NigelBirch
Well-Known Member
Just taken delivery of a new battery from Tanya and am a bit surprised by the voltage being 12.5V. I'd have thought it would be higher straight from the warehouse of a major supplier?
New Battery: Voltage
- Thread starter NigelBirch
- Start date
alan006
Well-Known Member
Yes, I would expect it to be about 13.5 volts if fully charged.
boatmike
Well-Known Member
It probably isn't. New batteries seldom are. Judge it one you have put it on charge for a while rather than "off the shelf"
TigaWave
Well-Known Member
State Of Charge
No Load Voltage
100%12.75
75%-12.45
50%-12.25
25%-12.05
5%-11.85
No Load Voltage
100%12.75
75%-12.45
50%-12.25
25%-12.05
5%-11.85
bedouin
Well-Known Member
All lead acid batteries self-discharge. This means that while they are being stored they have to be charged periodically (every couple of months). The voltage you get when supplied will depend on when it was last charged, but 12.5V sounds absolutely fine
VicS
Well-Known Member
Id be a bit disappointed as well but as others have said its OK really. Different sources of data on state of charge vs. voltage all give slightly different figures but those Tigawave has quoted are pretty typical.
It may be marked with a date by which it should be recharged if not fitted. ( I believe that's 6 months from the date of manufacture ) If it is coming up towards that date then it would explain the lowish reading. If the date has already passed it suggests it has not been recharged when it should have been. I'd be particularly miffed if that was the case.
Best plan probably to get it on charge as soon as you can with a decent automatic charger if you have one. Then check that it holds its charge after that.
The volts will quickly fall over a day or so to around 12.7 -12.8 and then more slowly. but should still be at least 12.6 several months down the line.
(Exceptional but my 1 year old leisure battery is still reading 12.8 a good few weeks after its last charge)
It may be marked with a date by which it should be recharged if not fitted. ( I believe that's 6 months from the date of manufacture ) If it is coming up towards that date then it would explain the lowish reading. If the date has already passed it suggests it has not been recharged when it should have been. I'd be particularly miffed if that was the case.
Best plan probably to get it on charge as soon as you can with a decent automatic charger if you have one. Then check that it holds its charge after that.
The volts will quickly fall over a day or so to around 12.7 -12.8 and then more slowly. but should still be at least 12.6 several months down the line.
(Exceptional but my 1 year old leisure battery is still reading 12.8 a good few weeks after its last charge)
TigaWave
Well-Known Member
There are a few variables, 12.75 is for an absorbent glass matt lead acid, at 21degrees C, at 11C it will only be 12.54 so it could be fully charged....if its a gel battery fully charged at 21C is around 12.85.
I wouldn't be too bothered, its the number of cycles or over charging that does the damage and reduces the life.
I wouldn't be too bothered, its the number of cycles or over charging that does the damage and reduces the life.
markdj
Well-Known Member
12.5v is perfectly normal as the battery is probably made in a warmer climate (Israel) and has been self-discharging since shipping.
Check out the Battery FAQ for more info.
Check out the Battery FAQ for more info.
