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$4 Trojan T-125s ?! | 23 comments (23 topical, editorial)

Re: $4 Trojan T-125s ?! (3.00 / 0) (#12)
by elt on Sun Aug 3rd, 2008 at 09:14:55 AM MST
(User Info)

Okay, in my newbie-inahurry mode, I didn't check the SG of all the cells.

In one battery, the SG is 1.275 in two cells and 1.265 in the other.
In the other battery, the SG is 1.275 in two cells and 1.250 in the other.

Neither my smart charger nor my dumb charger have an equalization mode.

Is this a stupid idea or what...
What about putting a 12 volt string on the dumb charger and setting it to 24 volt mode? If it matters, it only has 6 amps (about C/30) in 24 volt mode

Thank you,
- Ed.

[ Parent ]

Re: $4 Trojan T-125s ?! (3.00 / 0) (#13)
by kurt on Sun Aug 3rd, 2008 at 03:30:34 PM MST
(User Info)

the dumb charger should go up to 16v open or so plenty for an equalization charge you can check that carefully don't blow it up. try setting it for its 2 amp setting if it has one and just leaving it charge overnight or even 24 hours if need be just be sure they have plenty of water in them first.

http://www.reresource.org/

IRC
[ Parent ]

Re: $4 Trojan T-125s ?! (3.00 / 0) (#14)
by elt on Sun Aug 3rd, 2008 at 03:54:25 PM MST
(User Info)

Thanks kurt,

I guess that I should have written "dumber" charger instead of dumb charger; it does have an automatic float mode in both 12 and 24 volt mode so it won't go up to 16v in 12 volt mode. Was wondering about putting it in 24 volt mode and connecting it to a 12volt string. Or maybe to three batteries in an 18v string? Is that a big no-no?

Thanks again,
- Ed.

[ Parent ]

Re: $4 Trojan T-125s ?! (3.00 / 0) (#16)
by wooferhound (tim((NoSpamAt))wooferhound.com) on Mon Aug 4th, 2008 at 04:27:35 AM MST
(User Info) http://wooferhound.com

I personally would go ahead and try the 24v charger on the battery to try and equalize them.
Pay close attention to how hot the charger gets
and
Pay close attention to the batteries charge level
over 16 volts for a few hours will bring some new life back to your batteries

W o o f -={(

[ Parent ]

Re: $4 Trojan T-125s ?! (3.00 / 0) (#18)
by elt on Mon Aug 4th, 2008 at 09:05:36 AM MST
(User Info)

Thanks woof, that gave me the courage to try it... didn't like it.

With two batteries, the charger hummed loudly and did didn't show any current going into the batteries. With three batteries, the charger was quiet but showed nine amps going into the batteries. "But" because it's only rated for 5 amps at 24 volts.

Now I've learned that "dumb charger" really means the guy operating it... I had the mode switch set to "auto." In "manual" mode, the charge complete LED comes on but the charger doesn't turn off so in 12 volt mode the charger will stay on an it will do an equalization.

Okay, so I've learned something... it's a good day so far!

Thanks again,
- Ed.

[ Parent ]

$4 Trojan T-125s ?! | 23 comments (23 topical, 0 editorial)

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