I bought our two 6v golf cart batteries about 16 months ago. They've been stored in a heated garage since and have yet to be hooked up. How do I (safely) charge them up before I drop them into the boat and put them to work? All I have is a standard 12v plug into the wall automotive battery charger.
Precharging 6v batteries
- Thread starter Macboy
- Start date
I have always put my 12 volt, on one of those cheap low amp chargers. I bring the battery in the garage, and periodically through the winter plug the charger in and let it run for a day or two.
In my opinion any well regulated charger could be used to charge your batteries. Just put the batteries on the charger for a couple of days before you plan to put them in your boat. I would not use a "quick" charge setting, but one of the lower settings.
In my opinion any well regulated charger could be used to charge your batteries. Just put the batteries on the charger for a couple of days before you plan to put them in your boat. I would not use a "quick" charge setting, but one of the lower settings.
Connect them in series and run your 12 v charger on ‘trickle’ while monitoring both voltage and temperature. If you are careful, you could charge at a higher rate. Before doing anything, check their resting voltage separately to ensure they are at the same approximate charge - if one is substantially weaker than the other, connecting them in series can damage the good battery.
I hope you stored those new bats on wood so as not to discharge them. As for charging connect them in series and use a standard 12 charger. The charge won't be as deep as a programmable charge found on a boat it will revitalize the bat's if they need to be. Like @Don S/V ILLusion stated care for temp and amps need to be paid attention to.
Thanks to both, and yes - up off the floor for certain I'm a chainsaw carver so the piece of wood they were on is/was a full on log! haha
What voltages should I be seeing on the tester before I start?
What voltages should I be seeing on the tester before I start?
I believe that this is a myth that has been disproven. Seating them on concrete or wood will not cause one to self discharge more than the other.
Benny's right. Urban myths and old wives tales just keep on festering.
The real issue is temperature. Actually colder is better for keeping a charge, so this "heated basement" stuff is nonsense. The REASON, kids, is that the first battery cases just weren't up to snuff. These days, like even in my youth when I was just a twinkle, like 70+ years ago, this was even then a myth.
Please help us eliminate, stop, contain or limit this BS.
The real issue is temperature. Actually colder is better for keeping a charge, so this "heated basement" stuff is nonsense. The REASON, kids, is that the first battery cases just weren't up to snuff. These days, like even in my youth when I was just a twinkle, like 70+ years ago, this was even then a myth.
Please help us eliminate, stop, contain or limit this BS.
"Actually colder is better for keeping a charge," is good up to a Point. If the battery discharges sufficiently, the chemical properties of the sulfate/acid solution in the battery will change. As the chemical composition of the battery changes the freezing point of the solution changes. It the combination of state of discharge, and storage temperature is correct, the the battery will freeze, possibly destroying the internal structure of the battery.
That is why you bring your battery in for the winter. This depends on what your "winter" is like where you live
That is why you bring your battery in for the winter. This depends on what your "winter" is like where you live
Ya learn something new every day around here and this is my lesson for the day.
If all you have is a "standard 12v plug-in" charger, and you don't want to invest in more charging equipment, then do the following:
If you can rationalize acquiring more equipment, it's recommended that you equalize the batteries. Equalize according to the manufacturer's recommended voltage; this varies, believe it or not.
Good luck.
jv
- connect the batteries in series, i.e., a jumper from one's positive to the other's negative terminal. Treat the combination as on 12V battery, using the remaining terminals;
- check the water level. Don't fill them up before charging, only add water if there are plates exposed to air, in which case, add just enough distilled water to cover the plates;
- charge them. When fully charged, fill with distilled water to the manufacturer's recommended level.
If you can rationalize acquiring more equipment, it's recommended that you equalize the batteries. Equalize according to the manufacturer's recommended voltage; this varies, believe it or not.
Good luck.
jv
So, new battery chargers don't come with a 6V/12V switch like the one I got at Western Auto 50 years ago ?
Had to be later than that, I was stopped by the police in a 1963 Bug because the headlights were so dim.
Words to ponder from an old third generation mechanic (75).
Keeping batteries off the floor was important for those batteries that had a tar like substance on the top. Old guys may remember sticking a penny in the tar top to keep the terminals from corroding but the penny sure did.
Two 6 volt batteries in series vrs. two 12 volt batteries in parallel, hum!
Keeping batteries off the floor was important for those batteries that had a tar like substance on the top. Old guys may remember sticking a penny in the tar top to keep the terminals from corroding but the penny sure did.
Two 6 volt batteries in series vrs. two 12 volt batteries in parallel, hum!
Sorry for the delayed revisit. You can bet I didn't have any time on the boat the past week.....
As it turns out our local Canadian Tire has a 6/12v charger/maintainer on sale right now for $35. I'll head there at lunch time. Thanks for all the responses!
As it turns out our local Canadian Tire has a 6/12v charger/maintainer on sale right now for $35. I'll head there at lunch time. Thanks for all the responses!