Death of a domestic battery ?

[Billjratt]

Measure the voltage level when charging at normal cruising revs before changing anything. Nobody's even asked what sort of alternator you have before condemning it. You'll need the battery though, one cell is dud, you can probably tell which one by the odd-one-out level of electrolyte principle.

 

[Piers]

The voltage you state - 10.2 volts - indicates that one of the six cells that makes up the 12v batterry, has failed. There is no remedy. It happens. Just replace the battery.

 

[Bilgediver]

does that mean I should invest in a better alternator/charging system ?
........................................................................................

I lost two batteries in quick succession then got a decent leisure battery and reviewed the situation...Both failed batteries. were lucas one normal HD and one a leisure and both failed by the loss of the cell nearest the negative terminal. The remaining cells were fine I just had 10 volt batteries /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I then realised I was using el cheepo chargers which hardly got a decent charg running if the battery was lowish and infact didn t even achieve 13.8 volts till the battery was well into the charge cycle also the boat alternator was only giving 13.8 volts.

More recently Brother in law reported similar problems with batteries on his Birchwood 26 and he was using the same Halfords all singing and dancing automatic charger.

I had got hold of a decent charger and I got brother in law a Sterling 3 stage jobbie.

I suspect you will find am improvement if you get a decent battery and a charger capable of zapping in at least 14.4 volts. I suspect that some of these light duty chargers are fine for cars but when used on larger capacity marine batteries do not have the Ooomph to equalise all 6 cells with the result the last one in the chain gives up and dies....Could be wrong but the evidence suggests not as sister in law says everything worked great last time the boat went out and although the boat was abandoned for a few weeks due to the recent floods the batteries still showed a good charge when the boat was retrieved some weeks later. Just a few bent spoons on board but that could be due to a playful fella the other side of the river in Sonning LOL..

You could investigate things like Sterling Alternator regulators or 3/4 phase chargers for use in the marina both of which will give good equalising and hopeflly longer battery life.

My latest battery has done 5 years and going strong.

PS The Halford automatic charger which was on sale a few years ago has a still valid recall on it as it has other faults which could cause fire. If you have one of these speak to your local HAlfords. They might not exchange willingly due to time recall has been in existence however both I and brother in law got new chargers which all though safer are not really man enough for 110 amp hour batteries.

 

[mikejames]

No he said Canvey Island, not Barking

 

[macd]

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[CPD]

I have a new battery, and all is now well with the world. Can anyone recommend a company (1st hand experience would be good !) I can talk to re changing the original alternator on my centaur and putting in a decent charging system ?

 

[Richard10002]

[ QUOTE ]
I have a new battery, and all is now well with the world. Can anyone recommend a company (1st hand experience would be good !) I can talk to re changing the original alternator on my centaur and putting in a decent charging system ?

[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.dg2k.co.uk/

email ray@dg2k.co.uk for tech support - very comprehensive responses.

 

[CPD]

Thanks Richard