Re: (ET) Update my my old "cooked" Trojan batteries

["Clean Power Supply" <cleanpower att net>]

 Steve,
 With all respect due,2-3 hours is not long enough. I prefer to follow the 
instructions in the manual regarding length of charge. The stock timer 
charges for about 16 hours. The batteries,if new,and filled to the proper 
level with water should be equalized sufficiently by then. As the 
batteries age the timer doesn't need to be run as long anymore,as outlined 
in the manual.
 As to batteries,I have good confidence in Trojan T-105 batteries. (That 
may sound biased as I do sell Trojans,but I really am impressed with their 
longevity.)
 Sincerely,
 Harold Zimmerman
 Clean Power Supply
 Ephrata PA
--------------------------------------------------------------
Well, with nothing to lose, I charged my old batteries for about 6 hours 
using the built in charger, again with me as the timer. (Normally I only 
charge the batteries 2-3 hours because my current lawn is not all that 
big, and I don't want to make a habit of overcharging the batteries.) 
Performance was great, at least for the 15 minute test. 

The next test, which will be about a week from now when the grass is tall 
again, will be to see if this longer that normal (for me that is) charge 
cycle brings the performance back up to where I can mow the entire lawn 
without any detectable drop in tractor performance. 

I still would like to know who makes the best 6V golf cart batteries in 
case I find that the batteries should be replaced, but the purchase will 
now be postponed until I cycle the batteries a few more times. 

Now to decide between the fix of the old charger timer, or the fitment of 
a modern intelligent charger. Or maybe I'll do both. The new charger would 
be a slow charger and battery maintainer. The old charger would be a fast 
charger that would also be used for periodic battery equalization. (Which 
I don't worry about because I don't use the lift much. Just once at the 
start of mowing the lawn, and a second time when finished.) 

Steve N. 

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