Battery life

[frecku]

I have a Class C rig with 6 X U2200 6V interstate batteries, they are about 5 years old, well taken care of, toped off regularly.

This spring cleaned the corrosion off the terminals and did a regular charge. Normally right after charging it shows a voltage of 13.5V and about a week later with the power disconnected a voltage of 12.8V, stable.

Never had any issues with them, I happened to have a battery hydrometer handy and tested all the cells. To my surprise all cells showed a voltage in the "white" between 12.25 - 12.50V.

Is that normal ? I do not think the hydrometer is temperature compensated. Do I still have life left in the batteries, they work just fine ?

[HiTech]

I feel a little better about letting my stupid "smart" charger run known sulphated batteries up to 15.8 at 2 amps for many hours now. I did it anyway because it worked. I just feel better now. 🙂

Jim

[mena661]

X2 MEX

[MEXICOWANDERER]

I wouldn't worry too much about temperature unless when testing the electrolyte is less than 60 degrees nor more than 75 degrees. I would worry more about the accuracy of the hydrometer. Most of them I come across are laughingly inaccurate.

Let's see, I paid twenty something dollars for a FRANCIS FREAS hydrometer, seventeen years ago (broke the 1,2,3rd ones). A little more than a dollar a year.

Batteries that have low specific gravity have sulfur on the plates that rightly belongs in solution. In the acid. These areas are going to GROW and destroy the plate if the sulfation is not forced back into solution by a controlled overcharge - desulfation, equalization.

It will not harm the batteries a bit to (this time only) ASSSSSSSUME the cells are reading low and sulfation has started.

A constant eleven amps applied across the battery (it's hard to achieve without a special charger) until voltage rises to 16.0 volts is called for.

Try the HARBOR FREIGHT 10-AMP charger set on 12 volts 10-AMPS STARTING. If voltage quickly rises to 16.0 click the slide button over to 2-amps and then be prepared to wait a few days until voltage rises as far as it can or to 16.0 volts maximum. At 2-amps this can take awhile and with 220 ampere hours, you won't encounter runaway voltage.

Wait an hour or two after it reaches 16.0 volts and re-check with your hydrometer. If readings have not changed I would then hold your hydrometer highly suspect.

Even if your batteries are OK and your hydrometer has lied to you, this gentle regimen above WILL NOT HARM THE BATTERIES A BIT.

Sometimes, given limits and guidelines a person can fudge a bit.

[wa8yxm]

frecku wrote:
Is that normal ? I do not think the hydrometer is temperature compensated.

If you are testing with a Hydrometer, and it is NOT temperature compensated then there is a "conversion" chart either in/on the barrel or in the manual that came with it..

Without temperature compensation, be it automatic or via said chart, the reading is meaningless.

[mena661]

frecku wrote:
I tried resizing the pics. in Photobucket to 640 but still no go, in the yellow picture icon under the height X width box I think there was a code like 1.35, ring an bells ?

Wiring was done with 4/0 cable to reduce voltage drop, all banks come to one buss bar, protector removed for pics.

http://s209.photobucket.com/user/frecku/media/DSCN1122.jpg.html?sort=3&o=19

http://s209.photobucket.com/user/frecku/media/DSCN1070.jpg.html?sort=3&o=27

http://s209.photobucket.com/user/frecku/media/DSCN1121.jpg.html?sort=3&o=20

Nice work!

[frecku]

Tahnks for that, I was pasting the URL instead of the direct link on the right, I did a test run and it now shows up in post.:C

[westend]

Tried to post your pictures using the URL you posted but didn't have any luck. Are you selecting the "Direct link" in Photobucket? Your links above are working fine.

[frecku]

I tried resizing the pics. in Photobucket to 640 but still no go, in the yellow picture icon under the height X width box I think there was a code like 1.35, ring an bells ?

Wiring was done with 4/0 cable to reduce voltage drop, all banks come to one buss bar, protector removed for pics.

http://s209.photobucket.com/user/frecku/media/DSCN1122.jpg.html?sort=3&o=19

http://s209.photobucket.com/user/frecku/media/DSCN1070.jpg.html?sort=3&o=27

http://s209.photobucket.com/user/frecku/media/DSCN1121.jpg.html?sort=3&o=20

[mena661]

I would get the manual charger from Harbor Freight and let that do it's thing. Shut it off if it hits 16V. I use this to equalize my batteries.

http://www.harborfreight.com/10-2-55-amp-6-12-volt-battery-charger-engine-starter-66783.html

[time2roll]

deleted

[westend]

frecku wrote:
Forgot how to post pics. directly to the forum without using a link, any pointers please ? 😮

In the Advanced post form there is a yellow icon that is a small postcard. Select that and copy your hosted picture URL into the URL box. Forum picture size is limited to 640 pixels wide so you can select that resizer in the post image window.

BTW, I like your wiring skills, very neat installation.

[westend]

Have you been using the pulser for the 5 year life of the batteries? This is one of the mysteries of battery technology that I can't get my head around. The real frustration is that I know a high frequency/current pulse does affect some part of the battery to increase capacity.

[frecku]

Forgot how to post pics. directly to the forum without using a link, any pointers please ? 😮

[frecku]