Dumb Question re Battery...

[FatBoy]

I have an Exide battery in the boat which hasn't missed a beat in the last year and a bit that i've owned her. I normally start the engine every 2 or 3 weeks when it's not being used but "forgot" after going on holidays and being busy with house renovations... :o

Tried starting it this afternoon and she's dead flat, no action whatsoever. It's been just over 2 months since she was run so is that a normal period of time for a battery to go flat ?? It's got one of those little round things that unscrew to break the connection so i was kind of hoping it wouldn't go flat but ahhhh well, such is life...

It did start "sans battery" by pulling the ripcord a few times but being a lazy bugger the old key start is my favoured option... :)

I suppose i'll head up to the local garage tomorrow afternoon and get it tested but do blokes think it's normal for a healthy battery to go flat in 8 weeks when it's effectively "disconnected" from everything ??

Cheers,
Paul...

[JOCOOL]

You say that it started your boat normally without any dramas. What other loads are placed on the battery in normal use? Lights, sounder, 27MHZ tranciever...anything???

You may think that it was OK when you only used it for starting, but if you don't have a continous load on it like lights, sounder etcetera, then the battery really isnt loading up. And when its not loaded up, it will not show any problems.

SOOOOOO.....maybe it was on its way out already?????

To answer your original question....no I don't think it should go completely dead in a few weeks. You should still have SOME life in it.

[Chris]

As soon as i have a funny feeling about a battery, any battery wether in one of my cars, tractor, bike and especially in my boat, the first thing i do is CHANGE it!

Just my opinion!

[JOCOOL]

i CHANGE it!

Just my opinion!
Ditto for me too!:D

[FatBoy]

Thanks guys... Getting stranded in the Hawkesbury at night doesn't hold much appeal in a 13ft runabout so i think i'll bite the bullet and buy a new one - any recommendations on what brand to go for ??

P.S - Joe, only nav lights at night mate, that's about it. I have a couple of favourite spots so the sounder is rarely used... ;)

[iain]

Jimbo's mate does batteries for unbeatable prices and can also recommend the best one for your needs.

I'll track down the details.

[Grantm]

Dont bother getting a flat battery tested cause it will just fail. Obviously its just easier to replace it but it may not be rooted just yet.

I would charge it overnight THEN get it load tested. If its even the least bit sus a load test will pick it up. Not sure where you are but id be happy to test it, ive got a load tester at home and at work.

I know its better to be safe than sorry but people give up on batteries to quick sometimes.

Heres my scale :

Over 5 years old - your an idiot !

3 to 5 years - youve left it too long !

2 to 3 years - just finishing maximum life expectancy

1 to 2 years - maybe something is draining it or you neglecting it

under 1 - buy better batteries cheapscate !

[Chris]

under 1 - buy better batteries cheapscate !

I used to buy cheap batteries all the time then i was stuck once and had to buy an expensive one, best thing i ever did and the only way i buy batteries now!

[JOCOOL]

Paul, you mentioned it was an Exide brand, but is it a marine battery? Even if you are only using it to start the boat a marine battery is the ONLY option on a boat. They are built to take the pounding that they will recieve in a boat. They get jolted around in a car, so they can have thinner casings, but they are thicker on marine batts!

[Matt T]

Paul, to answer your question about 1% per dayfor a lead acid battery not in use.:) Matt

[FatBoy]

Iain - Mate if you could get me a contact number that would be great... :)

Grant - I've had the boat close to 18 months now and the battery came with it, although i seem to remember the guy saying it had a near new battery in it. (It looks immaculate but "near new" is open to interpretation i guess !!) Might test it and just keep it as a spare if it's ok...

Thanks for the offer to charge her up but you're a long way away mate... :)

Joe - I'm a d!ckhead, i just went and checked and it's actually just a heavy duty Besco not an Exide... Ooops !! :o

I'll definetly buy a marine battery now, even though i intend selling the boat soon i don't want whoever buys it to get stranded because i decided to be a tightarse !! :p

Thanks for the tips too fellas...

Cheers,
Paul...

* edit * Sorry Matt, i missed your post. I definetly think it's got a problem then !!

[JOCOOL]

NRMA are bloody rip-off's !!!!

They install shit batteries that only last 1 month after the warranty runs out.

Call this guy, he is a site supporter sell excellent batteries with a min of 2 years warranty. He has sold to a few 'sydneyangler' members, I think Daryl was his last customer is you need a reference and if he's not busy he might even drop it round for you.

David - 0418294802
Here you go Paul. Lifted from another thread!

[telcobroker]

I can tell you that DAVID IS THE MAN! I have purchased a battery for my Pajero from him and about a week later my neighbour needed a battery. His price was brilliant, service quick and he comes out with a few unexpected wise cracks too which I quite enjoyed.

Personally I wouldn't call anyone else.

[iain]

That's the bloke. He'll do the right thing by you.

[FatBoy]

Thanks guys !! :)

* Edit * Just spoke to David on the phone, what a champion bloke !! :D
Have to get back to him this afternoon after measuring the battery box i have to make sure what he recommends fits and he even offered to call past and drop it off to my house. What a legend !!

Cheers,
Paul...

[Jimbo]

Get it sorted Paul?

[FatBoy]

Hey Jimbo, sorry mate i'd forgotten all about this thread !! :o

Yeah mate, David ended up dropping it off at my work and the boat is once again running fine... I have to say he's a great bloke, super quick service and a funny bugger too, the "animated chat" he had with the security guard on the gate at work was a classic... :D

Cheers,
Paul...

[Clarkos]

Batteries don't like not being used. Especially over that sort of period. As they get older, then they like it even less. Best thing you can do is get yourself a charger and charge it before use. Marine batteries are designed for intermittant use, and will therefore handle it better.

[bobjf]

Batteries don't like not being used. Especially over that sort of period. As they get older, then they like it even less. Best thing you can do is get yourself a charger and charge it before use. Marine batteries are designed for intermittant use, and will therefore handle it better.

another easy solution,nick down to your local supercheap store & buy 1 of those jump starter packs,even with twin batteries we carry 1 hehehe can't pull start a 308

[jamdan146]

What i have done is connect a solar panel to my battery. I now have no dramas with my battey.
Cheers
John