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#1
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Battery Meter
"Gould 0738" wrote in message ... Since a "smart" charger will maintain a 13.2 voltage on a flooded, 12-volt batery in good condition, that is the standard for full charge. If that same charger cannot bring the voltage above 12.6, that's a likely sign that the battery is beginning to fail. So what was the full charge standard before the advent of smart chargers? Answer: 12.6v Not to kick a dead horse, because if you're happy with 13.2v and I am happy with 12.6v, then we're both happy -- but: A charger has to develop a higher voltage than the battery voltage, otherwise it won't charge. (Basic electrical rule of difference of potential required for current flow). Smart chargers in the bulk charge mode usually try to run in a constant current mode with the voltage set at 14.4 volts for flooded batteries. The absorption mode drops the voltage to 13.5 typically. Flood maintains the charge at 13.5 volts (depending on charger manufacturer - I happen to be looking at a Prosine unit manual at the moment) at very low current to minimize electrolyte evaporation, but it is still charging. Remove the charger and a flooded battery will return to it's normal state of 12.6v within a hour or so. Try it. I just tested three known good batteries. I charged each one with a smart charger that finished with a float charge potential of 13.3 volts on each. When I removed the charger, each battery read as follows within a couple of hours: Group 24 Marine Deep Cycle/Start Combination battery (flooded) --- 12.6v AGM Deep Cycle Battery --- 12.8v Two, U2400 six volt batteries in series (flooded, RV house batteries) --- 12.6v According to your position on full charge, I must have three batteries that are going bad which is not the case. Eisboch |
#2
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Battery Meter
According to your position on full charge, I must have three batteries that
are going bad which is not the case. You do not have batteries going bad because they can be charged to 13.2. The fact that they then partially discharge to 12.6 doesn't make them bad batteries. If your batteries could not be charged above 12.6, they would be starting to fail. As you noted, they can be charged to 13.2. |
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