Should I replace a revived battery that has been fully depleted?
#1
Should I replace a revived battery that has been fully depleted?
Ugh... I have my S2K on a Battery Tender most of the year...
Over the weekend, I took it off the tender and went to start it, and my battery was completely dead... Not even the typical audible clicking sound when the battery is too low to turn the car over...
Apparently, the 7.5A fuse on my Battery Tender blew at some point, and hasn't actually been trickle charging...
I don't have a proper charger, so I put it back on the Battery Charger and once the battery is strong enough to start the engine, I'll drive it around and let the alternator charge up the battery...
This Interstate battery is less than one year old...and it has only been drawn down to zero this one time... Do you think this battery is still serviceable? Or should I consider replacing it?
Thanks all!
Over the weekend, I took it off the tender and went to start it, and my battery was completely dead... Not even the typical audible clicking sound when the battery is too low to turn the car over...
Apparently, the 7.5A fuse on my Battery Tender blew at some point, and hasn't actually been trickle charging...
I don't have a proper charger, so I put it back on the Battery Charger and once the battery is strong enough to start the engine, I'll drive it around and let the alternator charge up the battery...
This Interstate battery is less than one year old...and it has only been drawn down to zero this one time... Do you think this battery is still serviceable? Or should I consider replacing it?
Thanks all!
#2
I am more concerned why it died and why your tender popped a fuse. How long since you know it was charging or last driven? It should be able to sit a good while and still start.
#3
Site Moderator
I've brought a battery back from the dead with my normal charger before, haven't tried it with the trickle charger before, but it should be able to charge it. I didn't have any issues with the battery when that has happened, at least none that I'm aware of.
Agree with the above though, need to find out why the fuse blew on the charger.
Agree with the above though, need to find out why the fuse blew on the charger.
#4
I've brought a battery back from the dead with my normal charger before, haven't tried it with the trickle charger before, but it should be able to charge it. I didn't have any issues with the battery when that has happened, at least none that I'm aware of.
Agree with the above though, need to find out why the fuse blew on the charger.
Agree with the above though, need to find out why the fuse blew on the charger.
#5
Have you measured the actual voltage of the battery without it charging?
#6
I've recharged fully dead batteries with my Battery Tender many times. Takes a while, but works. Its way better for batteries future lifespan to trickle charge it back to life than to charge it with alternator.
The one gotcha is getting tender to recognize its connected to battery and even start charging it. Tender senses voltage, so it doesn't do anything unless it senses a battery. That is why its ok to short tender cables together and not spark.
So to get tender going, you need to trick into starting. A simple 9v battery will work. Get a 9v harness, and some alligator clips. Make sure red gator goes to harness + and black to -.
Whenever you got a dead battery, connect harness alligator clips to tender gators. Red to red, black to black. Connect tender to car battery. Now briefly connect 9v to harness, until tender charging light goes on. Remove 9v. Let tender do its work.
The one gotcha is getting tender to recognize its connected to battery and even start charging it. Tender senses voltage, so it doesn't do anything unless it senses a battery. That is why its ok to short tender cables together and not spark.
So to get tender going, you need to trick into starting. A simple 9v battery will work. Get a 9v harness, and some alligator clips. Make sure red gator goes to harness + and black to -.
Whenever you got a dead battery, connect harness alligator clips to tender gators. Red to red, black to black. Connect tender to car battery. Now briefly connect 9v to harness, until tender charging light goes on. Remove 9v. Let tender do its work.
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#8
a good time to order a multimeter then! you can get one for like 5-10 bucks, and can learn the basics of using one in a 10 min youtube video.
but more than that, i'm not fond of leaving any electronics alone. a charger that blows fuses that by design i have to leave unnatended for days / weeks? going straight in the bin.
edit: when i bought my s2k, the owner had left it for 6 months and battery was dead. i could rub a baloon on my head and give more current. still working fine 10k miles and a year later after being jumped for the test drive
but more than that, i'm not fond of leaving any electronics alone. a charger that blows fuses that by design i have to leave unnatended for days / weeks? going straight in the bin.
edit: when i bought my s2k, the owner had left it for 6 months and battery was dead. i could rub a baloon on my head and give more current. still working fine 10k miles and a year later after being jumped for the test drive
Last edited by baldspot_lol; 09-13-2022 at 01:57 PM.
#9
Join Date: Aug 2012
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It has been my experience that once a battery has been run down to zero, it will not have the longevity and performance overall that a former “undepleted” battery would. You can bring it back and with regular driving and/or external charging/trickle/minding it will start and keep things going but it will not last as long. It will be easier for the run down battery to develop a short and run down much sooner.
#10
Quite true. But you can still potentially get years of service out of it. Can always carry one of those jump start boxes around with you just in case there is an issue.
Not that I'd buy one just for that, better to put that towards a new battery. But if you already have one or want one, then just carry it vs sitting on shelf.
Not that I'd buy one just for that, better to put that towards a new battery. But if you already have one or want one, then just carry it vs sitting on shelf.