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        General >> Problems >> Battery Discharging - Trickle Charging
        
(Message started by: Hoople on Jan 8^th, 2018, 2:16pm)

Title: Battery Discharging - Trickle Charging
Post by Hoople on Jan 8^th, 2018, 2:16pm

Hi All

My 1998 2.3 Ultima is in great shape but does not get used very often. For about the 4th time now the battery is flat...so flat that the dashboard shows no sign of life at all. I guess the battery might be faulty or just too old but in the past when I've jump started the car and driven it for a while the battery has a good charge and starts the car with no problem.

I was wondering about using a trickle charger to 1) recharge the battery and 2) keep it permanently charged during its fairly long periods of non-use. Can I do this with the battery in situ?

Would anyone have any experience or comments they can share please?

Thanks and best

Matt

Title: Re: Battery Discharging - Trickle Charging
Post by Torbayboy on Jan 8^th, 2018, 2:20pm

Hi you can get solar trickle chargers that plug into the lighter, check you can charge this way, or it's a lead direct to the battery.

They do work for a gradual run down battery, but I just bought a new 670cca from ebay for £58 delivered for my Cosworth. Cured all the flicking needles etc immediately.
Roy

Title: Re: Battery Discharging - Trickle Charging
Post by Simmo on Jan 8^th, 2018, 3:38pm

Matt, this is a common problem. All the time the car is standing, as mine does, there is battery drain. I use one of These (https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/Non-Food-Offers.htm?id=481&week=2) chargers from Lidl's and they are available from Thursday. I do not remove the battery just clip the charger on as normal. You will see that it is electronic and provides a 'pulse' charge depending on how low the battery is. It also automatically goes to 'top up' mode once the battery is charged and in fact mine is doing just that right now. ;)

Title: Re: Battery Discharging - Trickle Charging
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Jan 8^th, 2018, 4:44pm

Solar trickle chargers are around £10-£12 from Maplin - I have one on the top of the dashboard in my Jeep connected to the 12v accessory socket - keeps it topped up as I do mainly short journeys, even works under fluorescent light in a car park.

Title: Re: Battery Discharging - Trickle Charging
Post by a900one on Jan 8^th, 2018, 4:50pm

Hi Matt
As has been said, the battery will go flat and the trickle charger is the way to go. I feed mine in through the cigar lighter socket, as mine is in a garage I leave the drivers window open a bit and feed the wire in that way, I wont drive off without disconnecting then. My battery seems to hold charge a lot better now, when not connected.
Gerald

Title: Re: Battery Discharging - Trickle Charging
Post by PJDavis on Jan 8^th, 2018, 6:15pm

Plenty of good answers here. I use an Optimate, bit more costly, but never had a problem since. I did try the solar-route, but with little success. I have an optimate on all my cars, and my Bikes, the only vehicle without is 'Gals' car.

Title: Re: Battery Discharging - Trickle Charging
Post by Hoople on Jan 9^th, 2018, 12:36pm

Hi All

You guys are great! Thanks for the prompt responses which I shall look into. All the best.

Matt

Title: Re: Battery Discharging - Trickle Charging
Post by Hoople on Jan 13^th, 2018, 10:55am

Well, after buying a charger it seems that the battery is dead as it won't take a charge at all. That's ok as I don't mind getting a new battery and then keeping it on a trickle to avoid it flattening going forward. Can I ask if anyone has any advice regarding what I should get? My car is a 1998 2.3 Ultima. I have seen the comment on this site regarding Ford Motorcraft product - is this still the way to go?

Many thanks and best

Matt

Title: Re: Battery Discharging - Trickle Charging
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Jan 13^th, 2018, 12:50pm

If you are after a new battery I would personally go for a Bosch - some of them come with up to 5 year guarantee these days.
Yuasa also a brand worth looking at.
Buying the cheapest is rarely a good idea with car batteries.

Title: Re: Battery Discharging - Trickle Charging
Post by a900one on Jan 13^th, 2018, 1:22pm

Bosch is what I have fitted in mine, you will need the round post adaptors as flat ford type terminals on batterys are hard to find now.
Gerald.

Title: Re: Battery Discharging - Trickle Charging
Post by Simmo on Jan 13^th, 2018, 1:58pm

Have a look at Eurocarparts site as they have a 35% discount offer on over the weekend. Also look at Tanya batteries.
Main thing is to get the CCA and AH correct together with the dimensions. The site article has 650CCA and 71 AH shown. Those figures are important as these cars take a lot of power at start up.

Title: Re: Battery Discharging - Trickle Charging
Post by Torbayboy on Jan 13^th, 2018, 2:38pm

Hello Matt,
Local car factors wanted £76 + vat for this in Paignton

Got one of these in mid November, quick delivery and best price, well packed Cossie goes like a rocket now
ebay item 311578469316
1x-Exide-Excell-71Ah-670CCA-12v-Type-096-Car-Battery-3-Year-Warranty-EB712
Buy with confidence no problems with this.

Roy

Link to site (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1x-Exide-Excell-71Ah-670CCA-12v-Type-096-Car-Battery-3-Year-Warranty-EB712-/311578469316)

Title: Re: Battery Discharging - Trickle Charging
Post by Hoople on Jan 13^th, 2018, 2:55pm

Hi Roy

Have looked at listing on eBay but it says it won't fit a Scorpio. Did it tell you this too? Dimensions given are 278 x 175 mm. Is this the one? It's certainly a good price.

Many thanks

Matt

Title: Re: Battery Discharging - Trickle Charging
Post by Simmo on Jan 13^th, 2018, 3:34pm

Matt. Roy says he's fitted it to his and I've checked the dimensions with my battery and they are the same. It seems that it is intended for diesel models as they come up on page 50 if you trawl through the web site. I suspect they think the petrol models require less power..and may be they do...so that is probably why they don't list it for petrol cars. ;)

I'm sure Roy will confirm in due course.

Title: Re: Battery Discharging - Trickle Charging
Post by Torbayboy on Jan 13^th, 2018, 4:52pm

Hello this was the best of the brands at best price rated 650+cca (cold cranking amps) which is for the Cossie, will do your 2.3 without a problem. Been in now for 2 months with no issues at all.(except I still cant get the drivers window to 1 touch close = arrrgh!

Title: Re: Battery Discharging - Trickle Charging
Post by Hoople on Jan 14^th, 2018, 9:01am

Hello Roy

That's good enough for me and sorry to hear about your window. Thanks to you and everyone for your help with this.

Cheers

Matt

Title: Re: Battery Discharging - Trickle Charging
Post by Glyn on Jan 15^th, 2018, 2:44am

The trickle chargers will not charge a completely flat battery as they need a small number of volts(about 2) of back emf. Connect jump leads from a charged battery for 5 minutes or so and then try the charger. If the battery is not dead the charger will charge. This has worked several times for me and saved me scrapping good batteries that have just gone completely flat.