Forum Discussion

2112's avatar
2112
Explorer II
Jul 28, 2017

Battery Equalization

I pulled my Continental M24-60 battery this morning to water and equalize. The two outside cells were slightly lower on water as compared to the four inside cells. After equalizing at 15.4V for about thirty minutes the four inside cells are boiling well with good SG but the two outside cells have very little activity and their SG is slightly low.

The questions are:
Do I continue to boil?

Am I removing good plating off the inside cells trying to get the outside cells in line?

Should I increase my voltage?

Call it good and accept the fact my four year old battery is on it's last leg?

Thanks

8 Replies

  • 2112's avatar
    2112
    Explorer II
    Jul 29, 2017
    After three hours at 16V 2.5A the weak cells are doing a little better but not quite there. I'm going to call it quits right there.

    Maybe charging it an hour every three days while in storage wasn't such a good idea after all.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Jul 29, 2017
    1.4 amps skews the entire formula so go by when the last cells start bubbling. Bring a thick novel, and canteen.
  • grizzzman's avatar
    grizzzman
    Explorer
    Jul 29, 2017
    2112 wrote:
    MEXICOWANDERER wrote:

    Feed positive battery charging lead in and out of 50 watt 12 volt light bulb and you have a current regulator.
    Excellent Idea

    It's ~1.5A at 15.5V so I'll raise it closer to 16V. I doubt I'll get 4A at 16V.

    I just feel like I'm ripping off good plating on the good cells trying to recover the weak one, doing more harm than good. Like I'm robbing life out of it.


    To answer your "feeling" yes you are. With that said, Mex is right.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2017
    Debriding a wound. Letting it bleed to flush out bacteria. Wind the ---- out of it to blow out the carbon...

    This is -exactly- why thick dense battery plates are an asset. They offer less kWh per pound of weight, but they have plate material in abundance. But one cannot have everything.

    Sulfated, the battery is of no use to anyone. Bite the bullet and proceed.
  • 2112's avatar
    2112
    Explorer II
    Jul 28, 2017
    MEXICOWANDERER wrote:

    Feed positive battery charging lead in and out of 50 watt 12 volt light bulb and you have a current regulator.
    Excellent Idea

    It's ~1.5A at 15.5V so I'll raise it closer to 16V. I doubt I'll get 4A at 16V.

    I just feel like I'm ripping off good plating on the good cells trying to recover the weak one, doing more harm than good. Like I'm robbing life out of it.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2017
    Equalize is 5% of amp hour capacity in constant current

    Example 4 amp

    Until one of two things happen

    Voltage rises to 16.0 volts

    All cells revert to normal density.

    Feed positive battery charging lead in and out of 50 watt 12 volt light bulb a d you have a current regulator.

    15.4 volts is barely adequate. But eventually it will work. Shut off if boiling cells reach 120°F
  • Triker33's avatar
    Triker33
    Explorer
    Jul 28, 2017
    I have gotten a little over 7 years out of my last two sets of T-105's.
    Neither set was ever equalized once.

    All were used in Full Time service. But little boondocking.

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