I did not mean to mislead when I said it would take 4.5 to 5 hours to recharge batteries. I should have added that I seldom discharge batteries very deep and that this is the average time it takes me to recharge mine. The whole point I was trying to make is that it takes hours to recharge batteries and that the process cannot be rushed nor interrupted.
Battery Issue possibly?
- Thread starter Anchor Lady
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- battery charging
And this is a very, very good point! Many folks often don't understand how long it actually takes to fully recharge a battery...
It really doesn't matter that the batteries were new last year; they could have been no good when you got them! I've had brand new Interstate batteries that were garbage, heavily sulfated. Fortunately the dealer took them back. Also, you can ruin good, new batteries in less than one season by improper charging and use.
That charger won't properly charge those batteries, as Maine Sail points out, and isn't appropriately left "on" unattended.
I guess the batteries are no good now. You need new batteries and an appropriate charger.
That charger won't properly charge those batteries, as Maine Sail points out, and isn't appropriately left "on" unattended.
I guess the batteries are no good now. You need new batteries and an appropriate charger.
Thank you all that responded. So it sounds like most signs point to a new charger, done and done. Previous owner used a cheap car battery trickler. I purchased a new Guest charge pro 5/5 from west marine. Looks like an easy set up. That and some cleaning up of the connections, I may be in the clear. Alternator is still in question but let me try the new charger first.
It is frustrating to those here who take time to offer advice which is apparently ignored.
I did dig up my battery info:
2 Interstate Batteries, 24M-XHD Cranking, 800 cold cranking amps, 135 reserved capacity at 25amps. $126 a piece.
Are they no good after a year since I brought them down to 0% and tried to charge with an inferior charger?
2 Interstate Batteries, 24M-XHD Cranking, 800 cold cranking amps, 135 reserved capacity at 25amps. $126 a piece.
Are they no good after a year since I brought them down to 0% and tried to charge with an inferior charger?
You can test them, try them out. With that new charger you bought it could take a long, long time to fully charge them. Then discharge them with a known load to 50% state of charge and see how long that takes.
Check the water. Don't add water before charging unless the plates are exposed to air, and then only enough to cover the plates. After charging water to the proper level. Only distilled water.
Check state of charge by, when you think they are charged, taking them off the charger, waiting an hour, and then placing a small load on them briefly to dissipate any surface charge. Then measure the no-load, i.e., open circuit voltage to at least two decimal places.
This page has a state of charge table:
https://www.trojanbattery.com/pdf/datasheets/SCS200_Trojan_Data_Sheets.pdf
100% is 12.73V. Yours might be slightly different, but not by much.
We don't know the AH rating of your batteries, as this is seldom stated for cranking batteries. Assume 75AH, and for the test put a 2A load on each, or 4A if they are wired in parallel, and see how long it takes to get down to 12.10V (50% SoC). if it's much less than 20 hours, they are not good.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,139
Ok...Jim we are running down the rabbit hole..
A map to the rabbit hole has been nicely provided by @Maine Sail Under-Load Battery Voltage vs. SoC - Marine How To
Only way to know is to try too charge them using a quality charger, and then test as @jviss has indicated.
A map to the rabbit hole has been nicely provided by @Maine Sail Under-Load Battery Voltage vs. SoC - Marine How To
Hey gang, just a quick update. I replaced the battery charger and everything works great. One year old batteries still good. Nice to use a charger from the “modern era.” Lights up and everything. Thanks to all those that responded.