<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
</head>
<body text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">I'll have to monitor them next time I
run it, see what they do during charging.<br>
<br>
This is from the instruction manual - <br>
<br>
<span class="wsp_ wsp_c"></span>When properly connected the amber
LED
<div class="tt mx0 xlc hy2 yb9a ff1 fs0 fc0 sc0 ls0 ws2">indicator
should illuminate. This indicator will</div>
<div class="tt mx0 xlc hy2 yb9b ff1 fs0 fc0 sc0 ls0 ws2">stay
illuminated until the battery voltage has</div>
<div class="tt mx0 xlc hy2 yb9c ff1 fs0 fc0 sc0 ls0 ws1">reached
approximately 14.4 volts and the</div>
<div class="tt mx0 xlc hy2 yb9d ff1 fs0 fc0 sc0 ls1 ws5">charge
current has decreased to 0.5 amps. At</div>
<div class="tt mx0 xlc hy2 yb9e ff1 fs0 fc0 sc0 ls1 ws1">this
point, the amber indicator turns off and the</div>
<div class="tt mx0 xlc hy2 yb9f ff1 fs0 fc0 sc0 ls0 ws1">green
indicator turns on. Also occurring at the</div>
<div class="tt mx0 xlc hy2 yba0 ff1 fs0 fc0 sc0 ls1 ws2">same
time, the internal voltage reference of the</div>
<div class="tt mx0 xlc hy2 yba1 ff1 fs0 fc0 sc0 ls0 ws1">charger
will change in order to maintain the</div>
<div class="tt mx0 xlc hy2 yba2 ff1 fs0 fc0 sc0 ls1 ws1">battery
voltage at 13.2 volts. At this lower</div>
<div class="tt mx0 xlc hy2 yba3 ff1 fs0 fc0 sc0 ls0 ws2">voltage
charge, current is typically a few milli-</div>
<div class="tt mx0 xlc hy2 yba4 ff1 fs0 fc0 sc0 ls1 ws1">amperes
(.001 ampere). Under this condition</div>
<div class="tt mx0 xlc hy2 yba5 ff1 fs0 fc0 sc0 ls0 ws1">most all
batteries can be left charging indefi-</div>
<div class="tt mx0 xlc hy2 yba6 ff1 fs0 fc0 sc0 ls1 ws2">nitely.
While in the maintain mode, if the battery</div>
<div class="tt mx0 xlc hy2 yba7 ff1 fs0 fc0 sc0 ls1 ws5">was
loaded 0.5 amps or greater the charger will</div>
<div class="tt mx0 xlc hy2 yba8 ff1 fs0 fc0 sc0 ls0 ws1">reset to
the full charge state until the above</div>
<div class="tt mx0 xlc hy2 yba9 ff1 fs0 fc0 sc0 ls0 ws1">conditions
once again meet.<br>
<br>
---------<br>
-end manual quote-<br>
</div>
<br>
<br>
They have been working well, less water loss these 2 years. The
dead cells I think are not likely caused by the charger/s, as the
rest of them I'd expect to also be similarly bad.<br>
<br>
The main problem I've had with the OEM charger is that it's
manual. Too much guessing & risk of under / over charging,
then during long times of no use, loosing charge. My old and too
simple float charger I had to adjust for temperature every so
often, as it was very simple, but very low lost power at idle.<br>
<br>
My garage now, where the tractor is parked, is very temperature
stable by garage standards. Rarely goes below 70 in winter, not
often above 85 in summer. When I built it, I insulated it like I
did the house, which is significantly better than even what is
required by code for electric heat. I also put in radiant floor
heat because it's also one of my workshop spaces, and I have
projects in winter. If it gets too hot in summer, and I am out
there, I can just open the door to the house, and let the AC come
out. <br>
<br>
Dave<br>
<br>
<br>
On 6/4/2019 1:57 PM, Robert Laird wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:CAEXfxNreRpzPaJF-Byf733fVbnYGS734p4pzY2-6ebJ9nj9Q0g@mail.gmail.com">
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>As I think you now see, it's not the so much bad batteries
as the one bad cell. (#5)   I think once you replace
that battery, things will work pretty well.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I do think that the float voltage is a bit low, but I'm not
sure.  Personally, I'm not a fan of chargers that change
their output voltage based on how "smart" they are.   But
if those voltages are the final charge voltage, it's too
low.  If they finish at a higher voltage, and then the
charger drops to that, it might be OK, but I'm skeptical. A
good solid charger that just runs at 13.8-14 volts, (in 12v
land), is my preference.  Charge, and shut the charger
off.  Even if you leave it on for a few days, the amperage
should only be a few amps, which these batteries can handle.
 Personally, I like the GE charger, I think it works very
well, _if_ it's working correctly. Â Mostly that means the
right voltage, which in turn means the right capacitor, one
that has not drifted from old age. Â But the GE charger,
working correctly, is powerful and simple.  Combined with
the timer, it's a good setup. <br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Robbie<br>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Mon, Jun 3, 2019 at 11:05
PM David Tiefenbrunn <<a
href="mailto:davidtief@comcast.net" moz-do-not-send="true">davidtief@comcast.net</a>>
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px
0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Ok,
wow!<br>
<br>
Here is the additional battery data -<br>
<br>
6V Duracell Golf cart batteries. GC2  75Amp  105
Minutes<br>
<br>
The readings below are grouped by battery pairs, 2x6V = 12V
for the <br>
battery maintainers. All cells make fine bubbles, always
have, but far <br>
less than with the fancy Soneil 4A charger.<br>
<br>
The chargers I have been using since 09 of 2017. No sign of
problems <br>
until this spring. -<br>
Schumacher SEM-1562A-CA 1.5A 6V/12V Automatic Maintainer<br>
<br>
Unfortunately, the rubber parts of my fancy hydrometer have <br>
deteriorated. I have a simple one, that reads state of
charge by 4 <br>
floats, 0 -1/4 - 1/2 - 3/4 - full. Not ideal, but what shows
below, <br>
good enough....<br>
<br>
Number    V    Hydrometer<br>
  1           6.72      3/4<br>
  2           6.70      3/4<br>
               13.42<br>
<br>
  3           6.76      Full<br>
  4           6.71      2 cells shy of
full, 1 full<br>
               13.47<br>
<br>
  5           6.50      1/4  - 0Â
- Â Full<br>
  6           6.83      2 cells full, 1
shy of full<br>
                13.33<br>
<br>
Looks like battery number 5 is toast.<br>
<br>
I probably should buy 1 to replace the dead one. I have
little hope of <br>
finding the receipt to try for a warranty return, which would
be pro <br>
rated by now anyway. They only had a 12 month free
replacement, and <br>
they made it past that. I think I got them around the same
time as the <br>
chargers, as I was aiming to improve the maintenance
situation.<br>
<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
Elec-trak mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Elec-trak@cosmos.phy.tufts.edu"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">Elec-trak@cosmos.phy.tufts.edu</a><br>
<a
href="https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mailman/listinfo/elec-trak"
rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mailman/listinfo/elec-trak</a><br>
</blockquote>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p><br>
</p>
</body>
</html>