Battery Dead And Wet Passenger Seat

[johnnyboy666 195 1 Cars]

I got in the car to go to work this morning and the battery was completely dead, as if the lights had been left on overnight (they werent)

I went to check again when ive just got in from work (after a sh!t bus journey) and the passenger seat and carpet is completely soaked through (thanks sunroof!)

 

I was wondering if there might be a connection (excuse the pun) between the water logged car and a flat battery?

 

secondly ive got an ancient battery charger which I found in the garage, and it only has an ampage display when its connected up, what should this be reading to start the car up?

 

cheers

[daneldridge23 15]

you would get a bigger spike at the first crank, maybe 140amps, the when its cranking over maybe 40 - 60?

[Anthony 1,003]

you would get a bigger spike at the first crank, maybe 140amps, the when its cranking over maybe 40 - 60?

You don't jump start directly off a battery charger.... the clue is in the name

 

Typically, a flat battery will take high amperage from the charger initially, and as it charges, the current will slowly drop to a trickle.

[johnnyboy666 195 1 Cars]

yeah i know you dont start it with it connected!!! im just wondering at what point i should take it off charge and try to start it, just so I dont waste any charge that i put in it so far

[daneldridge23 15]

You don't jump start directly off a battery charger.... the clue is in the name

 

Typically, a flat battery will take high amperage from the charger initially, and as it charges, the current will slowly drop to a trickle.

 

isn't he asking what amperage the car needs to turn over?? if the battery charger shows over 150 160, then when the battery is in the car.... it would start?

[Anthony 1,003]

The amperage display on a battery charger shows the amount of current going to the battery.

 

It does not show the amount of current that the battery is capable of providing

 

Indeed, it's almost inverse of that, as a flat battery will typically accept a high current, whereas a nearly charged battery will only accept a trickle. Thus what you're looking for is when the charge rate drops right down, and at that point it should be sufficiently charged to crank over the starter and start the engine.

[johnnyboy666 195 1 Cars]

Oh right that makes more sense! i put one of my spare batteries on and it was accepting about amps and the one out of the car is accepting 4, so should I be trying with the lower one?

[ian010778 21]

You'd usually just leave it on charge (at least) overnight on a trickle charger.

 

If all you have is a charger with an in-built current meter you can't really say when the battery's ready to start the car. If you really want to do some sort of check you'd need a multi-meter and measuring the voltage would give you a clue but even then a knackered battery with a high voltage may struggle/fail to deliver the current needed to start the car.

 

I got one of those Power Stations from Aldi a long time ago - ideal for this kind of situation and only about £20