Bought new battery and find that the clock runs the battery down after about 3 days of not running the car. Should I only connect the battery when the car will be used?

 

That's what I do. There can be other draws on the system too in addition to the clock.

There are battery disconnect switches to make it a bit easier.

 

Seams as if something else is happening if the battery runs down after three days. However I think it is a good idea to have a cutoff switch installed anyway. They have some that attach right to the battery terminal and you just turn it on or off when needed. This way you can disconnect the battery not only when the car will be sitting but also when you need to do maint. and repairs or god forbid an electrical short happens, turning a switch is a lot better than screwing around behind the seat and hoping the unattached cable doesn't move and come into the battery terminal by accident. There was a thread a week or so ago about a guy's car burning up from an electrical fire, that really made me stop and think... Glad I put an entire brand new painless harness in mine.

ltlevil

 

I have had bad luck with the **** type screw cut off switches...they are a pain and don't always work right. Get the knife switch type....works everytime!
Eddie

 

The clock alone isn't enough to do this. A good battery will go months with just the clock. Is there an aftermarket stereo installed? These are huge electrical drains. Also, a short of some kind could be drawing it down in such a short time...

 

Use good judgment-20 bucks is not a lot to spend on piece of mind. Also a marine/hardware store is a good place to look if you don't want to order one.

 

i use a blade type disc switch,, open the blade when the car sits,,seen what a electrical short can do to a building so i installed one on the vette,, you can find them in the j.c. whitney catalog...(a car--had a electrical short at 2 am while parked in the neighborhood garage,, the intense fire melted the steel beams,, car was toast,,a vette would have looked like a fried egg)----my vette was in that garage a week before for 3 days!!!!

 

this is what i use. it has been 5 years now no problem with it and you can unscrew it and take it with you if you want.

 

i had one of these and didnt care for it,it made and broke the circut causing my alarm to go on and off,,they work but they still connect,when i didnt want it to,,so i got the blade,,lift the blade its dead

 

I have the same thing, over a year and no problem

 

I think I will get one of those I have a drain that causes my battery to die after not driving for like 3 days too! Thanks for the idea!

 

You fellows definetly have a problem if your car battery is being drained after just 3 days. My 73' Coupe stays in my pole barn from October until April with the battery connected and a after market radio installed in it without the battery going dead. The battery is also 2 years old. Although one of the battery cutoffs will help you out in this case I would suggest you find the problem. I would start with maybe seeing where the possible draw is coming from by disconnecting possibly your aftermarket stereo first. If you have a separate Amp maybe look there. There is a way to check battery drain on a car with a test light hooked right to the battery. I think if I remember correctly that you hooked the alligator clip from the wire coming out of the testor to a good ground on the car and then touch the probe end to the negative side of the battery and if the testor lights up it shows you have a draw happening. Make sure you do this on your C-3 with the doors closed or of course you will already have a draw from the doors being opened. Check also that the light in the rear center compartment is going out when the compartment is shut because this will kill your battery. Also check you cigarette lighter to make sure nothing fell into it like a piece of metal or something of that nature. Good Luck!!!

Fred

 

Same thing I use. My battery runs down enough to make startup difficult after about 2 weeks and when very cold. The switch has resolved the issue -- although, y'all got me thinking I should also check for something else causing a drain on the battery. Any other suggestions on where to check?

 

Thats good input.