(ET) Re: Soneil charger experiences & advantages

["David Roden" <etpost drmm net>]

It may not be too big a deal in our application, which is a relatively low 
stress one for batteries, but golf car batteries are usually happier when 
they're hit with a more muscular initial charge than 3 amps.  A lead 
battery 
really should have a charge that starts in the range of C/10 to C/5 (that 
is, amp-hour capacity expressed as amps divided by 5 to 10).  Thus a 250 
amp-
hour battery should be charged at 25 amps or more.

I'm not an electrochemist, and my understanding of the reason for this is 
rather dim.  I get the impression that the higher current somehow 
penetrates 
the lead sulfate on the plates (this lead sulfate is NOT a pathological 
condition, as some gadget marketers would have you believe, but rather a 
natural consequence of discharging a battery).  From what I understand, 
it's 
NOT necessary to have that high a current during the entire charge period, 
just for the first few minutes or so.

Some batteries need this more than others.  In particular, Hawker Genesis 
batteries are notorious for developing severely reduced capacity if they 
don't have high current charging at least on some cycles.

A set of low current modular chargers is probably fine for performing the 
finish charge on your battery pack, but it may be a good idea to use the 
GE 
charger for at least the first few minutes when you recharge.


David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA

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