New Batteries Don't Last Long
Posting this question/problem for a friend so I only have the information he sent me. He has a KZ 26TT about 2006 vintage, now camping in Colorado with no electrical supply,and uses a Honda 2000-I ge...
Forum Discussion
Quote:
"Checking with volt meter should be done not "after charge", but 24 hours after charge. Full battery with all cables disconnected should read 12.7V."
Not true in this case. Since a load such as refrigerator and detectors will get rid of a surface charge with minutes. Checking the voltage at the battery-terminals about 15 minutes after charge (all other items left turned off) should work. Fully charged battery-bank should drop to 12.7 volts. Anything higher is still surface charge. Check again in 15 minutes.
If the battery-bank is less than "full charge", the voltage will settle at something lower (i.e. 12.5v -90%, 12.4v -80%, 12.3v -70%). The items I mentioned left on do not cause a voltage drop so reading is good enough for accuracy. I hope he is not starting each cycle 12.3 volts (70%) already or he is in "deep dodo". Heavy sulfating of the batteries already.
"Checking with volt meter should be done not "after charge", but 24 hours after charge. Full battery with all cables disconnected should read 12.7V."
Not true in this case. Since a load such as refrigerator and detectors will get rid of a surface charge with minutes. Checking the voltage at the battery-terminals about 15 minutes after charge (all other items left turned off) should work. Fully charged battery-bank should drop to 12.7 volts. Anything higher is still surface charge. Check again in 15 minutes.
If the battery-bank is less than "full charge", the voltage will settle at something lower (i.e. 12.5v -90%, 12.4v -80%, 12.3v -70%). The items I mentioned left on do not cause a voltage drop so reading is good enough for accuracy. I hope he is not starting each cycle 12.3 volts (70%) already or he is in "deep dodo". Heavy sulfating of the batteries already.
