Insignia Lives!

So rather than waste my time with the dbPower unit I decided to call the RAC.  We buy their breakdown insurance most years and it's not as though we use them very often.

The technician arrived just before 11am and I gave him the details.  He connected all his gear and the battery was showing about 5.5 volts.  My dbPower is 600 amps and with his 800 amp charger connected it the electrics worked but there wasn't enough to turn the engine over.  

So with it connected to the van it started okay first time.  The computer went through its checks and showed that the battery was about 12.8 volts. The charging system was working fine, it just looks as though the battery had well and truly had it. As we stood there looking at the display it was discharging and way below 11 volts when we disconnected the computer.

He had one on the van and although it cost a little more than maybe at a local dealers or car parts place, it wasn't too bad. Plus I didn't have to go and get it and risk the car stalling and not restarting!

Once fitted the computer went though its checks again and came up all green lights.  

Anyway all sorted.  

The problem I guess is that under lockdown we are hardly doing any miles.  The Varta battery that has gone on does say that it needs to do at least 2000 miles a year to maintain its efficiency.  I did way less than that over the last year.