Battery equalization in southern California

Assuming you are equalizing a pair of Trojan 105"s that had a good charge before starting, I'd let the charger run at 40 amps for two hours. Your charger may not be capable of reaching 16V but anything above 13.5V is going to be stirring the electrolyte.
If you have a hydrometer, definitely use it. It is the best gauge of the state of charge and will let you know the optimum equalization point.

Hi,

It might be an idea to monitor temperature, too.

NinerBikes wrote:

Leave the caps closed, leave it on, and give it 2 or 3 hours if need be... or take a specific gravity reading now, and note if it's climbed. You are looking for about 1.280 to 1.290 for specific gravity. Check every 30 minutes to see if the SG is climbing.

If you get a SG of 1.290 on all cells, shut it off, the charger, or until the lowest SG stops climbing.

X2

judelaurenzo25g wrote:
So I finally got a hold of a 40amp manual charger. I clamped it on and away we go. It climbed up to 15.4 volts and is going between 15.41-15.44 its been stuck there for 20 mind with no more progress. I read the goal is around 16.1volts. How should that take with this 40amp charger? Its bubbling but not vigorously. Should I leave the caps off?

Leave the caps closed, leave it on, and give it 2 or 3 hours if need be... or take a specific gravity reading now, and note if it's climbed. You are looking for about 1.280 to 1.290 for specific gravity. Check every 30 minutes to see if the SG is climbing.

If you get a SG of 1.290 on all cells, shut it off, the charger, or until the lowest SG stops climbing.

So I finally got a hold of a 40amp manual charger. I clamped it on and away we go. It climbed up to 15.4 volts and is going between 15.41-15.44 its been stuck there for 20 mind with no more progress. I read the goal is around 16.1volts. How should that take with this 40amp charger? Its bubbling but not vigorously. Should I leave the caps off?

landyacht318 wrote:
When taking SG readings, one must make sure no Bubbles are sticking to the float...

Yes. I'm not certain such precision will help those batteries, but I'm also always careful not to allow any moisture into the upper half of the float that might allow it to stick to the sides of the glass tube.

Isn't that the same HF charger Mex put his seal of disapproval on?

If you're charging and equalizing the 6V's separately, you'll need a voltage of 7->8 volts and 10 amps wouldn't be too much.
If you're charging the 6V's in series connection (12V), you'll need a voltage of 15->16 volts and 10amps.

Hi,

Yes.

judelaurenzo25g wrote:
Will this charger work for me? HF charger click

When taking SG readings, one must make sure no Bubbles are sticking to the float. This might be why your reported cell readings vary so Widely.

Can't hurt to get a charger capable of doing a proper EQ, but I suspect those batteries have little service left in them due to long time spans of significant undercharging, that no amount of Nursing or EQ sessions is going to revert.

We, of course, are interested in the results of your trying to get the SG back up, but It might be in your best interest to cut your losses and replace the batteries and use your new found Knowledge to treat this next set properly with your new chargers.

Will this charger work for me? HF charger click