Trojan battery
Submitted: Tuesday, Apr 26, 2011 at 14:02
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gv930
hi all, first time user
looking for help with a Trojan battery in a camper trailer. haven't used since last
Easter and just came back from 4 great days in the
bush camping over
Easter. Camper has a 15a ctek 5 stage charger and sunday of weekend before
Easter starting charging. didn't
check water level till Tuesday or Wednesday night and 4 of 6 cells were below plates. wont hold charge so had to rely on generator to keep fridges etc. running
is this $400 battery saveable?
Reply By: Dennis Ellery - Tuesday, Apr 26, 2011 at 14:20
Tuesday, Apr 26, 2011 at 14:20
You have probably murdered it.
But it may come back if your charger has an equalisation setting on it.
This will put 15 to 16 volts through the battery.
Make sure it is topped up and the lids are off the cells when you do the equalisation.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member Al (Sunshine Coast) - Tuesday, Apr 26, 2011 at 15:22
Tuesday, Apr 26, 2011 at 15:22
Best to NOT take the caps off cells whilst charging. Spray from within the cell will coat the battery top with acid. Cell caps are designed to manage venting even with high charge rates.
If you feel you MUST remove the cell caps, then unscrew them but leave the cap sitting over the opening to prevent spray.
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Follow Up By: gv930 - Tuesday, Apr 26, 2011 at 16:00
Tuesday, Apr 26, 2011 at 16:00
thanks al
battery has 2 x 3 cell push on covers so its either on or off
i'm checking it regularly and there is little or no spray when charging. have got compartment cover open to get rid of gases
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, Apr 26, 2011 at 21:07
Tuesday, Apr 26, 2011 at 21:07
Sorry, sounds dead to me. I've been in the same situation before - if you've recharged it on the Ctek for a few days and its still losing charge, then I have doubts you'll be successful.
Lots of people telling you to top up the water, but a thoroughly flattened battery will have the level drop below the plates. Then as its recharged, the level will rise again. The problem with topping it up with extra water, is that if you are successful in resurrecting the battery, you might find yourself having to remove acid because the battery is then overfull.
Also a totally flattened battery will take at least a week to recharge. The problem is that its internal resistance rises heaps, so it will be slow to accept charge. I can remember one battery being restored after if was flattened dead by a 3-way fridge, but I've seen others since that never get back to normal no matter how long they are charged.
Now that you're back
home, give it another go on the Ctek on and off for a week and see what happens, but my guess is that its a lost cause. I have a switch to isolate my camper battery when not in use and hook it up to the charger every few weeks to keep it healthy.
AnswerID:
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