What have you done today with your Austin Seven

[David Stepney]

My apologies David, but you would be surprised by how many people get very worried about a discharge on their ammeter.

My realisation of just how much energy can be stored in a battery was brought home to me some years ago. At the time, I was commuting two days a week fromBala to Redditch, a distance of about 100 (cross country) miles and 3 hours travelling. At the time, I was running a Peugeot 106 diesel.
On one rainy winters night, I had got to Kidderminster on the way home, when the alternator belt broke.
I managed to get the 2 1/2 hour drive done with judicious use of the wipers just on the contents of the battery. In fact as I pulled onto the drive with flagging lights, the engine stop solenoid clicked shut, there now being insufficient in the battery to keep it energised.
I was quite impressed and, as one may imagine, not a little relieved!