Battery troubleshooting help, please?
This regards one of my elderly 90aH gel cells in my shave ice machine. Though old, they have been performing awesomely. Possibly until now?
There are 2 12v batteries running a 24v motor. I'll call the batteries A and B.
I usually charge them with a 24 charger, but those chargers die often and then I sub a 12v until I get another 24v. I have been doing this for 9 years, have great battery life. The charging setup is not the problem.
Battery A had an incident with a 12v charger, though, about a month ago. The charger's clips were large, and the only way to get them on the terminals was to cross the handles. After 9 years doing this with no incident, I guess there must have been a gap in insulation bec a small fire started, melted off one of the handles. Luckily I was right there and smelled it. I have been worried about this battery ever since, but it seems fine. In fact, my problem today is with the other battery, but I am trying to give you all any info that could be relevant.
I also mentioned the other day that my 'smart' charger continues to charge at diminishing amperage after it indicates 'done'. Now that I know this, I leave it on until it gets down to about half an amp. ('Done' is about 2 amps.)
Today's problem: I charged both batteries to half an amp last night before bed. This morning, A reads 12.92v (they are usually 13.13 or so when full) and B reads 12.30. Yipes!
B has the following wires connected to it. All connections are tight, wires have no cracks or wear in housing.
Positive terminal:
- Cable to battery A negative terminal
- Cable to an Anderson connector (unused)
Negative terminal:
- Cable to controller
- Cable to Anderson connector (unused)
- Small wire to socket for 24v charger
- Small wire to solenoid to start motor
...and nothing else.
While charging right now (5.5amps from a 10a charger), the wires to solenoid and unused charger plug both read about 0.5 amps. Is that normal? Or within the margin of error of my cheap ammeter?
Can a solenoid go bad in such a way as to drain the battery?
When charged, I will put a small 12v load on the battery to see what voltage it has reached. Maybe it's sulfated?
Battery A also seems to have lost more overnight than it should, though not as bad as B.
Any ideas are welcome!
There are 2 12v batteries running a 24v motor. I'll call the batteries A and B.
I usually charge them with a 24 charger, but those chargers die often and then I sub a 12v until I get another 24v. I have been doing this for 9 years, have great battery life. The charging setup is not the problem.
Battery A had an incident with a 12v charger, though, about a month ago. The charger's clips were large, and the only way to get them on the terminals was to cross the handles. After 9 years doing this with no incident, I guess there must have been a gap in insulation bec a small fire started, melted off one of the handles. Luckily I was right there and smelled it. I have been worried about this battery ever since, but it seems fine. In fact, my problem today is with the other battery, but I am trying to give you all any info that could be relevant.
I also mentioned the other day that my 'smart' charger continues to charge at diminishing amperage after it indicates 'done'. Now that I know this, I leave it on until it gets down to about half an amp. ('Done' is about 2 amps.)
Today's problem: I charged both batteries to half an amp last night before bed. This morning, A reads 12.92v (they are usually 13.13 or so when full) and B reads 12.30. Yipes!
B has the following wires connected to it. All connections are tight, wires have no cracks or wear in housing.
Positive terminal:
- Cable to battery A negative terminal
- Cable to an Anderson connector (unused)
Negative terminal:
- Cable to controller
- Cable to Anderson connector (unused)
- Small wire to socket for 24v charger
- Small wire to solenoid to start motor
...and nothing else.
While charging right now (5.5amps from a 10a charger), the wires to solenoid and unused charger plug both read about 0.5 amps. Is that normal? Or within the margin of error of my cheap ammeter?
Can a solenoid go bad in such a way as to drain the battery?
When charged, I will put a small 12v load on the battery to see what voltage it has reached. Maybe it's sulfated?
Battery A also seems to have lost more overnight than it should, though not as bad as B.
Any ideas are welcome!
