Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15 minutes with
the engine off at a level crossing) but with the headlights on for all the
journey apart from the level crossing wait.

No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has some power in
it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van without any problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until Monday so
the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need the van for the next
3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.

--
Adam

"ARW" wrote in message
...
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15 minutes
with the engine off at a level crossing) but with the headlights on for
all the journey apart from the level crossing wait.

No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has some power
in it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van without any
problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until Monday so
the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need the van for the
next 3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.


Ran my old diesel Volvo for about 2 hours begore the battery gave up.
Five minutes from my destination, as well.
Can you scare up a spare battery just in case?

--
No plan survives contact with the enemy.
[Not even bunny]

Helmuth von Moltke the Elder

(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

David WE Roberts wrote:
"ARW" wrote in message
...
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15
minutes with the engine off at a level crossing) but with the
headlights on for all the journey apart from the level crossing
wait. No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the
wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has some
power in it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van
without any problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until
Monday so the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need
the van for the next 3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.


Ran my old diesel Volvo for about 2 hours begore the battery gave up.
Five minutes from my destination, as well.

Can you scare up a spare battery just in case?

Yes, but it takes 50 minutes to swap the battery:-(

On the plus side I do not need headlights in the morning to get to work and
I am quite happy to do a rush hour crawl though a town centre with just the
parking lights on for the journey home (I'll just switch the headlights on
for the last 15 miles home).

The lack of a heater is not a problem as I am working outside all day.

--
Adam

In article , ARW
o.uk scribeth thus
David WE Roberts wrote:
"ARW" wrote in message
...
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15
minutes with the engine off at a level crossing) but with the
headlights on for all the journey apart from the level crossing
wait. No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the
wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has some
power in it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van
without any problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until
Monday so the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need
the van for the next 3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.


Ran my old diesel Volvo for about 2 hours begore the battery gave up.
Five minutes from my destination, as well.

Can you scare up a spare battery just in case?

Yes, but it takes 50 minutes to swap the battery:-(

On the plus side I do not need headlights in the morning to get to work and
I am quite happy to do a rush hour crawl though a town centre with just the
parking lights on for the journey home (I'll just switch the headlights on
for the last 15 miles home).

The lack of a heater is not a problem as I am working outside all day.


If you have a spare battery and a set of jump leads that might get you
out of a fix if the worst comes to the worst..

Sure the Alternator is duff, not just a simple fan belt loss of
tension?...

--
Tony Sayer

tony sayer wrote:
In article , ARW
o.uk scribeth thus
David WE Roberts wrote:
"ARW" wrote in message
...
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15
minutes with the engine off at a level crossing) but with the
headlights on for all the journey apart from the level crossing
wait. No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of
the wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has
some power in it now that I am back home - enough to restart
the van without any problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until
Monday so the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need
the van for the next 3 days. Recharging at work is not a
problem.


Ran my old diesel Volvo for about 2 hours begore the battery gave
up. Five minutes from my destination, as well.

Can you scare up a spare battery just in case?

Yes, but it takes 50 minutes to swap the battery:-(

On the plus side I do not need headlights in the morning to get to
work and I am quite happy to do a rush hour crawl though a town
centre with just the parking lights on for the journey home (I'll
just switch the headlights on for the last 15 miles home).

The lack of a heater is not a problem as I am working outside all
day.


If you have a spare battery and a set of jump leads that might get you
out of a fix if the worst comes to the worst..

Now I can do that. And I do have very good set of jump leads.

Sure the Alternator is duff, not just a simple fan belt loss of
tension?...

Totally sure, it's whining like a posh bird who does not have tickets for
Ascot.

--
Adam

In article ,
"ARW" writes:
tony sayer wrote:

If you have a spare battery and a set of jump leads that might get you
out of a fix if the worst comes to the worst..

Now I can do that. And I do have very good set of jump leads.

Can't see how that helps in this case.
So you start the engine with the jumpleads, disconnect them,
and the engine will conk out soon after, if not immediately.
Driving along with jumpleads connected sounds like a good way
to end up with a fire in the engine compartment when they fall
off.

Sure the Alternator is duff, not just a simple fan belt loss of
tension?...

Totally sure, it's whining like a posh bird who does not have tickets for
Ascot.

That could be a bearing or slipping belt, but doesn't mean
it's not generating (although it probably won't last long
like that).

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

ARW wrote:
tony sayer wrote:

If you have a spare battery and a set of jump leads that might get you
out of a fix if the worst comes to the worst..

