Any clever ideas?

[Zeeflyboy]

I have just started working on getting my stupid little smart car imported for whizzing around while I'm abroad (its been sat in an underground garage for around 1.5 years) and I was wondering if there is any way to save the battery.

It's very, very dead... Reading about 4v. I hooked it up to a charger but the charger won't start due to the low voltage.

I quickly tapped a 3S across the charge connectors to kick the charger into go mode, and while the charge light comes on, no amps are flowing (except for the brief moment I have the 3S connected... If I left it connected the amps would flow, but I'd probably blow up the little 3S lol).

So any bright ideas? Is it worth bothering with or should I admit defeat and try to find a new batt (difficult when you have no car!).

Cheers

[RcRotaryMadness]

To be honest its probably best to fit a new battery (It is possible to order them online and have them delivered although still a pain).

The only thing I can think of is if you try to jump/bump start the car with the battery connected and see if the car itself will charge it up?

Or once started - drive to a garage/battery shop, buy and fit a new one. (Make sure you don't stall it lol)

[pug907]

+1 to above. Find someone with a booster pack, they tend to be punchier than jump starting. You're a bit toooo far away for me to help out, sorry.
Hope you sort it one way or another!

[Gixxer]

Never mind the battery, get a Hayabusa engine dropped into it, preferably with a turbo, and coilover suspension all round... worry about the battery later! :eagerness:

[Qaz]

with most programable chargers that we use to charge out lipos in the hobby can charge lead batteries. I've managed to recover a lead acid battery with low volts before but setting it to 1 or 2 cell pb and then charging it up. then when u have charged the battery to an acceptable range for the charger set it to the next cell up eg 3 cells. repeat until u get to 6 cells which should be a standared 12v battery.

Basically u telling the charger to charge a lower range which is acceptable within its parameters. Not really ideal but it works unless the battery is dead.

[Zeeflyboy]

Any clever ideas?

Qaz that's interesting... My fusion emperor can do pb.

I just need to find a way to hook it up to the terminals.

Cheers guys! We'll see how I get on, if you don't hear back from me tomorrow I've managed to blow myself up.

[Zeeflyboy]

Any clever ideas?

Oooooh, I left it connected after "jumping" the charge circuit with the 3S lipo and despite the lack of any discernible charge current when i left, it seems it has been busy...

The charger is now warm and the needle is showing amps flowing in.

Patience has clearly paid off! Hopefully it'll be alright in the end!

[steve_b]

I'd probably look at replacing the battery though as letting a lead acid battery get that low will have done some damage to it and while it may work at the start sods law says it'll fail when you need it most

[Zeeflyboy]

Any clever ideas?

true, it'll be much easier to obtain a replacement with the car working though!

Tomorrow I find out if the car still works lol... At least it's been in a nice dry and warm garage.