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MetroMPG · 02-19-2009, 08:01 AM

Any time you draw energy from a lead acid battery and then recharge it, you shorten its life compared to a battery that is always supported by an alternator. This is especially true for conventional starting batteries which aren't really designed for anything other than shallow discharge/recharge cycles (eg. starting the car).

How much you shorten its life with the engine off depends on how long you drain it down, and under what size of load.

02-19-2009, 08:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
MetroMPG Batman Junior Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada Posts: 22,532 Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro Team Metro Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US) MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata 90 day: 54.46 mpg (US) Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec 90 day: 70.75 mpg (US) Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base) 90 day: 62.14 mpg (US) Thanks: 4,082 Thanked 6,978 Times in 3,613 Posts	Any time you draw energy from a lead acid battery and then recharge it, you shorten its life compared to a battery that is always supported by an alternator. This is especially true for conventional starting batteries which aren't really designed for anything other than shallow discharge/recharge cycles (eg. starting the car). How much you shorten its life with the engine off depends on how long you drain it down, and under what size of load. __________________ Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage. Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown EcoModder has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget