[Elecraft] [OT] Lead-acid battery question

[Jim Wiley]

Forgot to mention - be sure to get a charger that is intended for use 
with sealed batteries!  A charger intended for flooded batteries may be 
set to too high a voltage, and could damage a sealed battery.

- Jim, KL7CC


On 4/8/2013 8:15 AM, Vic K2VCO wrote:
> I know there are those on this list who can help me.
>
> I have a 5 kW generator at my house. It runs automatically once a week 
> for a half hour to charge the (sealed) battery. The first battery 
> lasted for about 10 years! The present battery is about 2 years old.
>
> Some months ago, I noticed that it wasn't running. I found the battery 
> dead. I took the battery back to Batteries Plus where I got it; they 
> charged it overnight and tested it under load. They said the battery 
> was OK. When I started the generator and checked the charging voltage, 
> it was 13.8V which I thought was marginal, so I replaced it.
>
> Yesterday the generator would not start. The battery voltage with no 
> load was 11.5V. I left it on the charger all day. Then this morning I 
> checked the voltage and it was 13.5V. The generator started up and the 
> charging voltage was 14.5V.
>
> Do I have a bad battery?
>