Now I can do that. And I do have very good set of jump leads.

Alternatively, try one of the cigarette lighter jump lead sets and one
of the jump start batteries with a cigarette lighter socket built in.
Disconnect for starting, and connect while running. You don't even need
to open the bonnet. Or make up a lead with a cigarette lighter plug on
one end and a pair of decent Crocodile clips on the other.

Sure the Alternator is duff, not just a simple fan belt loss of
tension?...

Totally sure, it's whining like a posh bird who does not have tickets for
Ascot.

Let's hope the bearings don't fail totally, then. Electrically, there's
normally no problem running with no charge from the alternator, but a
mechanical failure can be a bit dramatic.

--
Tciao for Now!

John.

In article , ARW
o.uk scribeth thus
tony sayer wrote:
In article , ARW
o.uk scribeth thus
David WE Roberts wrote:
"ARW" wrote in message
...
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15
minutes with the engine off at a level crossing) but with the
headlights on for all the journey apart from the level crossing
wait. No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of
the wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has
some power in it now that I am back home - enough to restart
the van without any problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until
Monday so the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need
the van for the next 3 days. Recharging at work is not a
problem.


Ran my old diesel Volvo for about 2 hours begore the battery gave
up. Five minutes from my destination, as well.

Can you scare up a spare battery just in case?

Yes, but it takes 50 minutes to swap the battery:-(

On the plus side I do not need headlights in the morning to get to
work and I am quite happy to do a rush hour crawl though a town
centre with just the parking lights on for the journey home (I'll
just switch the headlights on for the last 15 miles home).

The lack of a heater is not a problem as I am working outside all
day.


If you have a spare battery and a set of jump leads that might get you
out of a fix if the worst comes to the worst..

Now I can do that. And I do have very good set of jump leads.

Sure the Alternator is duff, not just a simple fan belt loss of
tension?...

Totally sure, it's whining like a posh bird who does not have tickets for
Ascot.


That begs a question;?...

So how many posh birds are chalked up on the headboard then;?...

--
Tony Sayer

On 30/10/2012 19:01, ARW wrote:
tony sayer wrote:
In article , ARW
o.uk scribeth thus
David WE Roberts wrote:
"ARW" wrote in message
...
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15
minutes with the engine off at a level crossing) but with the
headlights on for all the journey apart from the level crossing
wait. No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of
the wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has
some power in it now that I am back home - enough to restart
the van without any problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until
Monday so the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need
the van for the next 3 days. Recharging at work is not a
problem.


Ran my old diesel Volvo for about 2 hours begore the battery gave
up. Five minutes from my destination, as well.

Can you scare up a spare battery just in case?

Yes, but it takes 50 minutes to swap the battery:-(

On the plus side I do not need headlights in the morning to get to
work and I am quite happy to do a rush hour crawl though a town
centre with just the parking lights on for the journey home (I'll
just switch the headlights on for the last 15 miles home).

The lack of a heater is not a problem as I am working outside all
day.


If you have a spare battery and a set of jump leads that might get you
out of a fix if the worst comes to the worst..

Now I can do that. And I do have very good set of jump leads.

Sure the Alternator is duff, not just a simple fan belt loss of
tension?...

Totally sure, it's whining like a posh bird who does not have tickets for
Ascot.


The fact it's whining suggests it is creating some output. A red
ignition light might be because of a problem in the alternator, such as
an o/c diode.

Have you tried putting a DVM on the battery terminals? Anything above
12V implies the alternator is producing an output, even if not enough to
recharge the battery.

ARW wrote:


Yes, but it takes 50 minutes to swap the battery:-(

On the plus side I do not need headlights in the morning to get to work
and I am quite happy to do a rush hour crawl though a town centre with
just the parking lights on for the journey home (I'll just switch the
headlights on for the last 15 miles home).

The lack of a heater is not a problem as I am working outside all day.


Could you gerry rig a spare in the footwell into the fag socket? It should
take some of the load whilst driving and keep the main one going a bit
longer. Unplug when starting of course

--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://www.dionic.net/tim/

"She got her looks from her father. He's a plastic surgeon."

On Tuesday, October 30, 2012 7:33:44 PM UTC, Tim Watts wrote:
ARW wrote:





Yes, but it takes 50 minutes to swap the battery:-(



On the plus side I do not need headlights in the morning to get to work

and I am quite happy to do a rush hour crawl though a town centre with

just the parking lights on for the journey home (I'll just switch the

headlights on for the last 15 miles home).



