I do not have a generator on my 33 coupe and only some wires to front and rear lights that i operate with a switch (when i meet the police) This is all temporary but will have to do this year. What length of operation from the battery can i expect when all it will drive is the ignition? How long can i expect to go with a fully charged battery?
Carry a spare battery. You might not get as far as you'd like. "How far will this plane go on one engine"? "All the way to the scene of the crash".
well, I can't say for sure, and you certainly can do the math if you want to. (amperage draw of the ignition system versus map hours of the battery, or something like that). Most point systems will draw around 3-5 amps I think But I can tell you for certain of a Volkswagen I knew back many moons ago that used to run off the battery for brake light and ignition. If he bumpstarted it (not using the electric starter) it would run for a week going back and forth to college (about 35 miles each way). If he had to use the starter it only lasted a day (or about 70 miles)
Using the above stated methodology, your gonna have to factor in Battery reserve capacity, not CCA or CA.... The batteries with the highest reserve capcity are for the 97 Ford F250 with a 7.3 liter PSD.... and also The last few years the Buick Roadmaster was produced. Those 2 batteries are at the top.... I don't know if you have an old battery or are buying new, but I would if you have 1 battery, use a jump start pak only for starting then disconnect it, as to preserve battery life.... 2 are better then one in this case.
Lots of other factors in play: how easy does your engine start? Does it take a lot of revs to light it off? That will run down the battery. Are you running at night with headlights on? That'll run down the battery. Is the battery at full charge, or is it run down already? These are just 3 issues to consider. Look at all of your electrical loads to figure out an estimate, then divide by 2 for Murphy's Law.
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