My Screwy 31
First off let me say I am not stressing over this. It's just a battery, it is only money, it is meeting my overnight needs, but it is displaying strange behavior, and I am curious as to why. So th...
Forum Discussion
Flooded LA formula...
FIVE PERCENT OF 20 AMP HOUR CAPACITY
In CONSTANT amperage
Until electrolyte reaches OEM density
OR
16.00 volts is reached
The five percent value is optimum compromise between speed and efficiency. For a 110 amp hour battery five constant amps (regardless of what the voltage is reading) will do fine. This means 5.0 amps at 15.9 as well as 5.0 amps at 14.8 volts.
Once the protocol is finished it's time to TEST the battery. Hydrometer verification after THREE days rest. Then a load test. That battery should be loaded to 375 amperes for 15 seconds. Voltage must not sag below 9.6 during the test. When you see "how" a new battery recovers after the test is conducted it is a clue how the old battery is faring. Let's say, AFTER the load test, the voltage s-l-o-w-l-y returns to 12.5 from say 11.9 with the old battery but it sproings back to 12.6 with the new battery (remember, both batteries pass the load test) it is a CLUE that even though the old battery passes the hydrometer and load test, it still cannot run a four minute mile like the new battery. This is a great CLUE that the amp hour capacity of the old battery has degraded somewhat. BUT BUT BUT. This COMPARISON should almost be certainly done with the one and same battery, and not with different brands nor even a different but same brand battery. This is why it is VITAL to establish basic data with a new battery before it goes into service. COMPARISON is everything.
FIFTEEN LOUSY MINUTES can save hours of frustration and guessing later. Am I saying to load test a brand new battery? YES! Not a cheese grater test but a 1/2 CCA test, the real enchilada. At the same temp. Note how the voltage reacts AFTER the load test is complete. Can you remember what you see?
The "effect" is how fast unaffected electrolyte (from the load test) gains access to unaffected porous plate active material. Read this again. There is a lot of activity in that sentence. A lot to ponder. And do not forget, this is a COMPARISON TEST between the same battery, old and new. Between batteries it can be a hilarious trap.
FIVE PERCENT OF 20 AMP HOUR CAPACITY
In CONSTANT amperage
Until electrolyte reaches OEM density
OR
16.00 volts is reached
The five percent value is optimum compromise between speed and efficiency. For a 110 amp hour battery five constant amps (regardless of what the voltage is reading) will do fine. This means 5.0 amps at 15.9 as well as 5.0 amps at 14.8 volts.
Once the protocol is finished it's time to TEST the battery. Hydrometer verification after THREE days rest. Then a load test. That battery should be loaded to 375 amperes for 15 seconds. Voltage must not sag below 9.6 during the test. When you see "how" a new battery recovers after the test is conducted it is a clue how the old battery is faring. Let's say, AFTER the load test, the voltage s-l-o-w-l-y returns to 12.5 from say 11.9 with the old battery but it sproings back to 12.6 with the new battery (remember, both batteries pass the load test) it is a CLUE that even though the old battery passes the hydrometer and load test, it still cannot run a four minute mile like the new battery. This is a great CLUE that the amp hour capacity of the old battery has degraded somewhat. BUT BUT BUT. This COMPARISON should almost be certainly done with the one and same battery, and not with different brands nor even a different but same brand battery. This is why it is VITAL to establish basic data with a new battery before it goes into service. COMPARISON is everything.
FIFTEEN LOUSY MINUTES can save hours of frustration and guessing later. Am I saying to load test a brand new battery? YES! Not a cheese grater test but a 1/2 CCA test, the real enchilada. At the same temp. Note how the voltage reacts AFTER the load test is complete. Can you remember what you see?
The "effect" is how fast unaffected electrolyte (from the load test) gains access to unaffected porous plate active material. Read this again. There is a lot of activity in that sentence. A lot to ponder. And do not forget, this is a COMPARISON TEST between the same battery, old and new. Between batteries it can be a hilarious trap.