The lack of a heater is not a problem as I am working outside all day.





Could you gerry rig a spare in the footwell into the fag socket? It should

take some of the load whilst driving and keep the main one going a bit

longer. Unplug when starting of course



--

Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://www.dionic.net/tim/



"She got her looks from her father. He's a plastic surgeon."

I got a device in Halfords which plugs into the fag socket and has jump lead connectors to connect a battery for a winter top up of a weak battery.

On Tue, 30 Oct 2012 19:33:41 +0000, Tim Watts wrote:
Could you gerry rig a spare in the footwell into the fag socket? It
should take some of the load whilst driving and keep the main one going
a bit longer. Unplug when starting of course

Ahh, the automotive equivalent of a mains cable with a plug at both
ends :-)

Wonder what the typical current limit via a fag lighter socket is? Are
they fused these days? Drive for the spark and ECU probably isn't much,
but things like the radiator cooling fans probably need a fair bit.

On Tuesday, October 30, 2012 9:29:26 PM UTC, Jules Richardson wrote:
On Tue, 30 Oct 2012 19:33:41 +0000, Tim Watts wrote:

Could you gerry rig a spare in the footwell into the fag socket? It

should take some of the load whilst driving and keep the main one going

a bit longer. Unplug when starting of course



Ahh, the automotive equivalent of a mains cable with a plug at both

ends :-)



Wonder what the typical current limit via a fag lighter socket is? Are

they fused these days? Drive for the spark and ECU probably isn't much,

but things like the radiator cooling fans probably need a fair bit.

Fused so plug in when car parked for 1 hour with indignation on to have cigar lighter live. Blew my fuse once because I was not careful

Jules Richardson wrote:

On Tue, 30 Oct 2012 19:33:41 +0000, Tim Watts wrote:
Could you gerry rig a spare in the footwell into the fag socket? It
should take some of the load whilst driving and keep the main one going
a bit longer. Unplug when starting of course

Ahh, the automotive equivalent of a mains cable with a plug at both
ends :-)

Wonder what the typical current limit via a fag lighter socket is? Are
they fused these days? Drive for the spark and ECU probably isn't much,
but things like the radiator cooling fans probably need a fair bit.

15A mine is fused at - that's all 3.

And given the wiring resistance the footwell battery will be giving a lesser
share.
--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://www.dionic.net/tim/

"She got her looks from her father. He's a plastic surgeon."

On Tue, 30 Oct 2012 21:29:26 +0000 (UTC), Jules Richardson
wrote:

Wonder what the typical current limit via a fag lighter socket is?

Usually fused at 10A

On Tue, 30 Oct 2012 18:19:24 -0000, "ARW"
wrote:

Can you scare up a spare battery just in case?

Yes, but it takes 50 minutes to swap the battery:-(

Not if you run a temp set of light jumpers through the bulkhead to the
passenger footwell - use the jumps to extend the life of the
underbonnet battery but disconnect them for starting, obviously.

"ARW" wrote in message
...
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15 minutes
with the engine off at a level crossing) but with the headlights on for
all the journey apart from the level crossing wait.

No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has some power
in it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van without any
problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until Monday so
the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need the van for the
next 3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.

I'd have thought that running for 45 minutes with headlights on was pushing
it... maybe the battery recovered a little at the level crossing.

Can't you source a new one locally ASAP and fit it yourself? Or knock off
work early so it's still light.....

Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
"ARW" wrote in message
...
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15
minutes with the engine off at a level crossing) but with the
headlights on for all the journey apart from the level crossing
wait. No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the
wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has some
power in it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van
without any problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until
Monday so the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need
the van for the next 3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.

I'd have thought that running for 45 minutes with headlights on was
pushing it... maybe the battery recovered a little at the level
crossing.

The level crossing was 5 minutes into the journey. I knew I was in for a
wait as the gatekeeper told me there were three trains to pass.


Can't you source a new one locally ASAP and fit it yourself? Or knock
off work early so it's still light.....

Afraid not.

--
Adam

ARW wrote:
Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
Can't you source a new one locally ASAP and fit it yourself? Or
knock off work early so it's still light.....

Afraid not.

And that is because the school holidays are our busiest times. Normally
there is a spare van I could use.

I might also add I have no idea how to swap the alternator:-) - it looks
like the power steering pump is bolted to it. I'll leave the swapping of the
alternator to my brother on Monday morning. The worst case is using a VW
Polo to get to and from work.

--
Adam

"ARW" wrote in message
...
ARW wrote:
Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
Can't you source a new one locally ASAP and fit it yourself? Or
knock off work early so it's still light.....

