Mixing Batteries on Float-- Mex Test Update 2
UPDATE 1 on 23 Dec post UPDATE 2 on 25 Dec post ---------- Mex is driving me crazy! He said do not mix my used 12s (Scrubber batteries, he calls them--humph! They are respectable golf car batte...
Forum Discussion
BFL13, Like William Jefferson Clinton quipped "It depends on the meaning of the word 'is'"
Your usage description got a little dizzy spinning round in my head. "Paralleled For Charging " is different than "Paralleled For Float" or "Paralleled For Cycling"
Somehow I got it into my head for the initial question that you intended on using the batteries, then recharging them until they floated then maintaining them on float.
But for how long a time?
A very long term float after all batteries have been fully charged is a heck of a lot different than a short term float after the batteries are "sorta recharged"
Time spent at "maximum absorbsion voltage" is critical.
Here's a tip to understand the reality of same type of battery has different chemical attributes according to its state of charge or age.
Fully charge all batteries
Wait 4 or 5 days, then measure the voltage potential of each battery
Take a hydrometer reading then reconcile it to voltage of each battery.
A tenth of a volt is significant, two tenths is worrysome when you are trying to balance batteries.
To amplify the test, apply 14.8 volts after fully charging the batteries. Note that the cells with the lowest gravity and lowest initial voltage boil first.
Cells that droop after charging, actually CONSUME power. Roaches check in but they don't check out, time. The worse the cell the hungrier they get. Some are the eqvt of a 20 watt load on the other cells in the bank.
Let's say, a mixed bank were the be used for camping. Parallel the batteries, charge as much as possible, use the bank then recharge as soon as possible. This would have the least effect on the good cells.
I have seen a new, good battery destroyed in 6 months when paralleled 100% of the time to a bad battery.
But to put a point on the question "How about when the batteries are floated?"
Connect the charged batteries in the form of a bank. Apply a flat current. The good batteries will stay good until the bad batteries degrade to the point where they Bogart all the wattage, the float voltage sags then all the cells die.
Looking at this again, I must have been so conditioned by BFL's oft stated camping agenda the thought of a simple, continued float-only regimen did not occur to me.
Your usage description got a little dizzy spinning round in my head. "Paralleled For Charging " is different than "Paralleled For Float" or "Paralleled For Cycling"
Somehow I got it into my head for the initial question that you intended on using the batteries, then recharging them until they floated then maintaining them on float.
But for how long a time?
A very long term float after all batteries have been fully charged is a heck of a lot different than a short term float after the batteries are "sorta recharged"
Time spent at "maximum absorbsion voltage" is critical.
Here's a tip to understand the reality of same type of battery has different chemical attributes according to its state of charge or age.
Fully charge all batteries
Wait 4 or 5 days, then measure the voltage potential of each battery
Take a hydrometer reading then reconcile it to voltage of each battery.
A tenth of a volt is significant, two tenths is worrysome when you are trying to balance batteries.
To amplify the test, apply 14.8 volts after fully charging the batteries. Note that the cells with the lowest gravity and lowest initial voltage boil first.
Cells that droop after charging, actually CONSUME power. Roaches check in but they don't check out, time. The worse the cell the hungrier they get. Some are the eqvt of a 20 watt load on the other cells in the bank.
Let's say, a mixed bank were the be used for camping. Parallel the batteries, charge as much as possible, use the bank then recharge as soon as possible. This would have the least effect on the good cells.
I have seen a new, good battery destroyed in 6 months when paralleled 100% of the time to a bad battery.
But to put a point on the question "How about when the batteries are floated?"
Connect the charged batteries in the form of a bank. Apply a flat current. The good batteries will stay good until the bad batteries degrade to the point where they Bogart all the wattage, the float voltage sags then all the cells die.
Looking at this again, I must have been so conditioned by BFL's oft stated camping agenda the thought of a simple, continued float-only regimen did not occur to me.
