Battery drain or bad battery? Options

[tornik550]

Due to a new baby, I haven't been driving my car much. I have found that if I let my car sit for three days or so, the battery voltage will be so low that the starter will not turn. The alternator cranks out 14 volts when running.

I made several changes prior to noticing this. I suppose there could be something which could be causing battery drain or my battery could just be going bad. I suspect this may have been going on for a while however I drove the car frequently so I didn't notice.

If I change the battery with an external charger while it is still hooked to the car- it will charge to around 13volts then by morning it will read around 12.33 volts.

I obviously do not really understand batteries. Is there a way to determine if I have a battery problem or a drain problem.

[gunny]

If your car isnt driven much and when it's driven you only go a few miles you may be draining your battery more while starting then the amount you charge while driving. [i]

I suggest a battery tender for cars and motorcycles that aren't driven much. It will extend the life of your battery.