The 75 and ZT Owners Club Forums - Dead battery ..maybe

The 75 and ZT Owners Club Forums (https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/index.php)

- V8 Forum (https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=21)

- - Dead battery ..maybe (https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=300869)

Prob for me is the car can't be parked where i can run a mains lead :duh:.

So got a 10 watt solar panel but reckon its either not enough ??? or the controllers duff..

just got another Solar controller with lots of settings if i can fgure out the Chinglish manual :D and its all set up in my Window test charging the ZR's old Battery and seems to be holding 12.6 v .. with a bit of Sun .;)

nope its 13 odd volts with no load even after a failed start...
-------------------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD1too (Post 2776193)

It's time to invest in a couple of smart maintenance chargers Chris.

Did you say that the battery voltage when connected to your V8 is 13.0 - 13.5 volts when the ignition key is turned to 'start'?

Simon

Hey Chris, I remember telling you about the Maplin solar charger I once had, it was discharging my battery through the panel, had a faulty diode.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ceedy (Post 2776253)

Prob for me is the car can't be parked where i can run a mains lead :duh:

That is a problem, especially when you have four cars! ;)
A solar charger is a waste of time on a discharged battery.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ceedy (Post 2776253)

nope its 13 odd volts with no load ..

OK, an 'off load' measurement tells us very little. What does your voltmeter read when you turn the ignition key to 'start'?

Simon

Get yourself a decent Bosch battery Chris. I bought a Bosch four year guaranteed battery and it has been ok for the last 6 years. That’s done it now.

this is my third battery in 15 years, the OEM lasted about 8yrs , the second, a bosch S4 lasted a coulpe of weeks outside it 4 yr warranty.

And this Yuasa is 18 months and its a replacement under warranty of one that died also inside 2 years ?? so the supplier isn't interested :duh: in supplying another.

Hand in pocket time :eek:

Had My 10w Solar panel in the House window for a week now with this new Controller and it keeping the ZR's old Lion battery :eek: at 12.5 volts with these dull days so might be ok ?

[

Chris,

Your evidence of frequently failing batteries strongly suggests that they're not been kept sufficiently charged due to infrequent use of the cars.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ceedy (Post 2777823)

Had My 10w Solar panel in the House window for a week now ... keeping the ZR's old Lion battery at 12.5 volts with these dull days so might be ok ?

I'd say that it won't be ok Chris. The voltage is too low, it needs to charge at 13.5 v or higher.
Also, 10 watts equates to 0.7 amps maximum output, presumably in full sun, which you won't get at the time of year that you most need it. It's pitifully inadequate unless used as a maintenance charge on an already fully charged battery which yours obviously are not.

The solution Chris is to take your batteries one at a time indoors and charge them continuously using a mains powered smart charger rated at, say, 5 amps. Such a charger will cost you about the same as one replacement battery. Put it on your Christmas list.

Simon

was never intending to just use the solar as a charger , trying it as possible top up whilst any car is stood about to try an save any going flat. ;)But it doesn't seem to be enough. even fully charged the V8 will go flat within 10-12 days or thereabouts.

Mind you I also have a screw type battery disconnect on the car , but found out recently that the Boot board just presses on it and makes a connection so defeats the object :duh: some thing sort out next .;)

Already got a halfords 6 amp and a small 6 amp smart charger , so no need for xmas prezzies :D
C.

PS the Solar panel outputs 17-18 v .so appprox 500ma . and its the controller that does the work ?

once i figure out the chinglish manual this may change :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD1too (Post 2777832)

Chris,

Your evidence of frequently failing batteries strongly suggests that they're not been kept sufficiently charged due to infrequent use of the cars.

I'd say that it won't be ok Chris. The voltage is too low, it needs to charge at 13.5 v or higher.
Also, 10 watts equates to 0.7 amps maximum output, presumably in full sun, which you won't get at the time of year that you most need it. It's pitifully inadequate unless used as a maintenance charge on an already fully charged battery which yours obviously are not.

The solution Chris is to take your batteries one at a time indoors and charge them continuously using a mains powered smart charger rated at, say, 5 amps. Such a charger will cost you about the same as one replacement battery. Put it on your Christmas list.

Simon

Returned a Yuasa to halfords today barely 2 years old but with 5 year guarantee, they replaced it. They told me that they are seeing several Yuasa 096 batteries failing but most others seem ok and think. Ay be it's a manufacturing fault!

Quote:

Originally Posted by colintf (Post 2777892)

Same here, I bought a Yuasa HSB096 Silver Battery for my V6 on the 20th April 2017.
It failed and was replaced under warranty on the 26th November 2018.
19 months old! :duh:

Hey Chris, Have you performed a parasitic drain test?

My ZT can sit for weeks without the battery going flat, one turn of the key and she springs into life, its a Pavilion battery that is easily 5 years old now.