Auto Battery Recharging Time

Wayland · Mar 3, 2009

Dennis M said:

Yeah I had a strange experience concerning my battery at the local NAPA
last fall. My car would start up fine when it was left sitting overnight,
but sometimes when I'd drive it a few miles into town, park it, then try
to
start it up again it wouldn't start (wisely I carry a Victor battery
charger around with me in the trunk at all times so I was never stranded).

Did a little research on the Internet and decided on a NAPA 84 series
battery. Some chick clerk tested it with an instrument and said it didn't
appear to be weak (since I bought the car used in Sept. 2004 the battery
had to be at least 4 years old), so I told her I'd "think about it." But
the car kept doing the same thing, so about a month later I took it back
to
NAPA. This time a guy tested it with the same instrument and said, "Wow,
this must be the easiest starting car ever -- this battery doesn't have
enough power to start a lawn mower!" So I bought a NAPA 84 series, and he
even installed it for me for no charge.

He never could figure out though why it started up fine in the morning,
but
had problems after it was driven a short distance into town. When I first
told him this, he was certain it must have been some other problem than a
weak battery. But a weak battery it was as the problem has disappeared.
Click to expand...

Batteries have internal connections that can become broken but still touch
some of the time, and plates that can become loose and short out some of the
time depending on the temperature or movement of the vehicle. These could
allow a battery to load-test OK but still cause problems.

Pat

Bill Putney · Mar 3, 2009

Wayland said:

Dennis M said:

Batteries have internal connections that can become broken but still touch
some of the time, and plates that can become loose and short out some of the
time depending on the temperature or movement of the vehicle. These could
allow a battery to load-test OK but still cause problems.

Pat
Click to expand...

True - and would make the charger in the trunk of no value in those
situations too. I started to make a similar comment as yours, but
figured that the OP knows that and his comments were in the context of
the particular problem he had. For example, he said "so I was never
stranded", and *didn't* say "so I will never be stranded" (in his
particular situation of that day).
Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Dennis M · Mar 5, 2009

Bill Putney said:

Wayland said:

Dennis M said:

True - and would make the charger in the trunk of no value in those
situations too. I started to make a similar comment as yours, but
figured that the OP knows that and his comments were in the context of
the particular problem he had. For example, he said "so I was never
stranded", and *didn't* say "so I will never be stranded" (in his
particular situation of that day).
Click to expand...

I did use the charger once however in between my first and second NAPA
visits when the car just refused to start (usually it would just really
hesitate and then finally start up). It sent me on my merry way.

I don't think my problem was ever broken internal connections, I think that
gal at NAPA just didn't know how to operate the battery tester (she was
kinda cute though).
Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Simon · Mar 5, 2009

Dennis M said:

Bill Putney said:

I did use the charger once however in between my first and second NAPA
visits when the car just refused to start (usually it would just really
hesitate and then finally start up). It sent me on my merry way.

I don't think my problem was ever broken internal connections, I think
that
gal at NAPA just didn't know how to operate the battery tester (she was
kinda cute though).
Click to expand...

Part of the problem with battery testing is the circumstances involved. The
battery should be fully recharged, then the load testing should involve
removal of the surface charge either by applying a load or leaving tha
battery sit for an extended period of time, perhaps overnight. Then the load
should be applied and the voltage drop noted, then the recovery voltage
noted. This needs to be repeated through several cycles. (I am assuming the
use of a basic hand-held tester here - more sophisticated machines may have
different methods, though I have read that some of their claims to
superiority are overblown but that is another topic). Only a thorough test
will produce an accurate result and, even then, it is not foolproof.

In many cases, dare I say most?, the tech just does a 10 second test and
announces "It's good" or "It's shot"...in my opinion and experience the
conclusions drawn are incorrect as often as they are correct.
Click to expand...

Joe Pfeiffer · Mar 5, 2009

Simon said:

Part of the problem with battery testing is the circumstances involved. The
battery should be fully recharged, then the load testing should involve
removal of the surface charge either by applying a load or leaving tha
battery sit for an extended period of time, perhaps overnight. Then the load
should be applied and the voltage drop noted, then the recovery voltage
noted. This needs to be repeated through several cycles. (I am assuming the
use of a basic hand-held tester here - more sophisticated machines may have
different methods, though I have read that some of their claims to
superiority are overblown but that is another topic). Only a thorough test
will produce an accurate result and, even then, it is not foolproof.

In many cases, dare I say most?, the tech just does a 10 second test and
announces "It's good" or "It's shot"...in my opinion and experience the
conclusions drawn are incorrect as often as they are correct.
Click to expand...

Customer expectation may be a factor as well -- if I didn't think the
battery had failed, I wouldn't have taken it to NAPA. They agree with
me, sell me a new battery, and away I go.

Of course, I can't remember an instance in which this didn't solve the
problem...

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