Possible Alternator problem?

[Callyman]

First of all Happy New Year to you all.

Went out to car the other day after not using it for day and a half or so and the Battery was dead, and i mean Dead (RIP)
jump started it all ok, volt meter showing 14+volts. stopped it, started again no problem. So alternator seams to be charging ok. My question is why did it go flat in the first place? A freind has told me that if an alternator fails in a certain way it can actually drain power from the battery when not running, any truth in this?

Thanks Andy

[Mark1]

Sounds more like the battery has gome than the alternator, just because it shows that it's charging doesn't mean that it's ok. I'd start by getting it checked.

[Callyman]

Cheers Mark, the Battery is 3 months old.

[Mark1]

Andy if you've only had it 3 months then take it back and get them to check it, it must still be under warrenty.

[truxx]

A good way to check if you have a power drain is, take the - earth lead off your battery and put a bulb tester between the lead you just took off and the negative pole on the battery.If the bulb lights up,you know a live is touching earth and pulling power out of the battery.

[Callyman]

Yeah everything was off, I like the idea Truxx, i might use a Volt meter, that should detect even the smallest leak.

Ive put the battery on charge and the charger decided it was charged in 50 mins, that seemed a little quick to me?

[Calibra_Mike]

Get the battery checked out by someone like ATS etc... they'll also be able to tell you if the battery is charging ok, which should mean the alternator is working fine. Sounds like something might have drained the battery though, do you have an alarm, maybe that would have something to do with the problem, go through a checklist in your head and try and narrow down the possibilities...

Easier to say than do... I know ive been there lol