Afraid not.

And that is because the school holidays are our busiest times. Normally
there is a spare van I could use.

I might also add I have no idea how to swap the alternator:-) - it looks
like the power steering pump is bolted to it. I'll leave the swapping of
the alternator to my brother on Monday morning. The worst case is using a
VW Polo to get to and from work.

Go with the Polo, at least it'll get you there. And more importantly, home
again

If your van conks out in the middle of nowhere, you've lost a day's work and
you've still got to get it home or to a garage if you're not with AA.

Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
"ARW" wrote in message
...
ARW wrote:
Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
Can't you source a new one locally ASAP and fit it yourself? Or
knock off work early so it's still light.....

Afraid not.

And that is because the school holidays are our busiest times.
Normally there is a spare van I could use.

I might also add I have no idea how to swap the alternator:-) - it
looks like the power steering pump is bolted to it. I'll leave the
swapping of the alternator to my brother on Monday morning. The
worst case is using a VW Polo to get to and from work.

Go with the Polo, at least it'll get you there. And more importantly,
home again

If your van conks out in the middle of nowhere, you've lost a day's
work and you've still got to get it home or to a garage if you're not
with AA.

I am a member of the AA (the car one).



--
Adam

On Tuesday, October 30, 2012 7:42:59 PM UTC, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:

If your van conks out in the middle of nowhere, you've lost a day's work and
you've still got to get it home or to a garage if you're not with AA.

It's not just the inconvenience of conking out that's a problem, but also systems like the SRS/Airbag self-monitoring function which often have a test for low voltage.

If tripped it may latch the malfunction light, disable the SRS, and require a garage with the right tool to reset it (which might cost).

Mathew

ARW wrote:

Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
"ARW" wrote in message
...
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15
minutes with the engine off at a level crossing) but with the
headlights on for all the journey apart from the level crossing
wait. No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the
wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has some
power in it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van
without any problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until
Monday so the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need
the van for the next 3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.

I'd have thought that running for 45 minutes with headlights on was
pushing it... maybe the battery recovered a little at the level
crossing.

The level crossing was 5 minutes into the journey. I knew I was in for a
wait as the gatekeeper told me there were three trains to pass.


Can't you source a new one locally ASAP and fit it yourself? Or knock
off work early so it's still light.....

Afraid not.


Drop it in a local place near work (Kennington I assume) and let them fix it
in the day?

--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://www.dionic.net/tim/

"She got her looks from her father. He's a plastic surgeon."

On 30/10/12 17:51, ARW wrote:
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15 minutes with
the engine off at a level crossing) but with the headlights on for all the
journey apart from the level crossing wait.

No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has some power in
it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van without any problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until Monday so
the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need the van for the next
3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.

Not for long. wifes car lost its headlights after less than an hour of
being towed.


--
Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc-ra-cy) €“ a system of government where the least capable to
lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the
members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are
rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a
diminishing number of producers.

In message , The Natural Philosopher
writes
On 30/10/12 17:51, ARW wrote:
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15 minutes with
the engine off at a level crossing) but with the headlights on for all the
journey apart from the level crossing wait.

No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has some power in
it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van without any problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until Monday so
the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need the van for the next
3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.

Not for long. wifes car lost its headlights after less than an hour of
being towed.

Front wheel drive van?

Conventional filament bulbs would pull about 11-12 amps but halogens?

Cooling fan is on a huge fuse so must take a bit. Instruments? Who
knows!



--
Tim Lamb

In article , Tim Lamb
wrote:
In message , The Natural Philosopher
writes
On 30/10/12 17:51, ARW wrote:
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15 minutes
with the engine off at a level crossing) but with the headlights on
for all the journey apart from the level crossing wait.

No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has some
power in it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van
without any problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until Monday
so the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need the van for
the next 3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.

Not for long. wifes car lost its headlights after less than an hour of
being towed.

Front wheel drive van?

Conventional filament bulbs would pull about 11-12 amps but halogens?

headlamps have used halogens for very long time. My 1972 Cortina had them -
55w each

--
From KT24

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.18

On Tue, 30 Oct 2012 19:11:03 +0000, charles wrote:

In article , Tim Lamb
wrote:
In message , The Natural Philosopher
writes
On 30/10/12 17:51, ARW wrote:
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15
minutes with the engine off at a level crossing) but with the
headlights on for all the journey apart from the level crossing
wait.

No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has some
power in it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van
without any problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until
Monday so the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need the
van for the next 3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.

