[Boatanchors] GEL CELLS

[D C _Mac_ Macdonald]

"Float" a quality "12V" Gel Cell battery at 13.5 to 13.8 volts (2.25 - 2.30 volts per cell) and it will last a minimum of 5 years. 
 
Applying more than that 13.8 for much time will severely shorten its life! 
 
Straight from Powersonic's user guide! 
 
* * * * * * * * * * * 
* 73 - Mac, K2GKK/5 * 
* (Since 30 Nov 53) * 
* k2gkk hotmail com * 
* Oklahoma City, OK * 
* USAF & FAA (Ret.) * 
* * * * * * * * * * * 
 
 
 
> Date: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 17:17:31 -0500
> From: w4byg at att.net
> To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] GEL CELLS
> 
> In answer to the question below "is there any way to restore these..." 
> and after years of being responsible for several hundred 12 v 7 A gel 
> cells in our office and TV production system UPS's, I found that if they 
> fell below 10.5 volts they would not restore to any useable life.  If 
> that or below, we scrapped them.
> 
> In better quality commercial quality double conversion UPS's such as 
> made by Staco, their charging circuits trickle charged very accurately 
> and gave the best battery life.  Typically 5 to 7 years.  The consumer 
> type switching UPS's such as made by APC were the worst, 3 years if we 
> were lucky.
> Ray, W4BYG
> 
> 
> On 1/21/2015 4:05 PM, rbethman wrote:
> > John,
> >
> > This is an issue with Gel Cell batteries in general.
> >
> > Even the "old fashioned" fluid electrolyte batteries would result in 
> > very similar results over "several" years.  This was always especially 
> > true if stored on a concrete floor.
> >
> > Gel Cell batteries "require" a small "float" charge to keep them 
> > functional over an extended period.
> >
> > I have dealt with recent "pulls" from security systems myself, along 
> > with a fair sized population of those in the Astronomy Hobby Community.
> >
> > This particular issue is brought up with regularity in that hobby and 
> > its "Lists".
> >
> > I, along with others that keep these for portable use, swap the 
> > batteries in and out of our Jump Start Packs that a lot of folks own 
> > if for no other reason than to be able to jump start one of their 
> > vehicles.
> >
> > This swapping batteries around allows us/me to run a trickle/float 
> > charge on them to maintain them.
> >
> > Gel Cells come in more than one "flavor".  There are the "less" 
> > expensive construction versions, and then there are the "more" 
> > expensive construction versions.
> >
> > Poking around the "Web" I discovered that the ones that are used for 
> > "good" Solar Energy Systems, meaning - "Worth Owning" - vs. "Marketed 
> > Junk" - resulted in discovering the differences in the construction 
> > versions.
> >
> > The Gel Cells that last the longest and provide the best service are 
> > of the "Glass Mat" construction.
> >
> > This also means a higher acquisition cost.  So depending on one's 
> > needs, one has to determine what they are willing to lay out for 
> > acquisition.
> >
> > These used by Security Services, and for that matter, Telco outfits 
> > such as Verizon that have pretty well forced their customers off 
> > copper and on to their Fiber systems, use the "lower" investment Gel 
> > Cells.
> >
> > I know that this issue exists with regard to my "gee whiz" fiber phone 
> > line.  Therefore, I obtained an exact model number Gel Cell, and about 
> > every quarter, I swap out the one they installed with the identical 
> > one to cycle them and ensure that I will always have "one" 
> > functional.  The main reason I did this is to ensure that even if the 
> > power were to go out, which is why these fiber systems have a battery, 
> > I will have twice the time-frame available to keep the phone line 
> > active than what "they" say the battery is "supposed" to keep the line 
> > functional.
> >
> > IOW, there really isn't anything that can be done to "restore" those 
> > that have simply sat w/o attention.
> >
> > It really doesn't pay to simply pick up "pulls" unless you have a way 
> > to cycle them through a trickle/float charge method.  The result is 
> > what you have discovered from their sitting and waiting for use.
> >
> > I do keep a "spare" one for my jump start pack in terms of equivalent 
> > ratings, yet that one is of the Glass Mat construction.  This jump 
> > pack is always plugged into the wall, yet has lasted for over 5 years.
> >
> > The previous jump pack wasn't treated this way, and it didn't last 
> > more than three years.  I learned the hard way.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Bob - N0DGN
> >
> > On 1/21/2015 2:57 PM, John via Boatanchors wrote:
> >> Greetings,
> >>   Several years ago, I bought a case of gell cells at a hamfest.   
> >> They  were
> >> rated at 12V, 7A.   They were supposedly "recent pulls"  having full
> >> capacity. Today I needed one as a replacement in a UPS unit and found 
> >> that only
> >> one was at full terminal voltage and would work in the UPS. Several 
> >> others
> >> were at 6V and the remainder essentially dead.
> >>   Does anyone know of a safe way to restore these batteries or should 
> >> I take
> >> them to the recycle place?
> >>   Thanks and 73,
> >>     John,  W4AWM
> >
> 
> 
> -- 
> Wise men still seek Him...