need a new battery for my eunos, (the 25 y/o gel battery (OE!) has finally died) ........ so will be getting a standard, sealed, lead acid battery.....

 

now my car hasn't been used since oct last year, and I have had a 4W solar charger connected to the battery (apparently gel batteries respond well to trickle charging) ....

 

BUT it has died, and I dont mean weak, I mean NOTHING, cant even power a tiny bulb, its DEAD...

 

now my worry is I killed it with the solar charger..... it has been fine all summer (but shown signs of VERY little capacity) ...

 

this is my question..... when I fit the new battery, shall I just leave it? as I understand it (and I know this is right) lead acid batteries should be kept charged up to last, not drained completely ....

 

I know gel batteries are different and charge from the "outside in" and odd things like that,,, BUT , should I connect the solar charger to the new battery? to keep it topped up? the car is likley to get driven more as the winter fades, BUT it could be a few more months!

 

 

suggestion? solar charger or nay? will I harm the battery? (solar charger has a diode, battery cannot discharge overnight, charger is made and designed to keep batteries topped up, not run anything)

 

TA!

 

Shark.

Triple A's I think

 

rabbit

The solar charger should be fine. Your old battery did well to last that long :-) Don't ever drain the battery or let it go below its 12V nominal.

Edited 1 February, 201511 yr by Zlin

Triple A's I think

 

rabbit

Thankyou Andy

 

The solar charger should be fine. Your old battery did well to last that long :-) Don't ever drain the battery or let it go below its 12V nominal.

and thankyou! this is what I thought..... await any other insight

Thank you Andy

 

 

Always happy to help Dave.

Edited 1 February, 201511 yr by Auric Goldfinger

Just remember that a solar battery charger only gives 90% power for a very short period and in perfect conditions. At this time of year it is probably less then 10% efficient. You are better off using a properly designed mains charger.

Smart charges are the way forward, bikers have used them for years. Now there now getting more common in the car world.

Lead acid battries are less forgiving of storage.  They will self discharge then won't hold charge as long and will the plates will eventually sulpahate and become essentially kaput if not kept regularly charged. 

Solar panels are notoriously fickle, as Graham mentioned.  A smart charger as Meta mentioned would be much better

 

I presume you don't want to shell out for a gel or AGM for cost reasons?   Replacing every year or two would cost more than getting a better and more durable battery.

If you intend keeping the vehicle...?  AGM types will hold charge, will not be destroyed by long term storage, even if not fully charged, and have a high storage density, so you could use a smaller therefore cheaper one which will have the same CCA.

Just remember that a solar battery charger only gives 90% power for a very short period and in perfect conditions. At this time of year it is probably less then 10% efficient. You are better off using a properly designed mains charger.

 

I was more worried I had simply overcharged the gel battery! boiled it or something!

Smart charges are the way forward, bikers have used them for years. Now there now getting more common in the car world.

 

 

Lead acid battries are less forgiving of storage.  They will self discharge then won't hold charge as long and will the plates will eventually sulpahate and become essentially kaput if not kept regularly charged. 

Solar panels are notoriously fickle, as Graham mentioned.  A smart charger as Meta mentioned would be much better

 

I presume you don't want to shell out for a gel or AGM for cost reasons?   Replacing every year or two would cost more than getting a better and more durable battery.

If you intend keeping the vehicle...?  AGM types will hold charge, will not be destroyed by long term storage, even if not fully charged, and have a high storage density, so you could use a smaller therefore cheaper one which will have the same CCA.

I'll look into the smart chargers, but yeah, money is an issue, this is a 3rd car, but its also a restoration project.... once its finished, it will be sold, maybe 4 years from now. its very basic, its not like there is a drain on the battery when the car is not in use...  I'll do a bit of reaserch on the smart charges...