Discussion
quote:
Got back from busines trip to find Griff suffering from flat battery. This is the second time its happened now - obviously it just pines when Im away. My question is, it it worth charging again or is it new battery time?
Cheers
Use a battery conditioner (if you have a power supply handy) and the battery will always be fully charged (unless it's kaput). There are several on the market; I use this one www.racecar.co.uk/airflow/battery.htm
but there's also another type available on the TVRCC website www.tvrcc.com/
in the Regalia section.
Easier than changing a battery in a Griff!
Roy
I've had two in four years and I need to replace this one!! I think it's a lack of use that knackers batteries, especially on fibreglass cars, as mine always used to be fine when I used it almost every day, but since then I haven't (dare I say it) been using it as PW intended and it's sometimes sat in the garage for 3/4 weeks. I'll be installing a battery conditioner with this one I think.
You could try fully charging it and see how long it holds it's charge for, if it still starts after a couple of weeks I would say it's still fairly OK.
If not, either your battery is knackered or something is draining it, alarm, bad earth, sticky relay, or the voltage reg on the alternator (normally causes the battery light to com on).
You could try fully charging it and see how long it holds it's charge for, if it still starts after a couple of weeks I would say it's still fairly OK.
If not, either your battery is knackered or something is draining it, alarm, bad earth, sticky relay, or the voltage reg on the alternator (normally causes the battery light to com on).
The alarm will drain the battery in 3/4 weeks.
Battery conditioner is the way to go if you leave the car for extended periods.
Word of caution though, I don't know if all the conditioners are the same, but with the one I have (bought through TVRCC) if the battery is really, really flat then the conditioner will not bring it back to life.
Jump start, run for a little while to get some charge in there, and the conditioner will then kick in and take over the job.
Battery conditioner is the way to go if you leave the car for extended periods.
Word of caution though, I don't know if all the conditioners are the same, but with the one I have (bought through TVRCC) if the battery is really, really flat then the conditioner will not bring it back to life.
Jump start, run for a little while to get some charge in there, and the conditioner will then kick in and take over the job.
Dunno, couldn't really tell you why, Just something I've noticed, lots of people with fibreglass cars complain about battery problems, maybe it's something to do with not being able to earth things to the body and having fewer earth points, the more current, the more corrosion around the terminal?
Just guessing, I'll shut up, now where did I leave me coat???
Just guessing, I'll shut up, now where did I leave me coat???
I thought that big engines need full charge to turn them over, anything slightly less will not do. So after a fortnight of having the alarm/immobiliser drawing a small amount of current. It will drop to a level which is not enough to start the car.
Using it every day will undoubtly cure this problem. I charge mine once a week and allways start it at least once a week, regardless of driving it.
Using it every day will undoubtly cure this problem. I charge mine once a week and allways start it at least once a week, regardless of driving it.
My garage doesn't have a power supply anywhere near it. Is there anything - like those solar thingys - that might help keep the battery topped up? Has anyone used anything like that? Or am I into jump starting mode? (Fortunately, I have the battery kit fitted, so it's no acrobatics for me!)
Bruce, have a look at:
www.unlimited-power.co.uk/Solar_Battery_Chargers.html
The top part of the page shows torch battery chargers, but the lower part has two alternative units specifically for car batteries.
Changing the subject, I have always been a bit scared of leaving a 'conditioner' in the engine bay in case of corrosion from acid gassing (no pun!). Advice would be much appreciated.
P.S. The above address should read Solar_Battery_Chargers.html (if you want to write it down), but it works if you click on it!
Edited by McNab on Friday 16th November 00:40
www.unlimited-power.co.uk/Solar_Battery_Chargers.html
The top part of the page shows torch battery chargers, but the lower part has two alternative units specifically for car batteries.
Changing the subject, I have always been a bit scared of leaving a 'conditioner' in the engine bay in case of corrosion from acid gassing (no pun!). Advice would be much appreciated.
P.S. The above address should read Solar_Battery_Chargers.html (if you want to write it down), but it works if you click on it!
Edited by McNab on Friday 16th November 00:40
The TVR batteries are sealed, and vented into the wheelarch on the Chimaera/Griffith. Since they are also inside the car there would be no reason the have the conditioner in the engine bay! The TVRCC supplier conditioner has a nice little hook on the back to latch over your window while in use.
For cars with the battery in the engine bay, I'd be surprised if there was an risk from using the conditioner. It charges the battery slower than the alternator would!
For cars with the battery in the engine bay, I'd be surprised if there was an risk from using the conditioner. It charges the battery slower than the alternator would!
Phil, thanks for your note on battery conditioners.
My nervousness due to energetic use of Lancia Integrale. Little did I know that one of the sons had parked his battery in the back, and of course it fell on it's side. By the time I smelt the acid it was all too late. Cost unbelievable £3,500 to make good the damage !
My nervousness due to energetic use of Lancia Integrale. Little did I know that one of the sons had parked his battery in the back, and of course it fell on it's side. By the time I smelt the acid it was all too late. Cost unbelievable £3,500 to make good the damage !
As I recently posted on another thread, my 500 flattens in 2weeks unless I use the kill switch or the 'Accumate' trickle charger. Even without the alarm set there is a current draw of around one quarter of an amp.
One query I have with the charger - unless I isolate the battery with the kill switch the amber lght stays on ( indicating higher charge rate) instead of changing to green as its supposed to as the battery nears full charge (presumably because of the current draw). Does this happen to anyone else??
Graham
One query I have with the charger - unless I isolate the battery with the kill switch the amber lght stays on ( indicating higher charge rate) instead of changing to green as its supposed to as the battery nears full charge (presumably because of the current draw). Does this happen to anyone else??
Graham
Invested £40 in a set of jump leads and eventually got the beast started again. Whoever designed the battery location in the Griff should be taken outside and shot. Firstly impossible to make out terminal polarity. Even with help of periscope fashioned from wife's powder compact mirror. Secondly impossible to fit jump lead grips as no room around terminals. Ended up taking a hacksaw to the fibreglass battery cover. God knows how the thing was fitted; presumably the battery was the first component installed and the rest of the car built around it!
Gasblaster - The battery box is bolted on through the floor. A lot of people told me what a pig of a job replacing the battery would be - don't believe them its a piece of cake (once you know what to expect). Check out the following links which give a lot of info for all things batteryish.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/shpub/Griff_Chimp_sample.html
www.shadowfax.co.uk/it130008.htm
Edited by preston1990 on Sunday 18th November 16:09
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/shpub/Griff_Chimp_sample.html
www.shadowfax.co.uk/it130008.htm
Edited by preston1990 on Sunday 18th November 16:09
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