Charge Up Those "New" Batteries
Got a new pair of Flooded 6s from Canadian Tire today branded their way, but same as Deka GC 15s for specs and appearance. (230AH, 64 lbs) Local store would rarely sell 6v batts, so they sit on the s...
Forum Discussion
I had a lovely day yesterday shelping batteries.. It was 72 degrees (F) out as I installed my last new battery for a while.. I now have
A pair of GC-2 Flooded wet cells 230 amp hours
A Group 31 12 volt RV/marine deep cycle 130 anp hours
A Group 29 about 105 AH
and a 27 (About 95) Wanted another 31 but they did not have one in stock.
Thus proving mixed sizes work... now the reason for this
The inverter said of the batteries as I drove last Wed "Nobody home" it would not draw off 'em nor charge them (Ouch).
The 6V's are under the step. good ventilation (open to ground) and the terminals needed serious cleaning (installed in 2014 as I recall)
The `12's are in a wooden box. the box was built in 2006 and originally housed two group 31 AGM's I then added a couple 29 Maintenance free and later dumped one of those (and re-moved that part of the box) the AGM's only lasted a few years so it's been Maintence free in that box for at least a decade.
Acid fumes from the batteries would of course damage the wood.. Which looks new (Save for one piece that lays atop the batteries and ... Well it was "Old" when I put it there.. Connections on the Maintenance Free were clean and shiny even though I'd not touched them in a few years.
Of the 3 Group 29's that were there
#1 Failed static test. when I dropped it off and hooked the load tester I had less than 10 volts at zero amps.
#2 passed. proper load test is 315 amps for 15 seconds. I sucked 360 for over 20 seconds and still in the green.
#3 failed load test. Good voltage to start but dropped like a rock under less thanb 100 amp loads
So now I have two new batteries..
What does this have to do with self discharge
Well Flooded wet GC-2's tend to "Spit" a bit and the "Spit" (Dilute Sulfuric acid) allows some current to flow post to post OUTSIDE the battery. it is also why the terminals needed serious cleaning. The Maintenance free ones.. Well they can do that if you rapid charge them.. clearly I did not
Oh rapid charge for my battery bank is something like over 170 amps. IN THEORY I can hit 160 (Never going to happen) in practice about 100 between the 80 amp PD converter and the 80 amp charger module in the inverter..
I know they are nice when they work. HEAVY when they don't :)
A pair of GC-2 Flooded wet cells 230 amp hours
A Group 31 12 volt RV/marine deep cycle 130 anp hours
A Group 29 about 105 AH
and a 27 (About 95) Wanted another 31 but they did not have one in stock.
Thus proving mixed sizes work... now the reason for this
The inverter said of the batteries as I drove last Wed "Nobody home" it would not draw off 'em nor charge them (Ouch).
The 6V's are under the step. good ventilation (open to ground) and the terminals needed serious cleaning (installed in 2014 as I recall)
The `12's are in a wooden box. the box was built in 2006 and originally housed two group 31 AGM's I then added a couple 29 Maintenance free and later dumped one of those (and re-moved that part of the box) the AGM's only lasted a few years so it's been Maintence free in that box for at least a decade.
Acid fumes from the batteries would of course damage the wood.. Which looks new (Save for one piece that lays atop the batteries and ... Well it was "Old" when I put it there.. Connections on the Maintenance Free were clean and shiny even though I'd not touched them in a few years.
Of the 3 Group 29's that were there
#1 Failed static test. when I dropped it off and hooked the load tester I had less than 10 volts at zero amps.
#2 passed. proper load test is 315 amps for 15 seconds. I sucked 360 for over 20 seconds and still in the green.
#3 failed load test. Good voltage to start but dropped like a rock under less thanb 100 amp loads
So now I have two new batteries..
What does this have to do with self discharge
Well Flooded wet GC-2's tend to "Spit" a bit and the "Spit" (Dilute Sulfuric acid) allows some current to flow post to post OUTSIDE the battery. it is also why the terminals needed serious cleaning. The Maintenance free ones.. Well they can do that if you rapid charge them.. clearly I did not
Oh rapid charge for my battery bank is something like over 170 amps. IN THEORY I can hit 160 (Never going to happen) in practice about 100 between the 80 amp PD converter and the 80 amp charger module in the inverter..
I know they are nice when they work. HEAVY when they don't :)
