Battery Life gauge

[Footballer]

I'm thinking of installing a gauge that would indicate the battery life. I had one die on my recently when least expected (really, when do one expects so?).

Then I juiced my friend's TT quite a bit thinking it was his battery that died and not the actual timing belt (why were his lights not turning but then on after my juicing?). This led to draining my battery and don't want winter to come and be stuck dead.

Would it be possible to install one? I think I can...if I knew where to find a gauge:p

Feedback?

[typhoonk]

canadian tire has a cheap one. Princess auto sometimes

you can always go to custom car shops to ask


When I bought a cheap multimeter kit, it came with a plug in cig battery/alternator tester. I use that when I am driving around, to tell me when I have too much stuff turned on, or when it's time to give my battery an overnight charge (I don't usually drive more than 30min at a time).

[Footballer]

i see. thanks. i just need to check the life of it as i'm driving. i'm usually driving around 2hrs every day (to and from work) and the weekends a little more (soccer games, gf, etc).

i'm thinking of connecting the gauge to the actual battery instead of the cig plug. i already have a cig plug extension to plug in my cell charger, gps, and mp3. apparently the stock fog lights for the P5 drain the battery too (from previous exp).

i'll look at cnd tire, and if i pass by a custom shop, i'll ask as well.

btw, how do u charge it overnight? i was told that it automatically recharges as u drive at around 2-3k rpms.

[typhoonk]

As long as your alternator is charging your battery at 13.6 volts or higher you are good.

but

if your like me and don't drive long enough, the battery may not get charged fully. This may cause it to drain over time.

so I just make a habit of trickle charging my battery over night or through a work day. Just to make sure it's fully charged. This should help my battery last longer, as fully draining a battery will severly shorten the life of a battery.

[Brian MP5T]

The only way the Battery would need to work when the car is running is if you had every accesory on at once.

Kill Big Un Needed items like..

Rear Defrost
Fan Level 4
Huge ***k Off Stereo
High-Beams
Heated Seats

Normally, you can use the rear defrost and then turn it off, use the fan and then turn it to level 2

etc.


the stock alternator should have no trouble with your electrical load unless it is pooched or on the way out.

[Footballer]

awesome! thanks for the info typhoon and brian. i drive daily for at least 30mins one way and another 30mins back home from work and around 2-5hrs on weekends. that should enough for my alternator to charge the battery.

as for draining it, i use the defrost a bit during night driving from work as it gets the rear get a little foggy, and the highbeams during short segments of the drive.

aside from that, i got my mp3, gps and phone charger plugged into the cig plug. aside from that, not a single other thing. still stock.

[midnitehour]

A voltmeter won't really tell you if the battery is dying or not, a battery can still put out 12.8 V but have no amps to back it up.

as for draining the battery as brian said the alt will keep up with your acc demands, you'll just put a bigger load on the alt when you have the acc's on. Running the defroster while driving will NOT kill your battery.

[Footballer]

thanks a bunch guys. just solved my concern. i won't buy a voltmeter then. it would've looked cool on the dashboard, but don't need to spend carelessly just yet. my maddy is happy at the moment :P


cheers to all!!!