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Old 03-21-2012, 12:38 AM
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JHZR2 JHZR2 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeremy5848 View Post
True, if the car is driven every week or more often. The problem comes when the car isn't driven for weeks or more, due to vacation, illness, or whatever. The slow constant drain is the worst thing that can happen to a battery. In that case, a trickle charger is an invaluable aid.

Jeremy

Absolutely. But we have to separate a few different phenomena.

The battery has its own self discharge rate where it naturally discharges.

The car has its own parasitic loads, ranging from small ones like the clock, to big ones that some electronics or a bad alternator diode can provide.

Then third there is the loss from any small load like a voltmeter.

I know I can keep my digital voltmeter in parallel with the battery I deck itself and it will not meaningfully effect battery charge.
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