P38A Battery Reconditioning.

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DanClarke

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The stealer had to change the battery for what he assured me was a brand new one at the time of sale a year and a bit ago (and of course I believe every word that dripped from his silver tongue).

While I know short trips are often the death of even decent batteries as they never ever get fully recharged. I am a bit disappointed with the rapidity of the Voltage decay.
I have the Jog unit in place to eradicate the drain from the RF receiver and BeCM wake-ups, and a Solar panel wired up to trickle-charge. Still the voltage drops over about 4 days from >12.7 to <12.4.
Of course, there could be something else waking the BeCM or otherwise draining the battery.
Anyway, my question at this time (if a more knowledgeable and kind person could please help) is:
My Ctek charger has a "reconditioning" program to de-sulphate the plates but how often should one run this program? If run too frequently does it harm the battery?
 
I think the charger for my motorbike has a similar program which charges and partially discharges over time, unlike a normal trickle charger which just keeps putting charge in to the battery.
I've never had any issues leaving it connected for months on end over winter and my battery is still the original after 5 years, with no signs of losing its charge holding ability.
 
I think the charger for my motorbike has a similar program which charges and partially discharges over time, unlike a normal trickle charger which just keeps putting charge in to the battery.
I've never had any issues leaving it connected for months on end over winter and my battery is still the original after 5 years, with no signs of losing its charge holding ability.
Ta!, I suspect I can/could do the same with this one, I just need to find a LONG connector.
 
The stealer had to change the battery for what he assured me was a brand new one at the time of sale a year and a bit ago (and of course I believe every word that dripped from his silver tongue).

While I know short trips are often the death of even decent batteries as they never ever get fully recharged. I am a bit disappointed with the rapidity of the Voltage decay.
I have the Jog unit in place to eradicate the drain from the RF receiver and BeCM wake-ups, and a Solar panel wired up to trickle-charge. Still the voltage drops over about 4 days from >12.7 to <12.4.
Of course, there could be something else waking the BeCM or otherwise draining the battery.
Anyway, my question at this time (if a more knowledgeable and kind person could please help) is:
My Ctek charger has a "reconditioning" program to de-sulphate the plates but how often should one run this program? If run too frequently does it harm the battery?
That drop is not to far from normal. If it stabilises at 12.4 over the next week then I would say it's OK and there is no abnormal drain.
What wattage is your solar panel?
Lead calcium batteries do not seem to respond well to de-sulphation but they deteriorate very quickly if not kept well charged.
 
That drop is not to far from normal. If it stabilises at 12.4 over the next week then I would say it's OK and there is no abnormal drain.
What wattage is your solar panel?
Lead calcium batteries do not seem to respond well to de-sulphation but they deteriorate very quickly if not kept well charged.
Thanks for this Keith,
I bought an Aldi "Car & Caravan" Solar charging panel. I think the Panel is 5W so it ought to be able to keep up with the background processes (clock, Jog-unit etc.).
Maybe I am just being paranoid having had the last Rangie often just give me a "Click" on turning the key because it just went flat over time. This one has NOT failed to start but I had expected the Solar panel to keep it in the safe zone all the time.
 
It turned out a little battery powered weather station was waking my BECM and causing a drain.

once the station was removed the can could sit for upto a month without issue.

That was until the door lock blew up ;)
 
Thanks for this Keith,
I bought an Aldi "Car & Caravan" Solar charging panel. I think the Panel is 5W so it ought to be able to keep up with the background processes (clock, Jog-unit etc.).
Maybe I am just being paranoid having had the last Rangie often just give me a "Click" on turning the key because it just went flat over time. This one has NOT failed to start but I had expected the Solar panel to keep it in the safe zone all the time.
A 5 watt panel is unlikely to keep pace with the 30ma drain from the BECM, on a dull UK winter day you will be lucky to see much more than 10 to 20 ma for a maximum of 6 hours out of the 24. May manage in summer though.
I use a 20 watt panel with a charge controller.
 
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