Left Lights On By Mistake
 

After a run, I parked my Victoria in the driveway to let it cool off, but I forgot to turn the low beam halogen headlights off. The lights were on for several hours and the battery would not run the starter.



For your info, I found that using a charging rate of 12 Amps for 2 hours was enough to rejuvenate the 12V battery to start the car. However, the battery needs more charging to reach its full capacity.

Re: Left Lights On By Mistake
 

Aren't you glad they came with a crank.......

Re: Left Lights On By Mistake
 

I have these remote battery posts that make it easy to jumpstart or attach a battery tender.

Re: Left Lights On By Mistake
 

If you get your friends to hand push the car at about 25 miles per hour, it will start in high gear.

OK, joke over. Now on to some serious stuff. Leaving the battery discharged or partially discharged will cause the usual amorphous lead sulfate to crystalize. The crystalized form cannot be used by the battery and the battery capacity is deminished. A desulfating battery maintainer will change the crystalized sulfate back to the amorphous form that can then be used by the battery. It will restore the battery capacity. The desulfating battery maintainer works by sending high frequency pulses through the battery.

Re: Left Lights On By Mistake
 

Another good reason to change over to LED headlights :)

Re: Left Lights On By Mistake
 

I left the ignition switch on and the battery sat totally dead for a while,
Because I have a diode cutout anything the generator made went into the electric system, could get 4 volts hand cranking, — vigorously hand cranking, it started, drove 45 minutes to car show, the battery started the car by the time I arrived at the show.
Everything stock in electrical system except for diode cutout.
I do run a 14 amp charge rate because of a lot of night driving and halogen headlights,

Re: Left Lights On By Mistake
 

Actually if the car has been running that day, push start (BY A COUPLE GUYS) and drop the clutch with the key on in 2nd or 3rd gear does the trick easily, and really quick. I have actually done this catching a down hill grade by myself, and jump in to hit the gear and drop the clutch.

Re: Left Lights On By Mistake
 

Where did you get the posts to make this setup?

Re: Left Lights On By Mistake
 

You can find them on amazon.A lot of modern cars have them.I had them on a car that had the battery mounted down under the head light.I think it was a PT Cruiser.

Re: Left Lights On By Mistake
 

Battery Tenders come with 2 options to connect them. The first is clips and the other has ring terminals that you can install so you can plug it in without removing the floor. My plug comes through the floorboard by the seat and is hidden under the mat when not in use.
Of course it's only good when parked in my garage. If it dies somewhere else I'll be pushing while the wife pops the clutch - in second.

Re: Left Lights On By Mistake
 

12 amps for 2 hours is only 24 amp hours, if you have a 100 amp hour battery it will need at least 12 hours at 12 amps to bring it to near full charge.

Re: Left Lights On By Mistake
 

I am in the habit of flipping the battery cutoff switch in front of the seat to off when I park. It covers up my possible multitude of sins.

Re: Left Lights On By Mistake
 

Katy, you are correct. I still need to charge the battery more. I plan to do this by running the car around town, so the alternator can get the job done.



ModelA29, I have a tool box that blocks hand cranking.

Re: Left Lights On By Mistake
 

Speedway Motors and check out their bracket.

Re: Left Lights On By Mistake
 

Thank you very much. Appreciate it!

Re: Left Lights On By Mistake
 

I installed one of these when I had halogen headlights. Still works with LEDs.

Re: Left Lights On By Mistake
 

An alternator will not deep charge a drained battery. Put it on a slow charger overnight or even 24 hours. Nothing like a slow, deep charge. 2 amp is perfect, preferably NOT a smart charger.