Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeK
A group one 6V battery has a storage capacity of about 80 amp-hours when new. After a few years that is down to ~60 amp-hours. You do not want to ever draw a battery down much below 50% charge, especially if you want it to crank reliably for a re-start.
If you discharge at a 10 amp rate x 3 hours you will use 30 amp-hours. Thus, you can safely go about 3 hours, 4 if the battery is new and fully charged. You will, of course, either need to put it on an external charger or drive at least TEN HOURS the next day with the lights off if your charge rate is 3A as you say.
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Very cool! That's the kind of information that helps me understand my car better. So, now all I need to figure out is whether the alternator should be picking up the extra load and effectively zeroing out the draw in amps, or if it's still functioning properly when it allows a ten amp draw. For now, I can rest easier on my way to work knowing that the 20 min drive won't completely drain my roughly 60 amp/hr reserve of power.