Charging and SOC

[SternWake]

I find it better to have a look at my stuff 4 or 5 weeks.

As the flooded batteries age, they start using more water. This is partially because absorption voltages need to be held longer, but also just the way it is even if one were not to increase time at absorption.

 I compromised the life of 2 sets of group 27's as getting to them was not convenient, being under  hatch in my floor, behind drivers seat, inside a cabinet, and the tops of the plates got exposed. it was instant death for one aged set, the other set lasted another year but were sluggish and unimpressive.
 Now I just have a single  AGM-27 there, and it has been many months since I looked at it.

When I put my previous flooded group31 under my hood, it was really easy to check SG, and the relocation allowed me to fine tune my solar charge controller settings, Which was 14.9 absorption voltage and a 15.3v finishing charge, and the dang thing still needed an EQ charge every 10 to 14 cycles.  Even after the completion of those high absorption and finishing charge voltages, after 14 cycles, SG would be in the 1.255 to 1.270 range, and max SG was ~1.280, and that then required 45 minutes at 16v to achieve.  And after the EQ charge, the voltage held for AH removed was noticeably higher overnight and in the morning, and would slowly degrade until the next EQ charge.

I wonder how those battery fillers know when, and how much water to add.

 

[ccbreder]

They work like the old chicken watering jars. Water gets low and lets air into the watering system. Try this. Turn a full water bottle over into a bowl of water. Kind of like the old office water cooler.