Equalizing charge ...help
According to Battery university... "Not all chargers feature equalizing charge. If not available, the service should be performed with a dedicated device". Question... So what "dedicated device" pe...
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Your old charger will probably work unless it is just a 2 amp trickle charger. It needs some oomph to get a deep cycle battery up to equalizing levels.
The old one is a "manual" charger, which you must turn off instead of an "automatic" charger, which shuts itself off when the battery reaches a certain voltage, say 14.4v.
First--make sure the fluid level is just below the split rings or else it will rise to overflow when you get the battery charged up and overcharging. It will rise but should not overflow. if too high to start, suck some out with your hydrometer.
Use the new charger to get the battery "full" (according to the charger--which is really about 97% full with most of those kind) Then put the manual charger on the job and let the voltage rise to 16ish volts. You should spot check the SG with your hydrometer. Once the SG stops rising you are done. The charger will likely "stall out" in the 16s or at least slow down in voltage rise a lot, so you can let it keep going for a time there, but stop if it tries to keep climbing.
If the electrolyte overflows right away or the voltage rises to 16 right away, then the battery might be sulfated too much. It should take a little time for the voltage to rise from 14.4 to 16.
The old one is a "manual" charger, which you must turn off instead of an "automatic" charger, which shuts itself off when the battery reaches a certain voltage, say 14.4v.
First--make sure the fluid level is just below the split rings or else it will rise to overflow when you get the battery charged up and overcharging. It will rise but should not overflow. if too high to start, suck some out with your hydrometer.
Use the new charger to get the battery "full" (according to the charger--which is really about 97% full with most of those kind) Then put the manual charger on the job and let the voltage rise to 16ish volts. You should spot check the SG with your hydrometer. Once the SG stops rising you are done. The charger will likely "stall out" in the 16s or at least slow down in voltage rise a lot, so you can let it keep going for a time there, but stop if it tries to keep climbing.
If the electrolyte overflows right away or the voltage rises to 16 right away, then the battery might be sulfated too much. It should take a little time for the voltage to rise from 14.4 to 16.
