Re: Re: Semi Traction Batteries XP

On Wed, 18 Jan 2006 19:55:23 +0000, Electricky Dicky
<poundeater@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>No one was trying to save money!
>I can obviously go out and buy a charger to suit these batteries.
>The whole point is charging DOMESTIC batteries on a BOAT at these
>levels give all sorts of problems. Similar in my mind to the use of
>Ni-Cads.
>
>Richard

There is some misconception that you can somehow make a lead-acid/nickel-cadmium
cell or battery 'different' to suit various applications, whereas in practice
both types operate in fairly narrow bands of voltages.

If you have wet vented batteries and don't occasionally stir the electrolyte and
equalise the cells then you will have problems on capacity loss. To equalise
cells requires constant current charging at elevated cell voltages which will in
turn gas the cells.

Recombination fillers are something we have been using for many years with some
success to control water loss, but even they can be overwhelmed when faced with
heavily gassing cells.

Nicads are better for this sort of duty than lead acid in my view, and given the
same regime of correct charging and maintenance they will outlast lead-acid,
plus will withstand overdischarging better.

Batteries are not a cheap option to do properly, and we have lost count of how
many people spend a few thousand on a battery set and want to use a £50 charger
on it!

We don't do any consumer gear any more, but have probably a few thousand
industrial chargers out there working 24/7 without any problems.

Peter
--
Peter & Rita Forbes
Email: diesel@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web: http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel
.

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