Is killing batteries three times too much?

NinerBikes wrote:

Camp, Forrest, Camp! wrote:

NinerBikes wrote:
Now, then... the OP needs a super duper 16.0V or barely higher charger that can grunt out and hold a C/20 battery capacity AMPERAGE charge rate, to top charge and equalize charge his battery. Any more suggestions?

I have a charger that will do that, but I didn't realize that I could do it manually. If I put the charger on the high setting, how do I know when equalization has been accomplished?

You put a Digital multi meter on it and also a Specific Gravity meter on each cell. One of two things will happen first. The voltage will hit 16.0V then start dropping back to 15.7V. When it's dropping, it's not good for your batteries. OR... You go in there, while things are bubbling, and you measure the specific gravity on the lowest SG cell, THE WEAK SISTER, or the slacker and you get the SG up on it as close as possible to all it's siblings. Generally anything at or above 1.275 SG is considered Equalized... the goal is for all of them to be the same reading, or as close as possible.

This process requires Baby sitting, to get the approximate time down to accomplish it, the first few times are learning experiences, after that, it's pretty consistent, the amount of time it takes. Can take 30 minutes to 3 hours, just depends on how badly your plates are sulphated, the 2nd time may take less effort.