Antimony Poisoning Of Flooded Negative Plates

My original batteries lasted 9 years, So I'm guessing my float voltage is rather close to perfect

One way to check it is to think about how often you need to water your batteries, I refill mine, when new, annually, As they age they need more frequent watering but when new, if it is a year or more between waterings,, You are good. If on the other hand it is monthly.. TOO HIGH

Hi snowman,

A temperature compensated charger with a sensor on the battery and battery voltage sense wires.

So we need a smart converter, right?
:)
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jrnymn7 wrote:
So, regulating the current is what really matters, while the voltage setting is simply a means to an end?

Current is the movement of charge and the plates store (+) and (-) charge.

The more charge on the plates means the higher the voltage measured between the plates and the higher the potential energy that is available.

Voltage is defined as energy per unit charge, so voltage represents potential or kinetic energy depend on whether the charge is stationary or moving.

So to answer your question, voltage levels control the flow of charge...

So, regulating the current is what really matters, while the voltage setting is simply a means to an end?

What I mean is progressive excess float voltage does a lot of damage. What is "excessive"?

A certain voltage will render electrolyte a full specific density. A very specific amount of current will maintain that density. Anything less, the specific gravity slumps. Anything more, antimony starts packing its bags.

Note the crucial intention of the word PROGRESSIVE. Excessive charging voltages held for inordinately long periods of time will also cause antimony to take a hike.

This is merely something to keep in mind. There is no magic point of yes/no.

But I am reading here of charging voltage values that are just plain too high. An antimony poor battery exhibits classic need to significantly overcharge to reach full gravity density.

Sometimes education must include the picking of nits. With information an individual can select appropriate battery maintenance protocols.

I have according to Concorde, stirred up a hornet's nest. Engineering is preparing a reply to my questioning of their very specific battery maintenance values. When I get a reply I shall cut n paste.

I might be old, but I'm grouchy...

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
It's a fact of life that maintaining too high a float voltage encourages the migration of antimony from the positive plates to the sponge lead on the negative grids.

• Antimonial poisoning shortens battery life considerably
• When negative plate material reaches a certain ppm of antimony transfer, bad Juju happens
• Normally flooded batteries self discharge 4-12% when new
• A poisoned battery can self-discharge 30% per month
• A poisoned battery can require up to 1000% more watering than a new un-poisoned battery
• A poisoned battery has a charge efficiency degradation that can slump from around 85 - 90% when new to less than 70%
• This means being forced to put 130% more energy into the battery than you removed (discharged).

MEASURE YOUR BATTERY FLOAT MILLIAMPS TO EACH BATTERY. THIS IS VOLTAGE SENSITIVE AND TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE. THIS IS THE ONE, THE SINGLE, THE ONLY WAY TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE OVERFLOAT CHARGING YOUR FLOODED LEAD ACID BATTERIES.

So, you are saying, anything over 13.2 in float will shorten it's life span. correct ?

AGM batteries contain 0% antimony

Can this happen with AGM batteries, too?