[TR] [NET] Battery charging

Tue Dec 29 14:56:39 MST 2020

Just a bit of a side topic, a few years ago I bought the Solar brand of battery tester.  You can leave the battery in the car and hooked up to test, or not.  It doesn’t need to be fully charged when testing either.
https://www.amazon.com/BA9-40-1200-Digital-Battery-System/dp/B00IZFNJ6Y/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=12+volt+battery+tester+automotive+solar&qid=1609278461&sr=8-5 <https://www.amazon.com/BA9-40-1200-Digital-Battery-System/dp/B00IZFNJ6Y/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=12+volt+battery+tester+automotive+solar&qid=1609278461&sr=8-5>

This came to mind when Dave was talking about CCAs.  I’ve had a red top Optima in my TR3 for maybe 5-6 years now.  I was testing a deep cycle battery at the time, and decided to check other batteries in other vehicles, including the Optima in the Triumph.  As Dave said, it’s rated at 720CCA.  Being several years old, and I’ve heard that about 5 years is the typical life of a car battery, my expectation was low. I was very pleasantly surprised that it was still at 650CCAs, with a green light on the battery tester that this battery is good!

It’s a nifty tool for testing batteries.

Rye

> On Dec 29, 2020, at 11:23 AM, David Friedlander <forzion7 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Interesting about the highly-rated Odyssey battery: It's only rated for 330CCA, whereas the Optima redtop is rated at 720CCA... I thought these two models were AGM "competitors"....
> 
> Dave
> 
> On Tue, Dec 29, 2020 at 1:53 PM Carl Hanson via NET <net at newenglandtriumphs.org <mailto:net at newenglandtriumphs.org>> wrote:
> Gotta be careful about charging those AGM batteries. I made a mistake and used my usual charger on an Optima and it totally discharged. Had to follow a special method to get it recharged, but finally got it back to full. However, since then it does not hold a charge for more than a week.  Bummer.
> 
> Carl Hanson
> Former TR6 owner.
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard Barnard via NET <net at newenglandtriumphs.org <mailto:net at newenglandtriumphs.org>>
> To: bruce pierce <ag2dogs at hotmail.com <mailto:ag2dogs at hotmail.com>>
> Cc: TR3 Triumphs <triumphs at autox.team.net <mailto:triumphs at autox.team.net>>; NET Member mailing list <net at newenglandtriumphs.org <mailto:net at newenglandtriumphs.org>>
> Sent: Sat, Dec 26, 2020 10:56 am
> Subject: Re: [NET] Battery charging
> 
> 	I too have heard good things about the Interstate battery.  However, the fluorescent green case does not agree with my engine bay color scheme.  ;-)
> 	My last DieHard only lived 2 or 3 years.  To be fair, it was left on the basement workbench most of the winter, idle, as the trickle charger plug had popped out of the wall receptacle.  Also, I discovered that my alternator was weak.
> 	I bought another Diehard.  We’ll see how it goes.
> 	Too bad about Sears.  I kinda miss the days of going to the mall and wandering through the tool department while the family shopped for clothes or whatever.  Last time I went, the place was deserted.  I bought a Craftsman screwdriver.  A few weeks later I put it to the test removing a rusted screw, and the tip of the screwdriver itself twisted.  Damn!  I could take it back, but who wants another one?
> 	In my town (Grafton, MA) there are at least three houses that were purchased as kits from Sears & Roebuck, years ago.  They are solid and quite charming.
> 
> My $.02
> _Rick B.
> 1973 TR6
> 
>> On Dec 26, 2020, at 9:07 AM, bruce pierce via NET <net at newenglandtriumphs.org <mailto:net at newenglandtriumphs.org>> wrote:
>> 
> 
> I have been in the Automotive Repair Industry in one way or another for most of my adult life and have installed Many different types of batteries.I have Always liked Interstate Batteries for durability and longevity over the "other" brands.
> It mostly comes down to the convenience of  where you are going to purchase it because most people are not going to drive 50 miles when there other choices closer.
> My 2 cents
> Bruce and the Flivver 
> From: NET <net-bounces at newenglandtriumphs.org <mailto:net-bounces at newenglandtriumphs.org>> on behalf of Tom Mulligan via NET <net at newenglandtriumphs.org <mailto:net at newenglandtriumphs.org>>
> Sent: Saturday, December 26, 2020 8:06 AM
> To: New England Triumphs <net at newenglandtriumphs.org <mailto:net at newenglandtriumphs.org>>; TR3 Triumphs <triumphs at autox.team.net <mailto:triumphs at autox.team.net>>; David Friedlander <forzion7 at gmail.com <mailto:forzion7 at gmail.com>>
> Subject: Re: [NET] Battery charging
>  
> I believe the Optima is an AGM (absorbed glass Mat) battery and quite different than the lead acid Die Hard. They are among other things far less prone to loss of charge from sitting idle. You situation makes perfect sense.
> Tom
> 
> From: NET <net-bounces at newenglandtriumphs.org <mailto:net-bounces at newenglandtriumphs.org>> on behalf of David Friedlander via NET <net at newenglandtriumphs.org <mailto:net at newenglandtriumphs.org>>
> Sent: Friday, December 25, 2020 3:17 PM
> To: New England Triumphs <net at newenglandtriumphs.org <mailto:net at newenglandtriumphs.org>>; TR3 Triumphs <triumphs at autox.team.net <mailto:triumphs at autox.team.net>>
> Subject: [NET] Battery charging
>  
> Hey all ~ Merry Christmas ...!
> 
> I have one float charger that serves both my TR3 that has an Optima red top battery and my TR6 that has a Sears Die Hard. Seems like even though each battery is only 2 -3 years old, the Die Hard seems to need more frequent “topping up” than the Optima.... Interesting....
> 
> Dave
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