Is it okay to equalize maintainence free batteries?

Gary. wrote:
I got an answer to my E-mail to Johnson Controls....... So I didn't get an answer that meant anything.

This is what I expected. No company is going to say go ahead, and risk having it in writing if something were to go wrong. Expecting a yes answer was unrealistic, and that customer service on a giant conglomerate would actually know something about their product is unwise.

Mex once informed me that a sealed calcium flooded battery, when unintentionally deeply cycled required absorption voltage at 15 volts to have any hope of longevity after an unintended deep discharge

I'd noticed such a battery also tapered to nearly 0 amps when fully charged at absorption voltage, where a regular flooded battery would still accept 0.7 to 1 amp to be held at that voltage after Specific gravity maxed out.

The deeply cycled maintenance free battery I recharged after the BMW's alternator went out, is still going 2+ years later, and has been drained to jump start levels twice since that I know of.

I Did not recharge it after the jumpstarts, the owner did put his 6amp schumacher on it overnight. Time will tell Takes a while in mild temperatures for capacity to decline to the point it can't start a fuel injected engine.

I'll certainly never buy a sealed flooded maintenance free battery.

My last wally world 27 at 7 years of age,which was relegated to engine starting duty at year 2, could start the engine fine when fully charged, but take 5 AH from it and Click click click.

I'd not fear EQing the calcium maintenance free battery. If capacity has declined to the point when it is noticeable, the battery is likely near a goner anyway.

I'd certainly not think a 2 amp 'trickle' charger left on it is going to do anything meaningful in terms or restoring lost capacity. now if one were able to bring it to, and hold it at 15 volts at 5 amps per 100Ah of capacity, then perhaps, but not a set it and forget it plug in charger.

The word 'Trickle' seems to have positive connotations for some. I see the word trickle and I think about a enlarged prostate and diseased sexual organ, and am mystified at the love of the word trickle even pertaining to batteries.

'Automatic' and 'trickle' is a double negative whammy.