I left my phone charger in the socket actually, so that might be the reason… hmm…
But there was no light indicating that it was drawing any power? Well, I’ll just learn to pull the plug out next time.
Looks like a regular no maintenance lead acid battery to me, although the website has little technical info. There is a picture that looks like a lead acid battery.
Also, why did you replace the battery? Did your mechanic recommend it? A fairly new battery can usually handle being completely discharged, older batteries might give up the ghost.
Concur on all who say to replace the battery regardless. I learned the long, hard way that any battery over about two years old that goes flat by itself, or even is run dead flat by leaving a light or accessory on, is no longer reliable. You can recharge it, but it’s “broken” and certain to let you down again and again. Replace it and move on.
It’s got to be the cellphone charger. I live in Chicago and only really drive on weekends - I leave my car sitting from Sunday to Saturday morning practically every week, and haven’t run into any issues.
Most cars should be able to sit for a month without noticeable battery discharge. Two weeks, certainly. A week, absolutely.
I have a summer car that sometimes sits for the better part of five months without being started. I have yet to have it fail to start right up, as long as I pump the throttle and give it a little shot of starting fluid - but the battery is only a bit down even after that long.
I’m now puzzled. Why would a cell phone charger draw any juice from the battery if the cell phone is not attached to it? Are you suggesting that the little LED that shows it’s plugged in is enough to discharge a 12 v battery in 5 days?
A normally operating cell phone charger would not. However I have seen cheap cell phone chargers that draw massive amounts of current at all times. It has gotten to the point that if a customer comes in with a blown fuse for the power socket we ask if they bought their charger at a swap meet or car wash. I have seen 20A draws on these cheap knock offs.
[QUOTE=Rick;16021715 It has gotten to the point that if a customer comes in with a blown fuse for the power socket we ask if they bought their charger at a swap meet or car wash. I have seen 20A draws on these cheap knock offs.[/QUOTE]
Ah ha!!! Well that solves that mystery. My wife and I have had our cigarette lighter fuse blown in each car within a couple weeks of each other. Actually, three times all together. It never occurred to me that the problem might be the cheap eBay cell phone charger (which now just seems absurdly obvious.
Glad I could help solve that mystery.
those are hand warmers.
depends on the battery. A lithium-ion would take a hit. A lead acid battery would not.
I had an inverter take out the power plug circuit once. It was at 3 am on a highway. The engine management computer was on the same circuit. fortunately the dash lights were on the same circuit so I knew it was a fuse when the engine died. 15 minutes with a flashlight and some rearranging of fuses and I was back on the road. It’s now marked as “evil” with a fuse marked “spare” next to it.
I vacation in the American Southwest (Arizona) and these Optima batteries are very popular there and are usually called ‘dry cells’. Although from their website’s description they’re just sealed lead-acid. They’re popular in off-road vehicles because they (supposedly) can be mounted in any position (sideways, even upside down!)