Shortest-lived batteries I have ever had in an EV - about 15 months before I saw my first 4-volter, and another in the 16-module pack expired in the same manner each week or two thereafter until I gave up. Based on SG readings, in each case, the centre cell failed, apparently shorted. My dealings with USB were curt and disappointing.
My E12 doesn't see a lot of use most of the year. Use depends on construction projects, gardening and snow removal needs. My batteries get minimal care (a good charger, checking water levels 2-3 times a year, only distilled water, and staying alert to problems to try to catch them early). However, based on the Trojans I had in my last pack, and the Exides I have now, I fully expect 10 years of use from a pack in this tractor.
Darryl tbamc wrote:
I bought a complete set of U.S. Battery batteries about 5 years ago. Only 1 of those 6 is still alive. After talking to the U.S. B. people, and this list, I think I should have been charging them harder/longer, but I'm not sure that relates to my question:Every one of the dead batteries read about 4v when it expired, and couldn't be charged to much over 4v. This implies to me that a cell shorted. I would have expected the more likely scenario would be for each battery to just get weaker, i.e. still charge to above 6v but not hold a charge for as long.Am I thinking about this correctly and is my experience typical, or not? Thanks. Thon _______________________________________________ Elec-trak mailing list Elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu https://cosmos.phy.tufts.edu/mailman/listinfo/elec-trak
-- Darryl McMahon The Emperor's New Hydrogen Economy (in trade paperback and eBook) http://www.econogics.com/TENHE/ Journey to Forever reviews The Emperor's New Hydrogen Economy http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html#tenhe