RE: (ET) charger problem

["David Roden (Akron OH USA)" <roden ald net>]

That voltage reading (3.8v) is characteristic of a battery with a bad cell 
(2 volts 
low).  The cell is likely to have a very high internal resistance, which 
is why 
nothing charges.

See if the battery will light up a headlight bulb (or even a taillight 
bulb).  If it has 
a bum cell,  it might read something on a voltmeter but won't light up the 
bulb 
because it can't deliver any current.  Hence it also can't pass any charge 
current, so none of the batteries will charge.

You may be able to put a 6v charger on the low battery for a few days and 
get it 
to partly recover, but most likely it's toast.  The bum cell probably has 
an 
internal short.  Even if you get it to charge up, it will probably 
self-discharge very 
quickly and go back to the way it was.