12 volt batteries
Is there any problem mixing 2 different brands of batteries
Forum Discussion
Matt,
ABC Battery provided me with a Mix & Match pallet of 8-D batteries to test. Their curiosity infectious. How do good used batteries get along with brand new batteries.
I tested them in groups of (4) paralleled. Brought them to 14.0 volts for 4 hours until all indicated they were absororbing < .5 ampere each.
I forgot the number of batteries. Age is creeping up to me but my best recollection says (24) DUTs.
Three or four batteries of the pallet failed to reduce to .5 ampere or less. They were rejected on the spot.
The test protocol was to raise voltage in .10 volt steps for a period of 2 hours and observe the level of gassing in all 24 cells at the 2 hour point.
Of the pallet total only three made it to the 14.5 volt stage. To be specific, 3 batteries had 18 cells bubbling equally at 14.5 volts. I believe 3 other new batteries did not reach that point. Therefore they failed to pass.
Even though the batteries that "failed" the test could pass the BCI carbon pile load test, they did not pass with equality. 500 ampere load was applied for 15 seconds, and voltage droop was used as the comparison. Load was then adjusted to achieve voltage equivalence. A span of 10% amperage was noted. I forgot to add here, all DUTs were 29 plate 8-D's. All fell within the 143 to 147 pounds weight category.
Conclusion?
These guys had personalities. Generally speaking age of DUT was a major influence (as determined by lid date code branding.
At >14 volts the personalities really came into their own. Some batteries would bubble with consistency while others did not.
I ran out of time. This was a "trade" agreement. ABC was to build ,070" plate group 24 batteries for me to see if car car batteries could tolerate true cyclable 5% antimony plates.
Keep in mind, all batteries passed the BCI load test. None failed a hydrometer dipping.
Reduce maintenance voltage to agree with the first sign of bubbling. Maintenance voltage is the potential at which eliminates a majority of bubbling. Some commercial marine batteries would see maintenance voltage for weeks at a time. It was generally agreed upon that 13.6 volts was safe at 65F.
Jerry told me he now had conclusive ammunition to insist his commercial vessel batteries be kept at 13.6 volts. He said most draggers and tuna boats were referencing 14.0 volts as an alternator voltage set point.
The experiment with the heavy plate group 24 battery was a tremendous failure. Laughably so. Many of them load tested to 200 CCA agmperes or less. But subsequently failed entirely. Autopsy revealed severe acid starvation.
I am going to stand back and read subsequent comments about this on the forum. My reward for aching fingers posting this :)
ABC Battery provided me with a Mix & Match pallet of 8-D batteries to test. Their curiosity infectious. How do good used batteries get along with brand new batteries.
I tested them in groups of (4) paralleled. Brought them to 14.0 volts for 4 hours until all indicated they were absororbing < .5 ampere each.
I forgot the number of batteries. Age is creeping up to me but my best recollection says (24) DUTs.
Three or four batteries of the pallet failed to reduce to .5 ampere or less. They were rejected on the spot.
The test protocol was to raise voltage in .10 volt steps for a period of 2 hours and observe the level of gassing in all 24 cells at the 2 hour point.
Of the pallet total only three made it to the 14.5 volt stage. To be specific, 3 batteries had 18 cells bubbling equally at 14.5 volts. I believe 3 other new batteries did not reach that point. Therefore they failed to pass.
Even though the batteries that "failed" the test could pass the BCI carbon pile load test, they did not pass with equality. 500 ampere load was applied for 15 seconds, and voltage droop was used as the comparison. Load was then adjusted to achieve voltage equivalence. A span of 10% amperage was noted. I forgot to add here, all DUTs were 29 plate 8-D's. All fell within the 143 to 147 pounds weight category.
Conclusion?
These guys had personalities. Generally speaking age of DUT was a major influence (as determined by lid date code branding.
At >14 volts the personalities really came into their own. Some batteries would bubble with consistency while others did not.
I ran out of time. This was a "trade" agreement. ABC was to build ,070" plate group 24 batteries for me to see if car car batteries could tolerate true cyclable 5% antimony plates.
Keep in mind, all batteries passed the BCI load test. None failed a hydrometer dipping.
Reduce maintenance voltage to agree with the first sign of bubbling. Maintenance voltage is the potential at which eliminates a majority of bubbling. Some commercial marine batteries would see maintenance voltage for weeks at a time. It was generally agreed upon that 13.6 volts was safe at 65F.
Jerry told me he now had conclusive ammunition to insist his commercial vessel batteries be kept at 13.6 volts. He said most draggers and tuna boats were referencing 14.0 volts as an alternator voltage set point.
The experiment with the heavy plate group 24 battery was a tremendous failure. Laughably so. Many of them load tested to 200 CCA agmperes or less. But subsequently failed entirely. Autopsy revealed severe acid starvation.
I am going to stand back and read subsequent comments about this on the forum. My reward for aching fingers posting this :)
