over night it charged.  I think that battery 
had sat more than it was used and the plates were sulfated.
       I like the Sears 2/10 amp charger for about $30.  Larger more 
expensive chargers are available and faster, but are over kill.
       I have found other uses for the charger as well.  My garage parts 
washer is an old sink plumbed into a covered bucket underneath.  My battery 
charger hangs on the wall and powers an old electric fuel pump to move the 
solvent.  The only disadvantage is I cannot charge a battery and wash parts 
at the same time.

Ciao,
Russ Neely
Oklahoma City
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