A Question About Gravity... Specifically
Hey guys,
So as I do every year going into winter, I tested, equalized and retested my sedan's starting battery. (Don't tell MEX that I drove with cloudy electrolyte yesterday after the equalization. I should have done it in the evening when it could rest overnight.)
After a charge and equalization with the Vector, I hammered the battery with the Harbor Freight beast with about 16.85V for 1 hour and 45 minutes. I'm pretty confident that I couldn't have done much more.
My efforts appear to have netted me about a 0.010 or ~6% gain Not stellar, but better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
So adjusted for Temperature, my readings are...
1. 1.253
2. 1.263
3. 1.263
4. 1.263
5. 1.263
6. 1.243
Not terrible for a 5 year old starting battery in a car that makes a lot of 10 minute, short hauls to work and back, but I think it fair to say she's entering her golden years.
In 35 deg. F conditions, it pretty well fires the 3 liter V6 right up. Before the equalization, though, I did notice a little sluggishness in the morning starts which reminded me that it was time to equalize. It seems that a 6% gain made a subjectively measurable difference.
My question is this...
According to my best chart, 1.243 is about 87%, where 1.263 is nearly 100%. Of course this is ASSuming that the SG when new was also 1.263 or so. I don't recall what it was on this particular battery. I think I may have neglected to take an initial reading on this one.
Now if we average the cells, we get 1.258 for about 93%.
Some folks say that a battery is only as strong as it's weakest cell. Is that really true or do I have more like a 93% battery here?
It is what it is and it'll do what it'll do, but I'm just curious.
So as I do every year going into winter, I tested, equalized and retested my sedan's starting battery. (Don't tell MEX that I drove with cloudy electrolyte yesterday after the equalization. I should have done it in the evening when it could rest overnight.)
After a charge and equalization with the Vector, I hammered the battery with the Harbor Freight beast with about 16.85V for 1 hour and 45 minutes. I'm pretty confident that I couldn't have done much more.
My efforts appear to have netted me about a 0.010 or ~6% gain Not stellar, but better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
So adjusted for Temperature, my readings are...
1. 1.253
2. 1.263
3. 1.263
4. 1.263
5. 1.263
6. 1.243
Not terrible for a 5 year old starting battery in a car that makes a lot of 10 minute, short hauls to work and back, but I think it fair to say she's entering her golden years.
In 35 deg. F conditions, it pretty well fires the 3 liter V6 right up. Before the equalization, though, I did notice a little sluggishness in the morning starts which reminded me that it was time to equalize. It seems that a 6% gain made a subjectively measurable difference.
My question is this...
According to my best chart, 1.243 is about 87%, where 1.263 is nearly 100%. Of course this is ASSuming that the SG when new was also 1.263 or so. I don't recall what it was on this particular battery. I think I may have neglected to take an initial reading on this one.
Now if we average the cells, we get 1.258 for about 93%.
Some folks say that a battery is only as strong as it's weakest cell. Is that really true or do I have more like a 93% battery here?
It is what it is and it'll do what it'll do, but I'm just curious.
