Battery Keeps Dying, Voltage not as high as it should be?

[LinxuS 10+ year member]

Well my battery died for the forth time in the past year yesterday, after my truck had been sitting for only about a week or a week and a half. I have an optima Yellowtop, and I bought a used Iraggi alternator on here.

So I got it jump started, and took it to autozone to run their test on the alternators. He said it was fine, and was putting out about 230amps @ 2000 rpm (which is about what its rated at). Also said the battery was most likely alright, just didn't have much of a charge.

Well with running an aftermarket alternator, shouldn't I be expecting to see above 13.7-13.8 volts, at either 2000 rpm or even idle? And it drops down to about 13.3-13.4 when the lights are on. This is all with the stereo completely off. The Big 3 was done too.

Anyone have any ideas? Is the battery just not able to have a higher charge? I'm lost here...

And any ideas why the battery dies after a couple weeks of sitting?

Here's my truck if anyone wants a visual: http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211536&highlight=ford+ranger

Click to read more...

 

[eroc5150]

Get a new battery, those optimas do not recover well after kill'n em a few times. Try kinetik the seem be be a little tougher with those situations. I dont care what kinda battery you have if you drop them way below 12v they just dont come back. Also get a auto battery trickle charger when you are letting your vehicle sit fo a couple weeks. They turn on and off when needed, very small design.They only charge at about .5 amp.

 

[LinxuS 10+ year member]

Well the first time my battery died was when my truck sat for 5 weeks over christmas break so I guess thats what ruined it maybe?

So low voltage = battery for sure? Was hoping I wouldn't have to buy a new one

 

[denali804 10+ year member]

Charge your battery up all the way on a charger and then see what type of output voltage you get. Also take your voltage reading at the rear of the alternator. If your battery is not topped off then your voltage will be lower until battery is to capacity. Alternators are not battery chargers and they are meant to maintain a charged battery. Charge first with charger.

 

[shizzzon 10+ year member]

if u ever let that alt charge that batt at anytime when you got jumped then that's probably what has partially killed your battery.

No battery is gonna want over 200A of current charging it constantly. It will heat up, expand and shorten it's life cycle or just start killin cells.

 

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

pull the battery from the car ...black and decker has a auto step charget that will charge from 2 to 12.2 amps, and its around 20 bucks.

let that charge it up, and see where it goes from there.

 

[LinxuS 10+ year member]

So I basically screwed myself over by charging it back up on the alt instead of putting it on a battery charger?

Hopefully its not too late to save it, don't feel like forking out a couple hundred for a new battery. I'll see if I can pick up a batt charger tomorrow

 

[iamamp3pimp 5,000+ posts]

i dont think that you messed it up.

alt isnt gonna send 200 amps to the battery ever unless the nattery is shorted out.

 

[audioatg 10+ year member]

Have you checked to see if you have a battery draw. Possible reason why your battery is going dead from sitting.... Qustion is your Alt internally regulated or external (Has a blue box with it)

 

[denali804 10+ year member]

if u ever let that alt charge that batt at anytime when you got jumped then that's probably what has partially killed your battery.
No battery is gonna want over 200A of current charging it constantly. It will heat up, expand and shorten it's life cycle or just start killin cells.

Sorry, but this is not true. The alternator delivers on demand. A 300 amp alternator only delivers when load demands that much current. The thing is not to use your alternator as a charger. (This will cause problems with alternator). Sorry shizzzon not trying to be an *** but just would like op to get accurate information.

 

[LinxuS 10+ year member]

pull the battery from the car ...black and decker has a auto step charget that will charge from 2 to 12.2 amps, and its around 20 bucks.
let that charge it up, and see where it goes from there.

Would something like this work?

http://www.blackanddecker.com/ProductGuide/Product-Details.aspx?ProductID=15575

EDIT: lol @ post numbers.. total posts 1,111 in post number 11 in this thread

 

[GMCJimmyslt2000 10+ year member]

wow ppl are dumb.....Optima Yellow Tops are deep cycle batts. They are ment to be drainded and recharged and can do this many many times before u kill the batt. Having the alt charge the batt is the same thing as buying a batt charger. Ur just gonna have to run ur car for a while( not good for gas) but it will charge the batt full agian.

 

[LinxuS 10+ year member]

I'm open for more input now that everyones negating each other haha

I did buy a charger today, and threw it on there. It's running at 14.1 - 14.3 volts at the battery, and at the amp in the back, but the deck shows it at 13.8v with the lights off and 13.4ish with the lights on.

Not sure what's going on here, maybe a bad ground for the head unit?

 

[teen 10+ year member]

if this is the only battery your running, you should have gone with a red top. the red tops charge much faster than the yellow tops and are much more practical for a DD (im assuming this is a daily driver). yellows are better used as a system battery and use a few of them if your system needs a lot of power and plays for long periods of time with the car shut off.

 

[LinxuS 10+ year member]

Yes its my main and only battery, but i don't usually play my system with the truck off