[Elecraft] [OT] Lead-acid battery question

[Bob]

Well my bet would be a bad battery.   Seems that either the self discharge rate 
is high, because it is defective, or the controller for the automated cycling is 
drawing excessive current and discharging the battery between cycles.    The 
fact that a battery "takes" a charge does not mean that it will maintain it.

Regarding chargers I have had good experience with these:

http://batterytender.com/products/automotive/battery-tender-plus-12v-at-1-25a.html

Don't be scared off by the price tag as they can be had for far less.  In the 
$35-$40 range if you shop around.    I use these for my backup gel cells and 
mostly for maintaining my motorcycle batteries over the winter. The motorcycle 
batteries are AGM types.

73,
Bob
K2TK ex KN2TKR (1956) & K2TKR

K2 & K3 plus a bunch of G land MC's


On 4/8/2013 12:53 PM, Jim Wiley wrote:
> 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?
>>
>