Checked the batteries

[jdc1]

I finally remembered to check the water level in my batteries. Of course, it was well overdue. All three batteries needed a little water, especially the August 2018 battery. Is it unusual for the cells on the negative end to need more that those on the positive end? Even my two truck batteries were like that.

[wopachop]

But dont the weaker cells have more resistance and reduced capacity regardless of how its wired? Trying to understand how being wired in parallel can automatically work something out.

Isnt the cell damage permanent? I got way into lipo batteries for awhile. Cut open packs to harvest good cells and Frankensteined them together. Ive got a fancy device to measure c-rating accurately. I thought i was starting to understand batteries and always enjoy learning more.

[N-Trouble]

wa8yxm wrote:
I keep hearing how "Mixing batteies" causes problems

Now in series yes. I mean when you put two GC-2 in series they effectively become two halves of a single 12 volt battery.. And I'd not want a 12 volt battery that was half and half.

But when put put 'em in parallel. they work it out automitically and all the The ____ battery will ____ stuff with basically one exception is bunk.

And that exception (Shorted cell WILL drag down the entire set) can happen with brand new batteies I've had it happen at 1 week.

You’ve got it backwards... Batteries connected in series have no affect on each other. One is not aware of the others condition or vice-versa. Put em in parallel and the condition of each directly affect the other. They will try to equalize.

[jdc1]

I'm not worried about old mixed with new. They are less than a year apart, and their use was minimal. I just happened to have the oldest one sitting, so I added it to the battery bank on a whim when I added the solar panel/charge controller. I did think about using the third battery as a back-up battery, putting an isolator in between them, but......I'm just lazy, I guess.

[wa8yxm]

I keep hearing how "Mixing batteies" causes problems

Now in series yes. I mean when you put two GC-2 in series they effectively become two halves of a single 12 volt battery.. And I'd not want a 12 volt battery that was half and half.

But when put put 'em in parallel. they work it out automitically and all the The ____ battery will ____ stuff with basically one exception is bunk.

And that exception (Shorted cell WILL drag down the entire set) can happen with brand new batteies I've had it happen at 1 week.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Hybrid grids and paste and envelope separators have reduced loss in engine starting batteries. Antimony has been reduced. They were virtually forced to do all this by higher and higher engine heat. Modulated regulator voltage via computer is also de rigueur

[Lwiddis]

Mixing RV batteries of different ages, manufacturer and capacity is not a “best practice” IMO.

A monthly battery check, water and corrosion, seems easy to me.

[jdc1]

2oldman wrote:
You don't see batteries that have to be watered in trucks too much.. 🙂

These are 4 years old, and still have tons of power to fire up the 'ol 7.3 PSD. I didn't realize they were that old.

[2oldman]

You don't see batteries that have to be watered in trucks too much.. 🙂