Car Alternator

Trust|Nobody said:
My battery is only a week old, but it's voltage is now only 3V.
Will the charger be able to bring it back up to 12 V?

I'm trying to get Outsurance Roadside Assistance to tow my vehicle. Do they also offer a free car rental? My car will be out of action for some time.
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Hopefully it will but 3v is potentially in irreparable damage region but you'll only know that once you try charge it back up. Sometimes they bounce back up, probably seeing how new it is it you may be lucky.

From my experience Outsurance Roadside Assistance will only tow your vehicle if its stuck out on the road, if they know that it's at your residential address they won't tow it.
Their free towing is to get your vehicle home or a service provider, whichever is closest.

If you have rental cover that will only become active if you had an accident.

I'd buy or borrow a battery charger, charge the battery and then take it to the auto electrician, a tow will cost many thousand.

BEWARE - remove the battery from the vehicle and unscrew the cell caps and only then charge it and in an open space. If that's not possible only charge the battery at low current, because a battery so discharged will draw max current and create huge amounts of explosive gas and potentially explode or split its housing leaking acid everywhere. Don't take that warning lightly.
 
Trust|Nobody said:
My battery is only a week old, but it's voltage is now only 3V.
Will the charger be able to bring it back up to 12 V?

I'm trying to get Outsurance Roadside Assistance to tow my vehicle. Do they also offer a free car rental? My car will be out of action for some time.
Click to expand...

So you finally got hold of a multimeter? :) A good chance that the battery is poked, even if it wasn't before -- 3v is too deep a cycle for a normal car battery.

I cannot afford Outsurance, but my cheapy insurance (Auto & General) has a roadside assistance that visit you even at your own home to charge your battery -- how else will you get the vehicle to a competent auto electrician?
 
airborne said:
Hopefully it will but 3v is potentially in irreparable damage region but you'll only know that once you try charge it back up. Sometimes they bounce back up, probably seeing how new it is it you may be lucky.

From my experience Outsurance Roadside Assistance will only tow your vehicle if its stuck out on the road, if they know that it's at your residential address they won't tow it.
Their free towing is to get your vehicle home or a service provider, whichever is closest.

If you have rental cover that will only become active if you had an accident.

I'd buy or borrow a battery charger, charge the battery and then take it to the auto electrician, a tow will cost many thousand.

BEWARE - remove the battery from the vehicle and unscrew the cell caps and only then charge it and in an open space. If that's not possible only charge the battery at low current, because a battery so discharged will draw max current and create huge amounts of explosive gas and potentially explode or split its housing leaking acid everywhere. Don't take that warning lightly.
Click to expand...

Hydrogen can be a bit of a bitch, especially from the spark when removing the charger's clamps. ;)

[video=youtube;jH-mhZLuGRk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH-mhZLuGRk[/video]
 
airborne said:
BEWARE - remove the battery from the vehicle and unscrew the cell caps and only then charge it and in an open space. If that's not possible only charge the battery at low current, because a battery so discharged will draw max current and create huge amounts of explosive gas and potentially explode or split its housing leaking acid everywhere. Don't take that warning lightly.
Click to expand...

So the open cell caps will let the hydrogen gas escape?
 
Trust|Nobody said:
Will this one be suitable?

https://www.midas.co.za/pebble.asp?relid=1729&t=75
Click to expand...

My advice, take the money, top it up and go buy the cheapest battery you can find, still rolling with an Ecco Calcium something battery I bought from a Chinese shop, over 3 years old now. While a charger is a nice thing to have I very much doubt it will bring you battery back to life, It could if you are lucky but there is a chance that it can't then you will still have to buy a battery after spending money on a charger.
 
thechamp said:
My advice, take the money, top it up and go buy the cheapest battery you can find, still rolling with an Ecco Calcium something battery I bought from a Chinese shop, over 3 years old now. While a charger is a nice thing to have I very much doubt it will bring you battery back to life, It could if you are lucky but there is a chance that it can't then you will still have to buy a battery after spending money on a charger.
Click to expand...

The battery will continue dying until the alternator is repaired.
At least with a charger I can recharge the battery.
This way I can drive my car around short distances.

I tried to get a rental but they want credit cards and R11k deposits. This prohibited me from getting a rental.
 
Trust|Nobody said:
The battery will continue dying until the alternator is repaired.
At least with a charger I can recharge the battery.
This way I can drive my car around short distances.

I tried to get a rental but they want credit cards and R11k deposits. This prohibited me from getting a rental.
Click to expand...

Is the alternator in for repair now?
 
thechamp said:
Is the alternator in for repair now?
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I'm still trying to find an electrician to do it.
The Bosch is with me at home.
The Midas alternator is fitted in my car which is still stuck at my office parking lot.

I'm going to repair and test the Bosch alternator.
I have it here with me, how can I DIY test it?
 
Trust|Nobody said:
Will this one be suitable?

https://www.midas.co.za/pebble.asp?relid=1729&t=75
Click to expand...
This is a very good charger, for such a deeply discharged battery a 4amp charger maynot be enough to wake it up properly :

https://www.midas.co.za/pebble.asp?relid=1739&t=75
Trust|Nobody said:
So the open cell caps will let the hydrogen gas escape?
Click to expand...
Yes, so the gas can escape without building up pressure inside the battery.

Even if you totally flatten a battery they often perk up again after a good charge, apparently you can flatten a battery twice before the battery gets properly hammered, each time it happens it does reduce the battery's life though.
 
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