Ford Escort 1.8 TD - Battery has me flummoxed - one for HTH possibly

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Wed 25 May 2011 17:50
Ford Escort 1.8 TD - Battery has me flummoxed - one for HTH possibly - Englishbullterrier

Really a bit gobsmacked is all.

I have an 18 month old Varta Blue E11, a superb battery that has now seen me through two winters down to -30c here in Latvia and is still very strong indeed.

What I can't understand, this being a standard 6 x lead acid cell accumulator, is how it is providing the voltage that it is.

I use a 3 stage charger (in the Summer the battery is off the car as I have an older one that is OK for Summer). It boost charges at about 14.10v and when fully charged, backs off to about 13.87 for a maintenance charge.

Now, the strange thing is, when off charge and disconnected (floating), the voltage (fully charged on a newish battery) should be about 12.80v.

Using an expensive and calibrated Fluke DVM, after 3 days floating, it is showing 13.02v !!! and shows no sign of going down to "normal" float voltage at all.

Anyone any thoughts ?.......ebt

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Wed 25 May 2011 19:04
Ford Escort 1.8 TD - Battery has me flummoxed - one for HTH possibly - 659FBE

A good quality battery well maintained.

Lead acid batteries are never as good again if they are allowed to become flat - yours hasn't. It will probably show an o/c voltage of under 13V after a longer period of rest.

659.

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Wed 25 May 2011 21:53
Ford Escort 1.8 TD - Battery has me flummoxed - one for HTH possibly - Peter.N.

Put a load on it for a little while, say an indicator or stoplight bulb, it will probably then drop down to below 13.0v. it sounds as though you just have a very leak free (electrically) battery.

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Thu 26 May 2011 11:14
Ford Escort 1.8 TD - Battery has me flummoxed - one for HTH possibly - Englishbullterrier

Put a load on it for a little while, say an indicator or stoplight bulb, it will probably then drop down to below 13.0v. it sounds as though you just have a very leak free (electrically) battery.

Hi Peter, yes, I'd already done that. The voltage obviously dropped down a little (12.77) and surprisingly enough, started to creep back up again when I disconnected it.

Still, I'm very pleased with the battery. Will certainly consider replacing like for like when needs be....ebt

Edited by Englishbullterrier on 26/05/2011 at 11:16

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Thu 26 May 2011 15:27
Ford Escort 1.8 TD - Battery has me flummoxed - one for HTH possibly - Collos25
Unless its a calibrate Fluke then it could be as much as .5 volt out either way- the readings you are getting are normal for a lead acid battery.
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Thu 26 May 2011 15:30
Ford Escort 1.8 TD - Battery has me flummoxed - one for HTH possibly - Peter.N.

Certainly sounds as though have an exceptionally good battery then, I am sure a Fluke meter isn't going to be inaccurate (although you never know) I have used one for TV servicing for many years. I bought a 100ah Varta battery for a BMW 5 series diesel I had, very expensive but very good - unfortunately I sold the car soon afterwards.

Peter

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