Overcharged batteries....well sort of
Submitted: Sunday, Mar 04, 2007 at 23:51
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Muzzgit [WA]
At Xmas I had the misfortune of a battery spillings it's guts all down the engine bay, stripping paint, plastic, mouldings and everything underneath it. The end cost has been about $580.00 including a new battery, repairs at the panel
shop and so on.
Yesterday I finaly replaced the last piece....the rubber splash guard that goes between the inner guard and the chassis, which I picked up from Tony's Auto Wreckers.
While the bonnet was open I got the multi meter out, the engine had been off for about an hour, and I nearly bleep myself when the starting battery read 15.2volts !!!!!
Holy crap!
I then checked the new aux battery and that one read 14.6volts.
No wonder that other aux battery spilled it's guts, it's been overcharged!! OH NO, that means the starter is probably about to cark it as
well.
Swear, curse, hiss, FAR CANAL!
This morning I'm thinking, maybe this multi meter is caput! Sure enough, I open it up, plonk a new 9v battery in it and, OH, that's better... back to normal.
PHEW.
Reply By: Member - Jeff H (QLD) - Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 03:04
Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 03:04
Onya Muzz.
We need a reminder that all is
well :
occassionally. Jeff
AnswerID:
225331
Follow Up By: Member - Doug T (W.A) - Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 04:33
Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 04:33
Wooof Wooof what the heck are you doing up still at Monday, March 05, 2007 at 02:04 . now I'm up at my 1:32am WST HAVING A COFFEE
FollowupID:
486233
Reply By: Member - Doug T (W.A) - Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 04:38
Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 04:38
But why did the Car battery collapse in the first place , I ask because my troopie's BIG Alternator was over charging and cooking batteries a couple years back , there is a remedy for this
AnswerID:
225332
Follow Up By: Muzzgit [WA] - Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 16:18
Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 16:18
The battery that leaked was a sealed "expanded" calcium N70Z, which leaked out of the small vent on the side.
The auto lekkie where I bought it said if I had kept it he could have made a claim for me, and at least given me a replacement battery, and try and claim for the cost of the repairs.
He said that particular brand/size/type was known to leak and would have been warranted, had I kept it, which I didn't cos it was Xmas and we were on holidays.
I'm not surprised that some people are having trouble with batteries leaking. The other day I lifted the bonnet as soon as I got home and put my hand on the battery while reaching down into the engine bay and I couldn't believe how hot the battery was.
FollowupID:
486343
Reply By: joc45 - Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 10:56
Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 10:56
15.2 volts after the engine had been off for an hour?
Doesn't add up. Before you go too far, suggest you try another voltmeter.
Not suggesting you don't have an over-charging issue, but 15.2v would only be there if there is a charging current at the time. Without the charge current, the volts would quickly drop back to about 13v.
Similarly, wouldn't expect a new battery to read 14.6v on idle.
Gerry
AnswerID:
225373
Follow Up By: whyallacookie - Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 12:01
Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 12:01
Second part of the post is about changing the battery in the multimeter and all is now
well.
Great to see people jumping straight in ready to help though!
FollowupID:
486289
Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 16:32
Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 16:32
Have you thought about changing the battery in the multimeter? ;-)
Andrew
FollowupID:
486345
Follow Up By: whyallacookie - Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 16:36
Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 16:36
as originaly posted....
"This morning I'm thinking, maybe this multi meter is caput! Sure enough, I open it up, plonk a new 9v battery in it and, OH, that's better... back to normal."
FollowupID:
486346
Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 16:51
Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 16:51
as originaly posted....
;-)
FollowupID:
486350
Follow Up By: joc45 - Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 17:34
Monday, Mar 05, 2007 at 17:34
Whoops! yeh, should have read it more closely!
FollowupID:
486362
Reply By: Flash - Tuesday, Mar 06, 2007 at 14:55
Tuesday, Mar 06, 2007 at 14:55
Common trap with CHEAP multimeters.
Any of the cheaper brands become very "dodgy" with flat batteries.
A good multimeter does not usually have that problem.
As is so often the case, you get what you pay for. C ya
Cheers
AnswerID:
225620