Greetings Don & Listers,

Both of your assumptions are correct.  Lead / Acid batteries sulfate
when stored for any length of time with a low charge.  A slow recharge
(like the 2A you describe) minimizes the sulfation which has taken
place, but the life of the battery is compromised when it sits in a
discharged state for any length of time.  The symptoms you describe
(appears to take a charge, but there is no reserve) are typical of this
condition.

When I am not using my vehicles for any length of time, I disconnect the
battery (but leave it installed), and attach a "maintenance" charger.
These automatic, very low amperage chargers, are readily available for
around $20.  On my Westfalia, where the battery is very difficult to
reach, I have built the maintenance charger into the cabinet under the
sink and plugged it into the 120V used by the refrigerator.  When I
attach an extension cord to the socket on the outside of the Westfalia,
the battery charges.   Typically, I plug it in for four or five days,
once a month, when I'm not using the Vanagon.

The battery you describe probably also qualifies as a "POS", since it
should not have exhibited this level of problem if only a few months
old.  It may have been stored for a long time, discharged, long before
your purchased it.

*Best Regards,
Jon Kanas
Email: kanas<at>qadas.com <mailto:kanas@qadas.com>
Website: http://www.qadas.com/~kanas <http://www.qadas.com/%7Ekanas>
*

Automatic digest processor wrote:
> Date:    Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:18:48 -0700
> From:    Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Battery Sages..Not 100% Vanagon specific, but applicable..
>
>   I have an almost new battery that was installed then sat unused for a few
> months with a low charge.  Upon trying to start the machine (this was a KTM
> motorcycle, but it could have been my vanagon..so there is the connection)
> the battery simply clicked weakly.  I cleaned all the contacts and put it on
> a 2amp smart charger overnight.  Next day I put my digi-meter on the batt
> and got 12.96v reading..Poke the starter and it cranks very weakly for a
> very short time.  Back to the multi meter and I see 12.4 volts.  I put the
> charger back on, check the multimeter..it is getting 14.4, appx.  Let it go
> a couple of hours, remove the charger and again read: 12.8v....Push the
> starter again and RRR rrr r...click.   Weak... Charge the batt again and
> leave it overnight..it holds the charge of 12.9 just fine, but when I load
> it with the starter...it dies quickly without a start.  The machine will
> start right up with a kick...and it spins over well after running...for a
> couple of revolutions, only...
>
>   So I am assuming the battery was a POS from the vendor, or that two months
> of sitting with a low charge ruined it and I need another new battery...am I
> assuming correctly?  Batteries are strange...
>
>   Don Hanson
>
>
>