Ran battery so low radio stopped playing

[SmellyCat]

Im living dangerous, Drove the Volvo with alternator turned off until the radio stopped playing. The voltmeter was reading 8.2 volts. I had to turn on the Alternator.. very fun. looks like I got about a 60 mile range. /
sc...

[Daox]

Anything under 10.5V is a bad for a lead acid battery. I highly suggest keeping a better eye on your voltage if you're going to use an alt delete, otherwise you'll be eating batteries like candy.

[ecomodded]

10.5 volts is a flat battery 8 volts is a dead dead battery.
It may never be the same.
It may mostly bounce back but like Daox said its life has been shortened.
I will suggest solar panels for the rear and front dash combined with 2 deep cycle batteries. Also carry a battery charger.

I am using my alternator, but i use it less, with a 15 watt solar panel on the dash and a deep cycle battery under the hood.
It keeps my battery at 14 volts, whilst sitting and adds up to a amp of power while driving.

I may put my other 15 watt panel in the rear window, then it could be making up to a 2 amp boost while driving.

[SmellyCat]

Good advice. I have a1.8 watts panel. It is real wimpy. Sc

[Ryland]

1.8 watts is not nearly enough to charge the battery back up, but anything going back in to the battery will help prolong the battery life, a 20 watt panel would be more reasonable as it would be charging at nearly 2 amps but would need nearly 20 sun hours to fully charge a dead battery so it would take nearly a week so you would need to still plug in at home, but it would be a slow enough charge that it wouldn't boil the battery, lead acid batteries like to remain active, so any energy going back in is going to help keep the lead sulphate from hardening on the lead plates of the battery and causing permanent damage.

[ecomodded]

I bought my deep cycle battery off of a fairly wealthy Boater, who replaces his batteries every two years. $20 each is what he wanted,the battery is still in top condition, was at 13.7 volts when i picked it up. He replaces the battery bank every 2 years to keep everything problem free.
Maybe consider doing the same, if you can find a source.
$20 or so vs $100+ makes it a affordable upgrade.