(ET) RE: Elec-trak Digest, Vol 2, Issue 97

[Klein Robert W NPRI <KleinRW Npt NUWC Navy Mil>]

Battery Choices Forced:  I did a really stupid thing the other night.  
Used my very robust 0-150VDC Army issue battery charger to do a "gassing" 
charge to the Die Hard GC2 Golf Car batteries in my Wheel Horse C-185 (AKA 
Elec Trak E-20) tractor.  These batteries had been grossly neglected (left 
to sit for two years with maybe a 10% charge on them).  I topped off cells 
with a combination of Distilled water and EDTA (a heavy metal chelating 
compound that reduces the strength between the lead sulfate and lead 
sulfide plates causing  the sulfates to fall free of the plates).  I was 
truly amazed that before the EDTA I could run the tractor about ten 
minutes of mowing before it became so sluggish it barely got back to the 
garage.  After the EDTA was added and the batteries run through a couple 
of cycles, the tractor would run for an hour.  That's where I made my 
mistake.  Got a little cocky with my little knowledge and tried to do a 
"gassing" charge.  The onboard charger puts out around
42vdc.  I used my super duper Army charger and cranked up the voltage to 
around 50vdc (4-6 amps I think).  You could here the electrolyte bubbling 
away.  I figured the cap vents would take care of any pressure buildup.  
BOY WAS I MISTAKEN.  There was a LOUD report, a brief flash of light and I 
was done!  Seems that I forgot the part about cracking open/removing the 
plugs.  The internal pressure cracked the top of one of the batteries half 
way around the top of the case.  Needless to say I shut everything down in 
a hurry.  Spent the next half hour decontaminating the area with baking 
soda and water.  Amazingly enough there wasn't a whole lot of acid sprayed 
about.  

So now I've got a set of 5-6vdc lead acid GC2 batteries with a little life 
left in them.  I figure that just adding a new 6vdc battery is not going 
to be the best move here.  

So now that I've finished practicing for my Mad Scientist merit badge I 
post this question:  What batteries do you recommend I replace them with.  
A friend at the local golf course can probably get me a new set of Trojan 
T-105's at cost.  I'm leaning that way but wonder if now would be a good 
time to consider other types?

Bob Klein
Charlestown, RI
WH C-185
WH A-65
York Rake
Lifting rear hitch
Snow plow
Mower
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Recently sold: Electrak E-20