Battery Question

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules

Topic author
HPetrino
Posts: 490
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:14 am
First Name: Henry
Last Name: Petrino
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1918 TT
Location: Modesto, CA

Battery Question

Post by HPetrino » Tue Feb 19, 2019 1:00 pm

My TT has been parked and not started for a few months. Everything worked fine when I parked it. I tried to start it this morning and the battery is stone dead. It's a 12V with an alternator, no starter. I just use the battery for starting coil voltage and the lights.

I put my charger on it, made sure the connections were good, and nothing. The meter on the charger should read 6 amps, then diminish as the battery charges. It reads 0. The battery is 4-6 years old, I don't remember. I'm thinking the battery is toast. Can anyone confirm of contradict that assumption?

Thanks in advance for any opinions.


Scott_Conger
Posts: 6431
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:18 am
First Name: Scott
Last Name: Conger
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13, '15, '19, '23
Location: Clark, WY
Board Member Since: 2005

Re: Battery Question

Post by Scott_Conger » Tue Feb 19, 2019 1:10 pm

I would expect it would be toast, at that age. The alternator continuously pulling current didn't help.
Scott Conger

Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny

NH Full Flow Float Valves
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured

User avatar

George N Lake Ozark
Posts: 324
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:15 pm
First Name: George P
Last Name: Clipner
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Late '26 Touring
Location: LakeOzark,Missourah
MTFCI Number: 18665

Re: Battery Question

Post by George N Lake Ozark » Tue Feb 19, 2019 1:31 pm

Should be a date on the side of the battery. Is your alternator switched ???


Topic author
HPetrino
Posts: 490
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:14 am
First Name: Henry
Last Name: Petrino
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1918 TT
Location: Modesto, CA

Re: Battery Question

Post by HPetrino » Tue Feb 19, 2019 2:16 pm

Well, this whole thing turns out to fall in the category of, "I was only wrong once in my life, and that was one time I thought I was wrong and it turned out I wasn't."

I decided to try starting it on mag. I had believed the battery was dead because when I turned on the turn signal (it has electric turn signals) nothing happened. Intending to switch the ignition switch to MAG out of habit I turned it to BATT instead. BUZZZZ. What the heck? Darn thing started right up.

The reason the charger was not showing any amps is because the battery has a full charge, not because it's dead. So now I need to figure out what's wrong with the turn signals.....

Dang. Sometimes I think old age is punishment for past sins.


Topic author
HPetrino
Posts: 490
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:14 am
First Name: Henry
Last Name: Petrino
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1918 TT
Location: Modesto, CA

Re: Battery Question

Post by HPetrino » Tue Feb 19, 2019 2:17 pm

Thank you for your replies. Sorry to have wasted your time.


Scott_Conger
Posts: 6431
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:18 am
First Name: Scott
Last Name: Conger
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13, '15, '19, '23
Location: Clark, WY
Board Member Since: 2005

Re: Battery Question

Post by Scott_Conger » Tue Feb 19, 2019 2:25 pm

It's always something...
Scott Conger

Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny

NH Full Flow Float Valves
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured


tonny
Posts: 17
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2019 3:05 pm
First Name: Anthony
Last Name: Hendrikx
Location: Netherlands

Re: Battery Question

Post by tonny » Tue Feb 19, 2019 2:50 pm

easy fix

User avatar

Marv K
Posts: 182
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:44 pm
First Name: Marv
Last Name: Konrad
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '26 TT Steel Cab ("ToyBox Twoo"), '25 Coupe ("Cranky")
Location: Green Bay area
Board Member Since: 2010

Re: Battery Question

Post by Marv K » Tue Feb 19, 2019 7:34 pm

-Henry-
It's at those "Duh-Oh!" moments that we can be thankful we're still alive!
"Let's Figgur it owt!" Just fix it (right), and make it work.....
Aah-OO-Gah! (and), "Happy T-ing!"


JEC
Posts: 132
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:34 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Cox
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Runabout, 1925 Pickup
Location: Tucson, Arizona

Re: Battery Question

Post by JEC » Tue Feb 19, 2019 8:10 pm

Not relevant to your problem but my battery tender(charger) requires some voltage present in the battery to function.


T&a2015
Posts: 49
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2019 8:53 am
First Name: John
Last Name: Lemon
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Roadster, 1915 Touring, 1919 Roadster, 1922 Touring, 1924 TT Martin-Perry cab, 1926 Touring, 1926 Fordor Sedan, 1927 TT C-Cab
Location: Greenville, WI
MTFCA Number: 31714
Contact:

Re: Battery Question

Post by T&a2015 » Thu Feb 21, 2019 12:43 pm

Like John said, "battery requires some voltage" for the Tender to work properly. I must have atleast 2 dozen Battery Tenders operating w/some being diesel engines which takes alotta juice to turn over, and everyone worked perfectly. We have had record snowfall up here in WI this winter and near record cold this season (40-50-60 degree below zero chill factor) as Marv can verify. Those Battery Tenders work, best $40.00 a piece I've ever spent !!

Another "tid-bit" of advise, don't buy cheap grade batteries. Look for lead cell batteries, you'll know them when you go to pick them up !! Interstate, Excide are good brands. Optima is top of the line but very pricey.

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic