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[Vamps]

I seem to think I have heard that a car battery can be 'refreshed' or is this wishful thinking and should I just go to Halfords.

[Kevin Wood]

There are tablets called "Bat-aid" that can be dropped into the cells - if you can get at them on a maintenance free battery. If it's already giving problems I'd say the best course of action is to change it though. It's unlikely that you'd do anything more than to prolong the moment when it lets you down - when you're least expecting it.

Kevin

[Vamps]

Thanks, was thinking that. Car has been stood since November and having given it 24hrs charge it was still flat, jumped it with a power pack but battery still flat after being left ticking over for ages and a quick run around the block.

[Entwood]

Have a read here .. it might be salvageable ... but I have my doubts ..

its probably full of sulfation

In fact 80% of all battery failure is related to sulfation build-up. This build up occurs when the sulfur molecules in the electrolyte (battery acid) become so deeply discharged that they begin to coat the battery's lead plates. Before long the plates become so coated that the battery dies. The causes of sulfation are numerous.

http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfation

[Kevin Wood]

Thanks, was thinking that. Car has been stood since November and having given it 24hrs charge it was still flat, jumped it with a power pack but battery still flat after being left ticking over for ages and a quick run around the block.

Sounds like you might as well get a new one, TBH. The one thing that'll kill a battery is to leave it discharged long-term.

Kevin

[TheBoy]

If you have access to TC, buy a new one from dealer

[zirk]

Ive managed to salvage quiet a few 'so called dead' Battery's.

Trickle charge them for about 2 weeks (2 to 3 amps) then leave them in the cold for a couple of day's before testing them.

Ive supprised myself how many come back to life!.

[Kevin Wood]

You can also use a battery conditioner. A good one will charge the battery but will also discharge it with regular spikes of high current but short duration, and also leave it to rest for periods in between. It's long periods of charging or resting with no discharge that doesn't do them much good, so a regular pulse of current, even if only for a millisecond or so, will keep them in good condition without discharging them too fast.

Kevin

[Bandit127]

There are two ways to flatten a battery in my experience. One is with high current for a short time (starter motor, lights left on). This will leave the battery with 11(ish) volts but unable to supply current.

The other way is with a low current (milliamps) draw over weeks or months. This is when significant sulfation happens. Unfortunately alarms are ideal for this purpose. I haven't been able to bring back a battery that had less than 10.5V showing. This sounds like your battery IMO.

I dont know what happens with a completely disconnected battery but I have never had a problem recharging one after extended periods.

Impractical maybe, but a trickle charger solves the alarm problem.

[dbug]

Battery for 2.5V6 on TC around £40. - just bought one.
2 Lit one may be cheaper

[dbug]

For 2.0/2.2Lit - 55 amp/hr  -  Vx Part Nş19003129 - TC price £36.35  

[davlad22]

I'd be tempted to get a fatter one for the little more it costs. The omega is a big car with losts of electrical gizmos. 65 or 75ah only around £55-60. Cheap even without trade card.

[Vamps]

All sorted thanks.