I am speaking only from my own experience. I have heard from others
that they have had good experience with USB. I have not. I do not
recommend them to others. According to the charging recommendations
from USB, you need a higher charging voltage (2.583 Volts per Cell)
than is recommended by other manufacturers. In my experience with
floodies, they should be gassing audibly before reaching 2.5 volts per
cell. 3rd party chargers do not supply the required voltage, as this
would be in the over-charging range for any other battery manufacturer.
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
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