Battery behaving badly!

[gary111160]

I have just removed the battery from my recent purchase which has been laid up since 06.

Assuming it was probably shot I thought I would charge it to see. But my tester to the right terminals, nothing. Connected charger and get a fault reading saying wrong polarity! but have connected positive to positive etc. So when I connect the wrong way round, positive to negative etc it seems happy and starts to charge! Two days later it appears to have taken a charge and the tester is happy with its health as long as its connected positive to negative.

How can this be! checked charger and tester with other batteries and all fine so its the battery. Is this a sign that the battery is goosed or am I missing something?

The boat terminals have no markings on them and both are black cables, but one lead has the isolater on it so must be positive and the other cable is ground to the engine block so must be negative. I don't know how the battery was connected up to the boat as I did'nt take note.

Any thoughts?

Gary

 

[carlton]

Yeah - there's a chance you can fry your alternator diodes this way. I think it could be time for you to raid the piggy bank and invest in a new battery.

 

[Alpha22]

That is not unherd of. A totally flat batter can be make to take a reverse charge. It will never be the same again.

New battery time, worth checking the cables though too.

 

[gary111160]

Thanks for that. New battery it is. Much appreciatted.

Gary

 

[VicS]

Make absolutely certain you connect it with the polarity correct. Get it wrong and you will toast the alternator diodes.

 

[DorsetPete]

duff batteries

I think you have created a really good doorstop!