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        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> battery charging
        
(Message started by: micky5 on Jul 31^st, 2010, 8:16am)

Title: battery charging
Post by micky5 on Jul 31^st, 2010, 8:16am

Hi all, ..i have a flat battery, and bought a charger from ARGOS,... its onlyu a 6amp charger, is this not powerful enough to charge a scorpio battery?
do they have to be 12 amp?
thanks in advance
Micky5

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by pedropedro on Jul 31^st, 2010, 10:31am

6 amp charger is fine... it's just down to time re the rating ...if your battery is a 60 amp/hour rating it theoretically would take 10 hours to charge from flat with a 6 amp charger...half that time with a 12 amp charger.

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by micky5 on Jul 31^st, 2010, 10:55am

when i connect the 6amp charger to my battery it comes up "fully charged"?
any ideas, ....
thanks in advance

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by pedropedro on Jul 31^st, 2010, 11:09am

when you say you have a flat battery assume you mean lights dont come on electrics dead....does car not start ?

are you sure battery is flat?

or it may be that the battery is up to 13v and the charger sees that and wont charge...but a cell may be caput and not deliver the current.....you need put a load on the battery to see whether it is ok or not

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by Mike H on Jul 31^st, 2010, 11:14am

These testers can be a bit hit and miss, a proper self diagnostic one should put a load on first then measure the Voltage. Can still be vague though. Or it might mean a faulty cell. (?)

Leave it on charge 24 hours then see if it will start the car. If it won't, battery's kn*ckered

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by Mike H on Jul 31^st, 2010, 11:15am

Appendix ~ Pedro got in before me hence the duplicated info ;D

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by micky5 on Jul 31^st, 2010, 11:28am

the battery almost started the car with one of those stand by units connected, but it wont turn over on its own power, hence the reason i took it off to charge it, ...it went flat cos i was away for 10 days w/out it being used, , so it went flat... all i get is the dash icons on when i turn on the ignition,
thanks

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by micky5 on Jul 31^st, 2010, 11:29am

p.s. the stand by unit was,nt fully charged,

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by pedropedro on Jul 31^st, 2010, 1:59pm

sounds like a new battery needed....get a 75amp/hour one

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by Simmo on Jul 31^st, 2010, 5:27pm

I agree. It may help to read This article (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/battery.htm)

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by Mike H on Jul 31^st, 2010, 8:11pm

Don't think it should have gone down that much by just not being used for 10 days, starting it up a couple of times just to go down the road for 10 minutes in that period without a proper 'run' would've been worse. Though may not have been charged properly beforehand. Any idea how old the battery is?

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by Highlander on Jul 31^st, 2010, 8:26pm

on 07/31/10 at 11:28:27, micky5 wrote:

Did you connect all the leads properly? didnt miss one of the black ones? its VERY easily done

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by a900one on Jul 31^st, 2010, 10:31pm

Sounds like a cell gone, new battery required.

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by micky5 on Aug 1^st, 2010, 1:00pm

re MarkH, b4 i went away for those ten days, i only used it on very short journeys, to local shops etc, for a week beforehand...

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by micky5 on Aug 1^st, 2010, 1:01pm

p.s. i have had the car 5 years, so its at least that old (the battery)
any recomendations to manafacturer/spec, if i need a new one, also price (ouch!)

thanks in advance

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by Mike H on Aug 1^st, 2010, 2:03pm

on 08/01/10 at 13:00:10, micky5 wrote:

re MarkH, b4 i went away for those ten days, i only used it on very short journeys, to local shops etc, for a week beforehand...

That'll do it. Not running long enough to put a decent charge back in, as I know too well! Will the Argos charger continue charging regardless of what it thinks the Voltage is if you leave it on? If so leave it on 24 hours, then try it again.

Plus, check the acid level make sure it's fully topped up and covering all the plates. The negative end tends to go down most often I think.

Mentioned this before elsewhere but anyway I have a cigar lighter plug on mine so plugs into rear lighter socket, mains extension reel in the boot so can still be locked. Quite often I have to leave it on 48 hours to make absolutely sure it's completely charged right up.

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by micky5 on Aug 1^st, 2010, 4:52pm

I have left it on now, so will leave it 24 hours then see, i just joined green flag too, so they can come round test /jump start it if it dont work, and then flog me a new battery if its kn***ered.......... fingers crossed,

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by Mike H on Aug 2^nd, 2010, 4:32pm

OK we will see! ;D

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by micky5 on Aug 7^th, 2010, 1:31pm

Got it going, now charging the battery on the car, the green flag guy said batteries ok, ...Phew!!
now i need a radio code

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by micky5 on Aug 7^th, 2010, 3:33pm

Help!! got thee thing going with a jump start, took it on an hours run, .turned it off, now wont start again...
on the battery thing when u press the trip meter it reads 8-8.5
does that mean battery is kna**ered?
thanks in advance

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by Highlander on Aug 7^th, 2010, 8:31pm

Or the alternator or both

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by micky5 on Aug 7^th, 2010, 8:36pm

if it was the alternator would it not show as charging when it was started, cos it showed as charging at 14-14.5, when it got jump started, and also when it was running.... it was only after i got home and turned it off that it showed on the trip ometer, at 8-8.5

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by Mike H on Aug 8^th, 2010, 12:27pm

Might be alternator is not charging, or as Higlander syas are you sure all the wires are connected to it that should be?

Or could simply be battery has had it despite what anyone else says. Usually even a bad one should have something worthwhile in it straight after a hour's drive. In my experience if you've spent a long time charging it but immediately after it still won't turn the engine over then it's had it.

5 years is borderline I suppose, I tend to find modern ones can go for 7 years which is bloody amazing when you consider 30+ years ago you were very lucky to find one that would last for 3 years.

Tip for the future, must not let a battery stand for long periods with a low or no charge in it, it kn*ckers the plates

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by Mike H on Aug 8^th, 2010, 12:32pm

PS think you're gonna have to bite the bullet and get a new one. Problee at least 60 quid as a very rough guess.

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by micky5 on Aug 8^th, 2010, 9:34pm

Thanks MikeH , for your assistance................
i might just as well try a hydrometer on it first then buy a new one, s*d the expense eh!.......
cheers :Micky5

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by Mike H on Aug 9^th, 2010, 12:30am

If it's got silvery grey slimey stuff floating in it that's a bit of a giveaway too ;D

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by micky5 on Aug 16^th, 2010, 3:26pm

New battery bought (ouch £67!)... but worth every penny to have the Scorp back
thanks you all for your assistance much appreciated
Micky5

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by lesterlad aka Rodders on Aug 16^th, 2010, 5:42pm

Did you manage to get it with the square bolt through terminals (which are now hard to find) or one with round terminals and use adapters ?

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by micky5 on Aug 16^th, 2010, 5:47pm

i got the round terminals, no need for adapter(s)..which is what i was after

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by Mike H on Aug 16^th, 2010, 8:18pm

Super. Hope it behaves itself now ;D

Yep £67 sounds about right I guess, but if it last 5 years... ?

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by micky5 on Aug 24^th, 2010, 11:26am

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by micky5 on Aug 24^th, 2010, 11:27am

it has a five year guarantee on it Mike...s o lets hope,

Title: Re: battery charging
Post by Mike H on Aug 25^th, 2010, 1:52pm

What you need to do now is make sure it's charged up reasonably often, lots of short runs with long rests in between doesn't do it. Really needs an hour or two long journey once a month, or put a charger on for a top up once a month, or two months at the most.