how long before mk1 cluster clock drains down a battery?

[damac]

My 82 truck has been sitting still for a couple months since I last drove it.  It has cluster with ticking clock which was still working when I walked past, but not enough juice to crank much.  Curious if that might be normal.

[bajacalal]

I think pretty much any car has enough parasitic drains to discharge a battery after a few months... disconnect the battery.

[Renax]

The solution is without doubt to drive it every day, or at least once a week.
I always make shure my cars are started and run for 20-30 minutes every week. Its not good for a car to be standing around...

I know one 83 model that has been sitting for at least a year and a half, clock still ticking... a tiny button battery is enough to have a clock going for a long time, a car battery has a lot more power than that, i bet it would discharge just as fast not connected...

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[ToddA1]

My '81 truck sits for months, and I've never had an issue with the battery. My battery is larger than stock, though.  Other than the clock, I can't see anything in this old thing that would have parasitic draw.

I've recently bought one of those solar cell trickle chargers.

-Todd

[iamdieselnutmechanic]

Solar trickle chargers! A great idea for anything with a battery that sits.. I wish all the boats at the marina i work at had them.. Do you know how many people let their boat sit for 3 months and expect it to start and get them going like nothing?? idiots. Carbs dry and the batteries already weak.. means no start!

I would either get a solar charger, or disconnect the battery damac.

Also, it is better to sit than to be driven a for a few minutes. If they do not reach super hot oil temps you're just causing more issues with adding water to the crankcase.

[the caveman]

My father's 84 gasser had the same battery in it for 10 years. drove maybe once a week, sometimes less.Wasn't plugged in during winter, never had the battery run down. If I remember, the analog clock should pull only 10 mA, not enough to drain a battery over a few weeks

[mtrans]

the analog clock should pull only 10 mA?
0.01*24 hour*30 day=7.2 Ah in winter it`s 50% more.
For 60 Ah battery you losse ~ 12%
Analog one,with el motor "I think" use up to 100 mA = 72 Ah
Radio + alarm from 0.1-0.2 Ampere per hour-tested.

[the caveman]

the analog clock should pull only 10 mA?
0.01*24 hour*30 day=7.2 Ah in winter it`s 50% more.
For 60 Ah battery you losse ~ 12%
Analog one,with el motor "I think" use up to 100 mA = 72 Ah
Radio + alarm from 0.1-0.2 Ampere per hour-tested.

Whatever. The last time I checked one was probably 25 years ago. My point was that with just the clock pulling current, it will take a while to drain the battery. I'm speaking from actual tests and personal experience. Details don't matter,only the results. 30mA is the limit as to what will kill a battery within a day or two