Battery assault

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Sun Dec 20, 2020 5:31 pm

My 2001 NB8B has almost 11 years on it's second OE Panasonic Battery.
As regulars here will know, the car only gets one run a week - for about 1 1/2 hrs on the 'B' roads.
Then its back into the garage for another week.
I put my Trickle-charger on it for a week every month - in deference to the age of the battery and the fact that it only gets one start a week.
I know nothing about "electrics". What do people think - is there any point in what I am doing? Is this likely to extend the life of the battery?

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Sun Dec 20, 2020 8:12 pm

rascal · Postby **rascal** » Mon Dec 21, 2020 9:44 am

I put my trickle charger on my car every time it goes back in the shed,so it would be trickle charging 99% of its life.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Mon Dec 21, 2020 9:56 am

I obviously did my research several years ago when I bought this Charger, but I have just noticed all the pictures of motorcycles and similar on the box.
Is this the right Charger for the MX5? Do others use something different?

Nevyn72 · Postby **Nevyn72** » Mon Dec 21, 2020 10:12 am

I use the Ctek MXS 5.0 as it's good for AGM batteries.

https://www.ctek.com/au/all-products/car/mxs-5-0-aus

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Mon Dec 21, 2020 1:56 pm

Nevyn72 wrote:I use the Ctek MXS 5.0 as it's good for AGM batteries.

https://www.ctek.com/au/all-products/car/mxs-5-0-aus

Sulfation primarily occurs when battery voltage falls below 12.4V. Maintaining charge above 12.4V maximises battery life. The C-TEK 0.8 is a quality piece of kit that will easily to that for you so long as you keep using it the way you do now

rascal · Postby **rascal** » Mon Dec 21, 2020 2:47 pm

Nevyn72 wrote:I use the Ctek MXS 5.0 as it's good for AGM batteries.

https://www.ctek.com/au/all-products/car/mxs-5-0-aus

I use the same charger, for many years now, and found it an excellent product. I am thinking of getting another one, cos I have too many cars lying around not being used enough, and constantly shuffling the ctek from car to car is getting old ......

I have also used the Recond setting to recover a 600cca lead acid battery I thought was dead and buried. 2 years later that battery is still going strong..

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Mon Dec 21, 2020 3:02 pm

If its dríven once a week x 1.5 hours ie 4 times a month I doubt that you need to charge it that often . My NB battery ( original) was still going after about 16years though after about 10 days not driving it seemed to crank slower so I used the trickle more often.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Mon Dec 21, 2020 4:24 pm

My Dog! 16 years! I knew the OE Panasonics were long-lived but that is amazing. Anyone else have one that lasted that long?

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Mon Dec 21, 2020 5:02 pm

My old 1989 NA6 OEM lasted 13 or 14 years, but I replaced it in 2002 or 2003 as the Canberra Winters were becoming a bit of a struggle for it.

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Mon Dec 21, 2020 5:36 pm

Shouldnt need a charger if running the car once a week.

But use the charger if you want. It is a trickle charger, so can be left attached more than just 24hrs.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Mon Dec 21, 2020 7:05 pm

I usually let it charge up for the day then switch it off. I've heard too many horror stories of fires started by chargers.

Rocky · Postby **Rocky** » Mon Dec 21, 2020 7:34 pm

I've been putting it on the Charger right after my drive one week and just leaving it on until my drive the next week - so it gets a full week every month.
I guess I could leave it on there permanently but there is no power point close to the car and I have to run an extension cord across the garage floor which is really a trip hazard as the garage is fairly dark and we don't always switch the light on when making a quick trip to the freezer or 'fridge.
I always figured a week a month was probably sufficient given that the car gets a long run weekly.

hamx5ter · Postby **hamx5ter** » Tue Dec 22, 2020 8:18 am

Hmmmm... Completely misleading heading... :evil:

I came here thinking this had something to do with the Energizer Bunny and the incident last week...

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Tue Dec 22, 2020 9:50 am

bruce wrote:I usually let it charge up for the day then switch it off. I've heard too many horror stories of fires started by chargers.

I had a Haigh charger similar to the C-Tek ones that fused when sitting in the engine bay of my ute. I was really really lucky it didn't burn the car and the whole shed. Haigh offered to replace it for free. I said why would i want another charger that could burn me out.

Fried charger.jpg

That's why I changed to C-Tek.

Now I only ever charge with the charger sitting in its own clear patch of concrete garage floor, so if it does blow there'll be no other damage done.