Breaking in new batteries?
Ok battery gurus,looking for opinions.I just replaced the 6 volt batteries in my golf cart with brand new Trojan T105,s.Is it better to run them down aways and then charge them,or run them down a litt...
Forum Discussion
A "single stage" charger does the two stages of battery charging, Bulk and Absorption. The issue is whether the single voltage is the one specified for charging that battery.
A "three-stage charger" is one with three voltage settings, none of which might be the right amount. Eg 14.4/13.6/13.2 where the battery spec says use 14.8
With the single stage at the proper voltage, you have to stop the recharge once the battery is fully charged and use some other charger for the Float stage. Or if that charger has adjustable voltage, just dial the voltage down from Vabs to the proper Float voltage.
The trick in all cases is to know when the battery is fully charged so you can go to Float voltage from Vabs. You can do this by hydrometer or by amp acceptance observation. There is some "SG lag" with the hydrometer method, so your timing can be off. You might have to restart the recharge if SG does not ever catch up. Leaving the Vabs on a little longer than necessary is ok, since that counts as "finishing", but not left on too long of course. How long is too long? Depends.
Mex has left a new puzzle by saying to drop to Float as soon as the battery is bubbling nicely or reaches Vabs (not sure what he meant) where up till now, I thought the proper idea was to leave Vabs on right to when the battery acceptance in amps has tapered down to under say 1 percent of rated AH. Unless otherwise directed :) I am sticking to the latter.
A "three-stage charger" is one with three voltage settings, none of which might be the right amount. Eg 14.4/13.6/13.2 where the battery spec says use 14.8
With the single stage at the proper voltage, you have to stop the recharge once the battery is fully charged and use some other charger for the Float stage. Or if that charger has adjustable voltage, just dial the voltage down from Vabs to the proper Float voltage.
The trick in all cases is to know when the battery is fully charged so you can go to Float voltage from Vabs. You can do this by hydrometer or by amp acceptance observation. There is some "SG lag" with the hydrometer method, so your timing can be off. You might have to restart the recharge if SG does not ever catch up. Leaving the Vabs on a little longer than necessary is ok, since that counts as "finishing", but not left on too long of course. How long is too long? Depends.
Mex has left a new puzzle by saying to drop to Float as soon as the battery is bubbling nicely or reaches Vabs (not sure what he meant) where up till now, I thought the proper idea was to leave Vabs on right to when the battery acceptance in amps has tapered down to under say 1 percent of rated AH. Unless otherwise directed :) I am sticking to the latter.
