"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
Yet another opinion:

"2.15 volts per cell."

Includes a chart showing a 12-volt battery is about 25% discharged at 12.6
volts


http://continuouswave.com/whaler/ref...geBattery.html

I see where you are coming from Chuck. I think our differences are real
world vs theoretical.
Once discharged, even modestly, a brand new battery cannot be charged back
to and hold (without benefit of a float charger) it's theoretical capacity.
Initially the difference is small, but over time and with subsequent
discharges, the difference gets larger until it's time for a new battery.
During it's lifetime, the battery is considered "good" even though it is
slowly degrading. Equalization or reconditioning extends the useful life of
the battery, but it can never achieve and hold the theoretical per cell
charge. To make matters worse, I doubt you could find a mass produced
battery that has each cell producing exactly the same voltage, and more so
as the battery ages.

A couple of years ago I had to replace three 8D batteries in my big boat.
Since I didn't want double hernias from this process, I checked the voltage
on the new batteries before lugging them down into the engine room. 12.6
volts on each.

I guess we exhausted this subject.

Eisboch