Battery testing

[jzaat]

Hi,

Does anyone have a good, simple and reliable testing mechanism to determine the state of GELCELL batteries.
I have a couple of 8D type gelcells that don't seem to be holding their charge for very long.

Thanks for any input

Jeroen

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[Evadne]

As I have not heard of a solid-state hydrometer, the best method I can think of is the one you have tried, i.e. charge them up and see how long they take to discharge. You could string together some 12V lamps and a current meter, then measure the time taken to discharge to give you the Amp-hours held by the battery. The nominal value should be printed on the side.
In my experience of using the smaller ones, gel-type batteries don't last very long, especially if left unused for any length of time.


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[ccscott49]

I shopuld imagine you could use the standard high load, volt drop tester as used for all lead acid batteries, you will need to remove them to a battery expert and see what he can do, call him first. The lights etc, will not really tell you anything, apart from how long they take to discharge down to a given voltage, but what voltage? etc. You need to test them properly, so the battery expert might be your best bet.

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[oldsaltoz]

G'day jzaat,

It may be a faulty cell in one battery pulling them both down if they are connected in any way.

A multimeter should indicate the available voltage in each (when disconnected), get the lower properly tested.

If you have a battery condition indicator, volt meter or amp meter fitted you can run up the engine on one battery at a time and note the readings.

Hope this helps......





<hr width=100% size=1>Andavagoodweekend, Old Salt Oz /forums/images/icons/cool.gif

 

[jzaat]

Thanks.
Noticed that at least one of them is sort of bulging out on the sides.
Seem to have read that this means that they have been overcharged...
I guess that this is irreversible? and damaging....



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[ccscott49]

I dfo believe you have solved your own problem, batteries should definitely bulge!!

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