Battery voltages

bend302 · 10-09-2012, 09:27 PM

Am a little embarrassed to ask this question because I know it's on this forum somewhere but, I can't find it.

I finally bought a digital volt meter and would like to check the health of my batteries.

What should a full charge read?
How about the low voltage where the batteries should be recharged to prevent damage?

Thanks

Bill

Fire Instructor · 10-09-2012, 09:49 PM

At least better than 12.6 volts. The closer to 13, the better.
That said, a voltage reading is not a true read on how good a battery really is. There are better diagnostic checks for how good a batter really is.

johnemt · 10-09-2012, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bend302

Am a little embarrassed to ask this question because I know it's on this forum somewhere but, I can't find it.

I finally bought a digital volt meter and would like to check the health of my batteries.

What should a full charge read?
How about the low voltage where the batteries should be recharged to prevent damage?

Thanks

Bill

it should read 12 volts on full charge and battery charger is not on. you should start charging at 11 volts because most elec, 12 volt componats are at risk of damage below 12. it realy all about the Amper Hours that the batterie is rated for. It would take me to long to explain because i am a one finger typer. but google 12 volt batteries for the complete story

Fire Instructor · 10-09-2012, 10:06 PM

Took this: "All Lead-Acid batteries supply about 2.14 volts per cell (12.6 to 12.8 for a 12 volt battery) when fully charged. " from a really good website on 12v batteries and wind and solar power:

Deep Cycle Battery FAQ

Lots of great info here. What you are looking for is well down the page.

**Herk7769** · 10-09-2012, 10:21 PM

Here are the voltage to capacity charts.
I printed them out and keep them right in the battery compartment.

The first chart is the "idiot light" voltages.

NOTE: The idiot lights do NOT read "full" and "empty"; they are "C" (charging) and "L" (low). "G" (good) is lit as long as the voltage is above 1/2 capacity.
When it goes out, you should hook up your generator.

Misterdanderson · 10-09-2012, 11:54 PM

Awesome Herk. Thanks! Just saved them both to my iPad.

**KyDan** · 10-10-2012, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnemt

it should read 12 volts on full charge and battery charger is not on. you should start charging at 11 volts because most elec, 12 volt componats are at risk of damage below 12.

Hi John, 12v = full charge is a common misconception. As you can see
from the chart Lou posted- 12 V is around 50% charged. This means
when you reach 12v it's time to re-charge because for longest battery life
you don't want to discharge below 50% if you can help it.

Having said that I have been known to drop below that point a time or
two when we're boondocking.

Arefbee · 10-10-2012, 06:51 AM

If you're planning on boondocking, a really good reference is "Managing 12 Volts: How to Upgrade, Operate, and Troubleshoot 12 Volt Electrical Systems". I found that on another post - it is worth the price and then some.

Remember, checking the battery as it is being charged won't tell you the battery output, just that of the charger. After it has been removed from charge, the battery carries a fake voltage level because the electrolitic has a higher charge close to the cells. Wait about 24 hours after removing from charge before checking voltage output.

A hydrometer is a better test of battery health. It lets you know how healthy the chemical reaction in. That is where the specific gravity on Herk's chart is REALLY useful.

One thing I have not seen very mentioned very often is that as these batteries charge and are off-gassing, they are losing water, so check the fluid level. Car batteries don't need that anymore, but these deep cycle batteries do. I found that I was about a quart low after 2 months recently. Top off the cells with distilled water (spring water, well water, and city water can contain plate damaging impurities) and get a good charge on it before testing.

That said, a volt-meter is really handy for other uses like checking the health of the AC power coming in at the campsite.

**Herk7769** · 10-10-2012, 07:13 AM

IMO, if you are losing water "at all" you have a problem. Today's 3 stage chargers moderate the charge rate to nearly eliminate water loss.

My camper is hooked up 24/7 to my house and the batteries stay connected to maintain their charge. I have "topped off" twice (less 1/4 cup in total and spilled most of it out of the battery bulb) in 3 and a half years.

Look for a cracked case or a failed third stage in your converter.

Arefbee · 10-10-2012, 07:40 AM

It did not seem odd to me relative to other deep cycle applications I've used, but I will have to check the charger now.
I suspect the black battery box and some direct sun exposure helps the evaporation. The water was evenly low in each cell, so the case is OK; no sign of loss in the container.

**Herk7769** · 10-10-2012, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arefbee

It did not seem odd to me relative to other deep cycle applications I've used, but I will have to check the charger now.
I suspect the black battery box and some direct sun exposure helps the evaporation. The water was evenly low in each cell, so the case is OK; no sign of loss in the container.

The sun exposure angle is a good one. My camper is shaded and the batteries are inside the front compartment of my 5th wheel.

bend302 · 10-10-2012, 04:13 PM

Thank's for the info.

I guess I don't feel too bad since my batteries read 13.44 volts immediately after removing the charger with the batt disconnect switch off so their was little draw. The "wait 24 hours" is a good idea to give the batteries time to normalize.

The comment about water usage is surprising to me. I spent 30 years in the warehouse business where we used 48 volt electric lift trucks exclusively. Ran the batteries until the meter said LOW, changed, cooled, charged and watered, and cooled before placing in the next truck. We used lots of distilled water.

I have a 48 volt (6 8 volt batteries) golf cart and I water it about twice per summer and once before winter storage. Gets a lot more use than just golf but still took about 3 quarts in the batteries third year of life.

My coach has two 12 volt batteries under the steps. I had them installed by CW in Dec. 2010 so they are less than two years old. Somehow last summer, my converter boiled them dry so I have been watching carefully since then and NOT using the converter while in storage. I use my old faithful 25 year old portable charger. I am definitely going to get a battery tender and use it while in storage and hook it up to my car that's left in the storage while we winter in Florida.

Because the batteries are so difficult to access, I have installed a remote watering system. I haven't watered the batteries since the initial watering after installation in Sept. time will tell.

Herk, you must be a battery wizard. You always seem to have the information we need.

Thanks a bunch. I also saved the charts to my I pad...

Bill

**Herk7769** · 10-10-2012, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bend302

Herk, you must be a battery wizard. You always seem to have the information we need.

Thanks a bunch. I also saved the charts to my I pad...

Bill

Bill,

Everything I know, I learned here and in the AF (some Physics from college I suppose too).

As to the water usage, I can only tell you that charging with my ship-n-shore fast charge it does use water (not much at all) but with the multi-stage converter doing the charging I use no water all winter.

I can only surmise your fast charger is boiling the crap out of your depleted golf cart batteries to get them packed with electrons as fast as possible.

The charging pattern used by our multi-stage converters looks more like the graph below with many steps from initial charge to full charge. The more depleted the battery the faster it will take a charge and the more heat is generated in the electrolyte.

To get the maximum life out of your investment you need to recharge it before it falls much below 50% capacity.

Alan JS · 10-22-2012, 04:20 PM

If I have two coach batteries in my Georgetown, that would be 2 -12 volt batteries correct.
If fully charged they are expected to produce 12 volts nominally for longer than a single 12 volt ,yes???
I doublt they are 6 volts.

**Herk7769** · 10-22-2012, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan JS

If I have two coach batteries in my Georgetown, that would be 2 -12 volt batteries correct.
If fully charged they are expected to produce 12 volts nominally for longer than a single 12 volt ,yes???
I doublt they are 6 volts.

Without a picture of how they are connected, I have no idea.
If they are 12 volts each then the capacity of the two are added.
If they are 6 volts each then the voltage is doubled but the capacity is the same as the smallest single six volt battery.

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