Re: battery fault?
kiwidave said:
Ah yes, but can it hold a load????????
Put the multimeter pins on the terminals then turn the ignition ON (just key on, not engine). If the battery is good, it should not drop more than half a volt.
Bit suspicious that you can fully charge a battery in 30 mins.
I suspect your regulator - because 160 miles is getting kinda near the optimum distance for running on existing battery charge alone i.e. without a dodgy regulator replenishing it.
See charging system fault finding file in TECH TIPS. Test for leak to ground from regulator....
DITTO Dave,
sounds like no chage reaching the battery,
dont be so fast to point yer finger at the battery, its doing its best considering what you appear to have is a constant discharge.
ps never forget the old methods of testing, if you have an unsealed battery check the level in each of the six cells and remember hydrometers will accuratey tell you the state of each cell.
levels are often overlooked, particuarly on a battery that has been totally discharge as the generate heat which tends to cause the electrolite to evaporate, the same with fast charging.
a dry cell or one with partial plate exposure will not charge and become a very high resistance preventing the ability of the battery to accept a charge under any circumstance and damage the other cells to match.
pps lead acid batteries do not like being totally disharged, they last longer when kept a high state of charge, the correct way to care for a battery is to use a float charge when not in use ie an optimate or similar, and trickle chage a flat battery rather fast charge as fast charging will wreck the plates due to heat generated also causing evaporation of electrolite from the cells resulting in premature battery failure.
remember patience is cheaper than a new battery.
thats why so many people end up fitting a new battery after a winter lay up.