Battery questions
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
As to battery brands, you will get many opinions. I have had excellent results from Sears Die Hard batteries. I used to put in reproduction tar tops on my two C1s but they did not last more than a year or two. When my current Delco goes on my '86 Coupe, it will get a Sears Die Hard. I have noticed that during the winter when I put the maintenance charger on them, they go to the "float" mode after only a few minutes. The other batteries took much longer to reach that point.
I guess that tells me the Sears holds its charge longer.
I guess that tells me the Sears holds its charge longer.
Roadster Madness. 😠
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,291
Likes: 2,361
From: Ventura Co Ca
SoCal Regional Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '13, '20-'21
Has anyone tried the nine volt battery setup that plugs into the cigarette lighter? It is supposed to hold your pre-sets and clock from disapearing. I am wondering if it works.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
GM says normal leakage current (ign off) should not exceed 50 milliamps. My 87 draws 27 ma. and I have no battery problems. A 9 volt battery will not deliver 27 ma. for very long, and if you forget about it and start the engine, 9 volt batteries aren't going to like 14.7 volts across them either and will get hot. I recommend that you connect a battery maintainer to keep your battery charged if you are not going to drive a car for long periods.
Roadster Madness. 😠
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,291
Likes: 2,361
From: Ventura Co Ca
SoCal Regional Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '13, '20-'21
GM says normal leakage current (ign off) should not exceed 50 milliamps. My 87 draws 27 ma. and I have no battery problems. A 9 volt battery will not deliver 27 ma. for very long, and if you forget about it and start the engine, 9 volt batteries aren't going to like 14.7 volts across them either and will get hot. I recommend that you connect a battery maintainer to keep your battery charged if you are not going to drive a car for long periods.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
My advice still stands. Battery out of the car, the 9 volt battery is still going to have to supply the standing leakage current, which in my 87 is 27 ma. and a 9v battery won't supply this amount of current very long. Even if you are changing the battery, the 9v battery may be drug down so low when you connect it across the battery you are removing that when you disconnect the battery cables the 9v battery voltage will be so low you will lose your presets. Just figure you will have to reset your radio when you change batteries. Its worth a try though, let us know what happens.
Last edited by jfb; Feb 20, 2010 at 12:39 AM.