Not for long. wifes car lost its headlights after less than an hour of
being towed.

Front wheel drive van?

Conventional filament bulbs would pull about 11-12 amps but halogens?

headlamps have used halogens for very long time. My 1972 Cortina had
them -
55w each

Well,

Ford Focus estate with a tired battery - only about 15 minutes with head
lights on, then battery voltage too low to run EMU and it was all stop.

Good luck - I'd bet on the polo me.

Avpx



--
Lady Ramkin's bosom rose and fell like an
empire.
(Guards! Guards!)
20:30:01 up 10 days, 3:52, 7 users, load average: 0.89, 0.72, 0.76

The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 30/10/12 17:51, ARW wrote:
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15
minutes with the engine off at a level crossing) but with the
headlights on for all the journey apart from the level crossing
wait. No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the
wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has some
power in it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van
without any problems. The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator
changed until
Monday so the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need
the van for the next 3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.

Not for long. wifes car lost its headlights after less than an hour of
being towed.

Why did she need the headlights?

--
Adam

On 30/10/2012 18:11, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 30/10/12 17:51, ARW wrote:
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15 minutes
with
the engine off at a level crossing) but with the headlights on for all
the
journey apart from the level crossing wait.

No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has some
power in
it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van without any
problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until Monday so
the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need the van for the
next
3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.

Not for long. wifes car lost its headlights after less than an hour of
being towed.

It *is* borderline but with 65Ah and provided that it is recharged
overnight and recharged again at the other end it might be doable.
You also have to avoid overcharging it!

If you have a clamp current meter available then measure the current!
Then you will know how many hours battery life you have to flat. I
suspect that it is just about doable but not really recommended.

The tricky bit is ending up stuck half way home with a stalled engine.
Once the engine is going it will keep running but the headlights will
gradually get fainter. Do you have a generator set and battery charger?

Once things are running you are OK but the headlights and maybe the fuel
pump represent a serious load (don't listen to the radio!).

ISTR Headlamps and assorted sidelights will total ~20A give or take.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

On Oct 31, 8:54*am, Martin Brown
wrote:


gradually get fainter. Do you have a generator set and battery charger?

I can't help but think of the top gear hybrid vehicle.

MBQ

On Wed, 31 Oct 2012 02:00:12 -0700 (PDT), "Man at B&Q"
wrote:

On Oct 31, 8:54*am, Martin Brown
wrote:


gradually get fainter. Do you have a generator set and battery charger?

I can't help but think of the top gear hybrid vehicle.

MBQ

Small wind turbine as used by yachts on a roof rack, "If I go any
slower officer my lights will go out"

G.Harman

Martin Brown wrote:
On 30/10/2012 18:11, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 30/10/12 17:51, ARW wrote:
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15
minutes with
the engine off at a level crossing) but with the headlights on
for all the
journey apart from the level crossing wait.

No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the
wipers. It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has
some
power in
it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van without any
problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until
Monday so the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need
the van for the next
3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.

Not for long. wifes car lost its headlights after less than an hour
of being towed.

It *is* borderline but with 65Ah and provided that it is recharged
overnight and recharged again at the other end it might be doable.
You also have to avoid overcharging it!

It certainly is doable. I had to take the van this morning as the Polo was
not big enought for the tools and equipement I needed for work.

I decided to risk using the van. If it fails near home I will get towed home
by a mate and if not I have the AA.

An hour and 30 minutes to get home with a 15 minute stop at the wholesalers,
the last 45 minutes with the headlights on and a 10 minute stop at the local
store for a tin of cat food (the shop was chosen on purpose as it is on a
steep hill). The van still fires up OK now I am home.

I have swapped tomorrows shift so that I work 7.30am to 4.00pm instead of
8.00am to 4.30pm so that I should not need the headlights at all and I will
miss the rush hour traffic.



--
Adam

"ARW" wrote in message
...
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15 minutes
with the engine off at a level crossing) but with the headlights on for
all the journey apart from the level crossing wait.

No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has some power
in it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van without any
problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until Monday so
the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need the van for the
next 3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.

--
Adam

You will be soon up **** creek without a paddle.

On 30/10/2012 17:51, ARW wrote:
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15 minutes with
the engine off at a level crossing) but with the headlights on for all the
journey apart from the level crossing wait.

No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has some power in
it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van without any problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until Monday so
the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need the van for the next
3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.

