Drained battery... culprits?

[Don Banfield <banfield@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Guys,
	Its rained here for almost 1.5 weeks solid.  Finally it let up, so
I was going to take my 88 spider veloce out.  It's battery was dead.  I'm
curious as to what the likely culprit for draining the battery are.
Incidentally, I charged it overnight, and now it seems fine.  However,
there was a fair amount of dried battery acid dust on the top of the
battery...perhaps indicating something more insidious?

	The battery usually doesn't dischage in 1.5 weeks, but I have
changed 2 things recently.  I re-connected the digital clock, and I
replaced a relay that leaves the interior lights on for 15 seconds after
the doors are closed.... unfortunately, the bumpers on the door jamb are
missing, so that relay thinks the doors are always open (so I had switched
the interior lights off, but maybe the relay itself was still draining
current?).  Does anyone have any experience if either of these situations
would drain the battery in 1.5 weeks of sitting?

	The crusty battery makes me wonder a bit if my alternator (which
is only about 2 yrs old) is cooking the battery.  I noted that the
voltmeter reads 12V with the key on, then 12V for a few seconds after the
car starts, then once I move the engine above idle, it jumps to 12.9V, and
stays there all the time with the engine running.  Now I haven't checked
the voltage at the battery to verify the gauge, but this doesn't sound
bad.... 12.9V shouldn't be cooking the battery, right?  The 12V-12.9V when
raising above idle after initial starting is a bit weird, but might be
another story....

	Thoughts?


Thanks!

Don Banfield					Senior Research Associate
banfield@domain.elided                   Cornell University Astronomy
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