Charging Calcium Batteries - Voltage Issues
Submitted: Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 13:59
ThreadID:
69029
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Ranger75
I have two Supercharge Gold Model D31 batteries in the truck.
They have discharged as I was in hospital for a a couple of months.
I am trying to find out what is the correct maximum voltage to charge them at.
On the top of each battery is a label with a warning not to recharge the batteries at higher than 14.8 Volts.
Rang Supercharge in
Sydney and some
young fella says, "Yeah, no more than 14.8". He checks with his Warehouse manager who says you can charge them at 16.2 volts using a 4 stage charger. Confusing!!!
Having looked at Thread 68655 there is even more numbers, someone says above 15.1 V, someone else says up to 16.2V.
As they are both still under warranty I don't want to stuff them by charging above 14.8V if that is the correct maximum advised voltage.
So, who can advise definitely what to do please.
Based on what I can find out here I want to go out and buy the right battery charger.
Your help appreciated.
Reply By: Robin Miller - Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 15:09
Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 15:09
There all sort of right in context as part of a charging cycle thats limits time current and temperature.
However you can't go wrong by charging calcium batteries at 14.8v which was original spec.
Just get a charger with calcium cycle setting.
AnswerID:
365964
Reply By: Mandrake - Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 15:52
Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 15:52
Just had a look a t a charger -
charger manual
Absorbtion charge of 14.7 V
Equalising charge of 16.2 V
Float charge of 13.7 V
Hope that helps
Rgds
Mandrake
AnswerID:
365970
Follow Up By: Mandrake - Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 15:53
Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 15:53
13.6 V on the float sorry - glasses are dirty !! LOL
FollowupID:
633718
Reply By: Ranger75 - Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 16:51
Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 16:51
Thanks fellas,
I just went an bought a Projecta IC1216 charger and have started the first one.
Chap at Repco, says it will take about 24 hours, so I'll keep my eye on them to see if they get too hot.
Thanks again.
AnswerID:
365978
Reply By: RobAck - Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 18:43
Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 18:43
Folks this one was dealt with in comprehensive detail around a week or so back in the thread mentioned but I will cover it again to try and overcome the lack of understanding on calcium batteries
Firstly due to their construction the require an imprint voltage of 15.1 volts to actually break through the plate resistance to start the charging process.
Secondly you need a four stage charger like the Redarc smart charger to fully and corrrectly chage a calcium battery. A three stage charger will not do the job
well enough.
As
well a proper charger will hit 16.2 volts during the equalisation phase and it will also have a fault mode that switches the charger off if it detects an internal battery fault to prevent an explosion or fire
If the batteries are below 11.7 volts they are chemically flat but fine. Anythign lower and you may find it takes a couple of goes to get them up to charge.
DO NOT use a standard battery charger to deal with calcium batteries as they will not work and are at risk of overheating.
Regards
RobA
AnswerID:
365988
Reply By: RV Powerstream P/L - Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 16:57
Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 16:57
If what you say is correct then no one should buy Calcium at all as they are mainly sold as a cranking battery and if what you indicate is correct then they should never recover from the first use after fitting as I do not see any alternator charging to the threshhold of 15.1V.
How come there is not a mass of claims for stuffed calcium batteries already in cranking applications in vehicles.
Ian
AnswerID:
366355