Battery strength; BAttery Tender

[wdesbrow]

My 72 991S Targa has been in the shop for 6 months getting and engine re-seal (and some other unrelated work) done. So until the past few weeks it sat idle for long periods of time. When I picked it up it started strong the first few times -- then I just got a "click" and no turn-over. When I got the car home I hooked it up to a Battery Tender 2-Bank charger (using both sets of leads, positive to positive, and negative to negative). With the upper LEDs one is continually blinking amber (charge in progress); the other is NOT LIGHTING at all. When I do a complete switch of battery sides the same LEDs on the charger behave the same way after 3-4 of charging. The batteries are the correct Interstate models, about 2 years old, with very light use.

Does this indicate one dead battery? Is it possible I have a bad LED? I would appreciate any other guidance. Thanks.

[Richardnew]

I can't offer a solution to your specific problem but I can suggest an article I wrote about battery chargers last year.



Richard Newton

[smedley]

The early '69-"73 twin batteries are connected in parallel. You only need to use one Tender on either battery. You're getting goofy LEDs because the Tenders are working against each other...or at the least getting confusing feedback. You would only need to hook up two Tenders if you disconnected the connection between the two batteries.

[Jim Breazeale]

A modern digital charger such as Ctec or others like that will not recharge a deeply discharged battery (read Richard's article). You can "zap" them with a conventional charger on the "start" cycle (usually 30 to 50 amps) for a few minutes, then charge the rest of the way with your new wizbang digital charger. Both Richard and Mark have offered some great advice.

Regards

Jim

[Veronica87911]

I had the necessity to recharge the battery of my son's 83 944 this week. It also sat for a while and all I got was clicking. I have a BatteryMINDer 2012; With a storm coming, I only had time to charge it to the first green charge on the bottom (second from left)...first thing it does is desulfate, then it starts charging. It started immediately. I've had this for a few years now and it never let me down.