What is everyone's stock battery's resting voltage?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 03-17-2012
Posts: 1,042
From: Bay Area, CA
What is everyone's stock battery's resting voltage?
It's at 12.3 for me. Charged with a BMW trickle charger for about an hour. Was charging at 14.4
After it was done, it's resting at 12.8
I opened the doors and it's at 12.4 now.
Is this normal?
Battery has gone dead a couple times.
It will start at 11.8v
After it was done, it's resting at 12.8
I opened the doors and it's at 12.4 now.
Is this normal?
Battery has gone dead a couple times.
It will start at 11.8v
Platinum Member
Joined: 05-09-2006
Posts: 6,805
From: "Upland" Mesa, Arizona
Just a brief note......
I trickle charger is NOT for charging a battery. It is for MAINTAINING an already charged battery.
Get yourself a reasonable multi-stage, digital and microchip operated, charger. They are not expensive, if you look around.
My Vette "rests" 5-6 days a week in general. It sits on a multi stage digital charger (sometimes on a trickle charger......1 1/2 amp, after used heavily) 5 Year old OEM battery still shows 13.1 volts (I should mention when on the multistage charger, it "floats" at 13.6 volts). The 13.1 is after disconnecting from the charger, opening and starting the car, backing out of the ramp, and positioning in the drive for a wash.
The HHR, a more frequent used vehicle, is reading 12.9 volts and has been sitting for 4 days. It is a 7 year old OEM battery.
I trickle charger is NOT for charging a battery. It is for MAINTAINING an already charged battery.
Get yourself a reasonable multi-stage, digital and microchip operated, charger. They are not expensive, if you look around.
My Vette "rests" 5-6 days a week in general. It sits on a multi stage digital charger (sometimes on a trickle charger......1 1/2 amp, after used heavily) 5 Year old OEM battery still shows 13.1 volts (I should mention when on the multistage charger, it "floats" at 13.6 volts). The 13.1 is after disconnecting from the charger, opening and starting the car, backing out of the ramp, and positioning in the drive for a wash.
The HHR, a more frequent used vehicle, is reading 12.9 volts and has been sitting for 4 days. It is a 7 year old OEM battery.
Platinum Member
Joined: 01-09-2007
Posts: 16,081
From: SE USA
I only use 'smart chargers' aka battery tenders.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 03-17-2012
Posts: 1,042
From: Bay Area, CA
My interior lights are all SMD LED's so there is only .1 draw when I open the doors. And I honestly think that's something to do with the internal regulator that turns stuff on when you turn the key a little bit or open the door.
Senior Member
Joined: 04-21-2013
Posts: 290
From: No Where
12.5 at rest/ 14.4 running .... That is completely normal........ Drops to 11.3 when it is cranking ....
It is a voltage meter/usb charger that plugs into your cig lighter location ....... It is a Stinger product, no I do not have one , but it is on my to do list . Saw one , liked it and now want one .
Greg
http://www.ebay.com/itm/400284420272...84.m1423.l2649
It is a voltage meter/usb charger that plugs into your cig lighter location ....... It is a Stinger product, no I do not have one , but it is on my to do list . Saw one , liked it and now want one .
Greg
http://www.ebay.com/itm/400284420272...84.m1423.l2649
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 03-17-2012
Posts: 1,042
From: Bay Area, CA
12.5 at rest/ 14.4 running .... That is completely normal........ Drops to 11.3 when it is cranking ....
It is a voltage meter/usb charger that plugs into your cig lighter location ....... It is a Stinger product, no I do not have one , but it is on my to do list . Saw one , liked it and now want one .
Greg
http://www.ebay.com/itm/400284420272...84.m1423.l2649
It is a voltage meter/usb charger that plugs into your cig lighter location ....... It is a Stinger product, no I do not have one , but it is on my to do list . Saw one , liked it and now want one .
Greg
http://www.ebay.com/itm/400284420272...84.m1423.l2649
These are more accurate and have a faster response rate.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Green-0-28-Digital-Display-Car-Motorcycle-Voltmeter-LED-Voltage-Meter-0-200-DC-/390622469531?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5af2e9dd9b&vxp=mtr
This one is 300ms (3 readings a second), is about 1/8 the size of those huge stinger meters, and about 10 times cheaper, or 1/10th ($2)
I've got 5 of these. Still paid less than one single stinger meter. Over priced garbage. They don't mention the refresh rate, or accuracy.
And here is a direct email from stinger. (why people even use stinger is beyond my reasoning)
Graham,
We apologize for the delay in response to your email. *The Stinger volt meters have an adjustment to allow you to fine tune the voltage using a volt meter. *I do not have information pertaining to the refresh rate or the exact accuracy of the voltage reading at this time due to our Stinger product engineer being on vacation at this time. *The meters will read LOW below 11 volts and HIGH above 14 volts. *It was designed to be used as a basic guide for car stereo applications, so that large stereo systems can be monitored for battery drain issues allowing someone to know when they would need to power down their system to charge their battery, or help someone determine if they may need additional batteries or charging system upgrades. *By your questions, it sounds like you may be looking to use the meter for something that may require a more precise type of gauge.
Rick Costello
Technical Support
We apologize for the delay in response to your email. *The Stinger volt meters have an adjustment to allow you to fine tune the voltage using a volt meter. *I do not have information pertaining to the refresh rate or the exact accuracy of the voltage reading at this time due to our Stinger product engineer being on vacation at this time. *The meters will read LOW below 11 volts and HIGH above 14 volts. *It was designed to be used as a basic guide for car stereo applications, so that large stereo systems can be monitored for battery drain issues allowing someone to know when they would need to power down their system to charge their battery, or help someone determine if they may need additional batteries or charging system upgrades. *By your questions, it sounds like you may be looking to use the meter for something that may require a more precise type of gauge.
Rick Costello
Technical Support