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Originally Posted by puzzler
My old backup car, an E320 wagon, 95..had a low battery and I took it for charging and they tell me its bad..
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What specifically did they say was the failure type? Open cell , shorted cell, weak overall, won't hold a load test?
Quote:
Originally Posted by puzzler
They did that before but I charged it myself and it was fine for months, not bad..
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Fine for months as in the car was running and driving? Or was this just the battery sitting not being used?
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Originally Posted by puzzler
But it died again . . .
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Well apparently something is wrong with the battery or the car. Have you checked the car's charging voltage?
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Originally Posted by puzzler
and now when I installed with it reading 11.5 and yes, low...NOTHING..I did not notice it was REVERSE POLARITY Charged..Holdng 11 volts from negative to positive..
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So the reverse charged battery was connected to the car with + to + ? Did you get a large spark when you connected the battery to the car?
Was your voltage test performed after the battery was sitting for 8 + hours or was this shortly after a charge?
A fully charged lead acid battery that has been sitting for 8 hr will read 12.66 fully charged. I don't know what voltage a reverse charged battery will attain.
Based on your voltage readings, you might have a shorted cell in the battery in addition to the possible reverse charge. I recently tested a battery that had a shorted cell ( an actual short not " it is shorted " some apply to every electrical fault. ) that would crank slightly slow and not die off like a discharged battery would. A shorted cell 12 volt battery results in a 10 volt battery with the same amp capacity as a 12 v battery.
Quote:
Originally Posted by puzzler
I just hope there is no damage to systems from connecting the reverse charged battery. I looked it up and indeed this happens.
Now I must totally discharge it and begin chargign the proper polarity..Taking it slow because its pulling 50 amps and getting pretty warm!!
Just a who knew this was even possible!! And praying I dont need new relays all through the system..
Any comments always much appreciated!
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Did you make sure your test instrument reads proper polarity on a known good battery? Even a flashlight battery would be a good test.