This was old man Surrette's son, IIRC, but they were cast out of the same
mold. Maybe it's genetic?

I only know what I read in Nigel Calder and learn from conversations with
people like Surrette and here. I certainly don't equalize blindly, only if
the hydrometer or a voltage test tells me that the cell voltages are
unequal.

It seems illogical, though, to put on caps to conserve precious distilled
water and then take them off for an operation that you know wastes a lot of
it. (Distilled water is easy to get in the USA, but try finding it in the
boonies....)


--
Jim Woodward
www.mvFintry.com


..
"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in message
news:K3srb.12618$62.7550@lakeread04...
Interesting. George Peroni at Hydrocap says to remove them before
equalizing. If they get to hot to touch either a cell is bad or you are
charging to hard. Peroni is an odd bird. If you both have the time he
will talk your ears off. Reminds me a lot of Mr. Surrette. I have had
the privilege of receiving sermons from both. :-)

Peroni takes a different position about equalizing. He claims that it
is not needed with modern 3 stage chargers and actually reduce service
life.

Jim Woodward wrote:

Surrette, says that they work fine and solve all problems, even during
equalization. Certainly if they don't work during equalization, they're
worth less (not "worthless", just "worth less").

I guess I trust Surrette -- the family has been making boat batteries
for a
long time -- but I'll still have a vent above the battery box. I saw a
Hinckley 70 in Bermuda in 1996 that was going back to Maine to be
repaired
after a battery explosion. They were gel cells, mounted under a bunk,
with
no vent. Wasn't a pretty sight. Lucky there was no one in the stateroom
at
the time. Even gel cells need venting.



--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com