ALFAGTV6.COM

[grega]

lads

just to let you know

i checked the new battery and it has 12.64volts. it's the same battery
the red top gel battery

i did the same amp test with a different multimeter and got these results

car off, nothing on .01Amps
doors open .96Amps


lets see how the battery does in a weeks time


Greg

[grega]

Hey Guys,

Just wanted to give an update.

New battery has been in for 3 weeks. All seems ok now. I let the car sit for a week, and it fires right up. Thanks for all the advice.

I'm going to install a battery maintainer. I was hoping to find a hole in the trunk that i can run wires out of. This way i can connect to the battery charger without opening the trunk. Does the battery box have a vent? Has anyone done such a thing?


Greg A

[MD]

If you intend to use a trickle charger for the car, the simplest thing is to wire up the charger to a cigarette lighter plug and insert it into the lighter socket. No need to go through the trunk. The trunk should be sufficently ventilated for dissipating hydrogen from the battery charging process from the alternator anyway.

Two important things:

1 Get the CORRECT polarity for the plug and socket combo

2 Install a 1-2 amp fuse in the charging line just to be sure you dont start a fire.

Finally be sure you check the battery for electrolyte level from time to time otherwise you will charge it dry and it will die anyway.

[grega]

MD,
That's a good idea. I've even noticed some of the trickle charges have a cigerette lighter adapter. For some reason i hadn't thought of it.

My battery is an optima gel battery so i guess i don't have to worry about it going dry.

thanks
Greg

[MD]

Seems like this simple topic is never gonna end.. but there are a few traps for young players..(turn of phrase)

The "off the shelf" plug in chargers may be incorrectly polarised so check it before plugging it in.
The more recent cigarette lighter plugs tend to be too short to make a proper connection in the older style fitted to the GTV. I have had to modify the plug on my plug in GPS.

Answer>fit a plug and socket from a matching pair.

Gel cells actually prefer a gentle charge so that set up should go well. I once got 4.5 years service out of one.

[grega]

i will make sure to get a male end that makes good contact. Thanks for the tip.
is 4.5 years a long time for a gel cell battery? I hope not!

greg a

[MD]

That's about twice as long as they usually last..

[grega]

wow,

I had no idea. i i had known i wouldn't of spent all that money on one. twice as much for half the life span? Oh well no point in crying over spilt milk.

greg a