Battery Drain Rate w & w/o Alarm Active...

[Ron]

<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">I'm sure it's been discussed before, but how long approximately will it take a well charged battery to drain to the point of barely starting the car with the alarm off?

With the alarm on?

I know about leaving a Battery Tender on throughout the winter, it's a curiousity question only.

Thanks </FONT f>

 

[Nadine UK GTS]

I can vouch the 28 days on a '97! I was in hospital with a badly broken leg for a month. First thing I did on hospital discharge was go and see my Viper, tried firing him up, and the battery struggled to turn him over...boo-hoo!

 

[Mike Brunton]

The first winter that I stored my GTS I left it in the garage - with no tender! - for about 3 months and it started perfectly fine when I started it up in the spring.

However, I started to have problems with the battery last year, and now it will only hold up for about 2 weeks before it dies on me. The dealership says this is normal, and it really bothers me, since it was Ok before.

This is a 1998 GTS.

 

[Mike Brunton]

Neon,

The Viper's electrical system puts a constant (but small) drain on the battery. I think the general consensus is that it's the alarm system which drains the Viper's battery.

I agree with you 1000%, there is absolutely no reason a Viper's battery should just spontaneously die. I have a couple of other cars that are driven very infrequently and they don't have this problem.

 

[Ron]

<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Based on the combination of Jon B's and Mike's posts, one would assume that the 1996 alarm drained more current than later years. Given that, if your alarm module was upgraded to the 98+ version, per the TSB, would it be safe to assume 28 days was closer to reality?

What about if the alarm was off?

Ultimately experience will answer both questions, as will a milli-ampmeter, but why not learn from others experience... I ask this so I know how long of a business trip I can go on before I have to hook up the Tender.

Thanks</FONT f>