Headlights are going to be the killer (although make sure no heated rear
screen / mirrors etc are on). I would expect much over an hour would be
pushing it with the lights on. (you will get considerably more time in
the day)


--
Cheers,

John.

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John Rumm wrote:
On 30/10/2012 17:51, ARW wrote:
Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15
minutes with the engine off at a level crossing) but with the
headlights on for all the journey apart from the level crossing
wait. No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the
wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has some
power in it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van
without any problems. The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator
changed until
Monday so the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need
the van for the next 3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.

Headlights are going to be the killer (although make sure no heated
rear screen / mirrors etc are on). I would expect much over an hour
would be pushing it with the lights on. (you will get considerably
more time in the day)

The battery showed 12.02V when I started to recharge it. The van started OK
at that voltage. However there is no need to restart the van between
journeys to and from work so that helps.

--
Adam

On Tue, 30 Oct 2012 18:15:53 +0000, John Rumm
wrote:

Headlights are going to be the killer (although make sure no heated rear
screen / mirrors etc are on). I would expect much over an hour would be
pushing it with the lights on. (you will get considerably more time in
the day)

My Escort van's alternator failed in the middle of London one Sunday
evening. I got back up the fully-lighted M1 to Luton on sidelights, on
a nearly deserted motorway on my side. It was surprising how many
arseholes on the other carriageway were flashing their lights at me
for not having my headlights on. Stupid ****s.

On Tue, 30 Oct 2012 17:51:20 -0000, "ARW"
wrote:

Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15 minutes with
the engine off at a level crossing) but with the headlights on for all the
journey apart from the level crossing wait.

No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the wipers.

It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has some power in
it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van without any problems.

The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until Monday so
the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need the van for the next
3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.

No idea about a modern common rail diesel, but on a petrol fuelled vehicle a
couple of amps is a typical standing electrical load, with a fully charged
battery in good condition a couple of hours running using headlights is
achievable if you don't need the ability to restart. Made occasional bursts of
the heater blower to keep the screen clear and sometimes used the radio.
(BTDTGTTS)

Stick a clamp ammeter suitable for DC round a battery cable and guess your range



--

On Tuesday, October 30, 2012 5:51:21 PM UTC, wrote:

Bugger just failed. Tonights journey home took an hour (inc 15 minutes with
the engine off at a level crossing) but with the headlights on for all the
journey apart from the level crossing wait.
No heater on, no radio on and just an occasional use of the wipers.
It's a 65Ah battery in a diesel van and the battery still has some power in
it now that I am back home - enough to restart the van without any problems.
The problem is I cannot easily get the alternator changed until Monday so
the 8A battery charger will be on overnight and I need the van for the next
3 days. Recharging at work is not a problem.


Headlights are the main load, 55w ea is around 10A, plus around 1A for rears. ISTR mechanical ignition eating a few amps. 15A 65Ah is 4hrs if fully charged. Its longer than a car because of the battery capacity.

A spare battery will help, plus parking it on a hill so you can bump start it. The average petrol tranny is push startable on level ground, I don't know about diesel. If you've got to preheat it, that'll drain the battery fast.

If you break down away from home, towing is pricey these days, just about no-one is willing to use a tow rope any more, everyone wants to trailer it. I've done enough towing to understand why.

If you end up moving it when the engine conks out, don't forget 95% of the brake effort is powered by the engine.


NT

On Tue, 30 Oct 2012 12:28:35 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

If you end up moving it when the engine conks out, don't forget 95% of
the brake effort is powered by the engine.

That's why anyone with any sense doesn't rope tow a modern car. That and
the lack of power steering as well makes a car without engine power
*very* hard work to steer and brake.

--
Cheers
Dave.

On Tue, 30 Oct 2012 22:23:18 +0000, Dave Liquorice wrote:

On Tue, 30 Oct 2012 12:28:35 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

If you end up moving it when the engine conks out, don't forget 95% of
the brake effort is powered by the engine.

That's why anyone with any sense doesn't rope tow a modern car. That and
the lack of power steering as well makes a car without engine power
*very* hard work to steer and brake.

Curious, there - are cars without power brakes much harder to stop when
the engine's not running than those which never had power brakes in the
first place?

I've got no power brakes on the truck and yes, it's like stopping a train
- but it *will* stop. But of course it was designed not to have power
brakes, so perhaps the manual servo is tuned to give more oomph from a
mk.1 foot than an 'equivalent' powered servo would be.

Oh, lack of power steering's not an issue so long as you're moving at a
few MPH or more; it's only when parking that I feel like a need gorilla
arms :-)

cheers

Jules