Miata Mailing List: March 1999, Message #153

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Werner Cassel wrote:
> 
> Just a data point:
> When the Panasonic battery in our red 91A was flat, I tried a trickle charger
> with 0.4 A to recharge it. It would not accept any charge, the charger acted as
> if no battery was connected to it..
> I then used a normal (6A IIRC) charger for an hour or so to kick it a little, and
> after that it accepted the very slow charge.

Apparently a healthy battery will accept a trickle charge.  I have
taken extended trips, leaving my Miata in the garage for as long as a
month.  In one case I put my small cheap Sears charger on the battery
with a 47 ohm resistor in series with the positive lead, limiting
charge current to a theoretical maximum of about 250 ma (13.5 volts
divided by 47 ohms = 287ma), but actual current was much lower because
the battery was already at 12 volts or more (1.5 volts divided by 47
ohms = 32ma).  In another case I connected the charger leads directly
to the battery terminals, but connected the charger power cord to one
of those lamp timers you use to turn your lights on and off while
away.  The timer was set to charge about one hour per day.  Both
systems worked fine, and in every case I came home to a frisky
battery.

--
Bill Gusky and Petunia
Red '91, license "MOMENTS"
http://www.totcon.com/users/moments
DeLand, Florida
"Too soon oldt, und too late schmart!"