Please double check my thinking here:
Part I:
I have an elderly neighbor who doesn't drive his car much. I've been trying to drive it for him once a week or two for a few months, have gone over it. 2016 Subaru Outback Limited. Nice car.
Today it was in the high '20s overnight and the am, and he was paranoid because his trickle charger broke a few weeks ago. He was scared he'd be stranded. I started it to show him not to worry. Before I started it I checked the Voltage - 11.9V. I was a little surprised. He said this was the 3rd battery in the vehicle; I checked the manu. date and it was 11/8, so it's not old. I drove the car in october several hundred miles to run out the old gas, put in new and some Techron and stabilizer before winter. Battery should have had near a full charge a few weeks ago - but maybe not.
Sitting 2 weeks, unattended, dropped below freezing a few times: 11.9V
Start car, run 15 minutes, charging at 14.4v (but at idle, not full alt. output): 13.0V
Leave interior dome light on 5 minutes to take off surface charge: 12.4V
I'm wondering if this is acceptable; granted I did not fully charge it. I don't know why he's on his 3rd battery - maybe just sitting in the past. I want to make sure there's no parasitic draw going on. It's out of warranty but he has an extended one, so I can take it to get it checked if I need.
My Plan: hook it up to rapid charger for calculated time get to 100%, let it sit overnight and check Voltage again.
Part II:
He had one of those ubiquitous DelTran trickles which failed. I've had reasonable service w/them over the years, but they do fail. Any better mousetrap on the market now, or get another one?
Part I:
I have an elderly neighbor who doesn't drive his car much. I've been trying to drive it for him once a week or two for a few months, have gone over it. 2016 Subaru Outback Limited. Nice car.
Today it was in the high '20s overnight and the am, and he was paranoid because his trickle charger broke a few weeks ago. He was scared he'd be stranded. I started it to show him not to worry. Before I started it I checked the Voltage - 11.9V. I was a little surprised. He said this was the 3rd battery in the vehicle; I checked the manu. date and it was 11/8, so it's not old. I drove the car in october several hundred miles to run out the old gas, put in new and some Techron and stabilizer before winter. Battery should have had near a full charge a few weeks ago - but maybe not.
Sitting 2 weeks, unattended, dropped below freezing a few times: 11.9V
Start car, run 15 minutes, charging at 14.4v (but at idle, not full alt. output): 13.0V
Leave interior dome light on 5 minutes to take off surface charge: 12.4V
I'm wondering if this is acceptable; granted I did not fully charge it. I don't know why he's on his 3rd battery - maybe just sitting in the past. I want to make sure there's no parasitic draw going on. It's out of warranty but he has an extended one, so I can take it to get it checked if I need.
My Plan: hook it up to rapid charger for calculated time get to 100%, let it sit overnight and check Voltage again.
Part II:
He had one of those ubiquitous DelTran trickles which failed. I've had reasonable service w/them over the years, but they do fail. Any better mousetrap on the market now, or get another one?