What Should Each Cell Read on a 6v Battery
Trojan Bombardment Visitor has been manufacturing deep-bike, flooded batteries for more than than iii generations.
Our feel has shown that the key factor to achieving optimum performance and long bombardment life is to follow a regular care and maintenance plan.
While reviewing our battery maintenance tips, please continue in mind that all battery systems are unique. Battery type, charger technology, equipment loads, cable size, climate, and other factors tin can all vary. Slight or significant, these differences will require battery maintenance to exist adapted appropriately. These are just guidelines to follow for proper battery care. Each detail organisation will always require a caste of customized attention.
Achieving Optimum Performance and Long Battery Life
Before Getting Started
- Make sure you know your system voltage, bombardment compartment size (length, width and superlative) and your energy needs.
- Determine whether you want to use a deep-cycle flooded, AGM or gel bombardment.
Step one: Determine Your Battery Voltage And How Many Batteries To Use
one-1 | Based on your system voltage, you must first decide which bombardment is needed and how many to use in order to meet your requirements. For example, you may connect a series of viii 6V batteries, six 8V batteries or four 12V batteries for a 48-volt system. The size of your battery compartment, your operation requirements and costs may limit your options. |
1-2 | Brand sure at that place is enough space between batteries to allow for minor battery expansion that occurs during apply and to let proper airflow to go on battery temperature down in hot environments. |
TIP
Connecting batteries in series does not increase the chapters of the batteries; it just increases the overall voltage to meet your system requirements. In one case your voltage requirements are met, and if space allows, you can double the batteries in a parallel connection — thereby doubling your battery capacity. Meet diagrams below.
Serial Connect | Parallel Connect | Series/Parallel Connect | ||
To increase voltage, connect batteries in serial. This will non increment the system capacity. Instance Two T-105, 6V Batteries rated at 225AH Continued in Serial System Voltage 6V + 6V = 12V System Capacity = 225AH | To increment capacity, connect batteries in parallel. This will not increase the organization voltage. Instance Ii T-105, 6V Batteries rated at 225AH Connected in Parallel Organisation Voltage 6V Organisation Capacity = 225AH + 225AH = 450AH | To increase both voltage and capacity, connect boosted batteries in series and parallel. Example 4 T-105, 6V Batteries rated at 225AH Connected in Series/Parallel Arrangement Voltage 6V + 6V = 12V System Chapters = 225AH + 225AH = 450AH | ||
To increase voltage, connect batteries in serial. | To increase amp-hour capacity, connect batteries in parallel. | To increment both voltage and amp-hour capacity, connect batteries in serial/parallel. | ||
Step ii: Cull Your Best Battery Model
2-1 | When choosing your battery model, first consider your battery compartment space, as this may limit your options. Within your size restrictions you lot may have several battery options to choose from. For example, yous can use a T-605, T-105 or T-125 in the same infinite, as they are the exact aforementioned physical size. The difference betwixt these batteries is the amount of energy they offer. |
2-2 | Next consider your energy needs. If replacing an existing bombardment, utilise information technology every bit a reference point. If your sometime battery provided enough energy, it can exist replaced with a like chapters battery. If y'all need more energy you can size up, or if you demand less energy you can size downwards. |
TIP
If yous do not know what battery to employ, contact your equipment manufacturer for their recommended battery specification. Trojan Battery besides offers outstanding technical support provided by full-time applications engineers to assist y'all select your ideal batteries.
Pace three: Select Your Best Terminal
3-1 | Finally determine which last option all-time meets your needs based on the type of cable connections you plan to use. Wait for the terminal(due south) available for the bombardment you take selected. |
TIP
Brand certain you lot apply the proper cablevision size when connecting your batteries so the connections do not overheat. For information regarding correct wire sizes you can refer to the National Electric Code, Trojan Battery User's Guide, or contact Trojan's alive technical support at 800.423.6569.
Lead acid batteries are generally classified by application (what they are used for) and by construction (how they are made). Deep-bike batteries are used for various types of applications specific such as RV, golf game cars, renewable energy, and marine.
There are 2 popular structure types: flooded batteries (wet) and VRLA batteries (Valve Regulated Atomic number 82 Acid). In the flooded types, the electrolyte is a solution of sulfuric acid and water that can spill out if the bombardment is tipped over. In VRLA batteries, the electrolyte is suspended in a gel or a fiberglass-mat (AGM technology), allowing these batteries to be mounted in a diverseness of positions.
Before getting started, be sure to place the type of battery involved. This section addresses the charging and maintenance for both deep-cycle flooded and VRLA batteries.
In that location are many tools that may help in properly caring for and maintaining batteries. Below is a listing of basic items that Trojan recommends for this task:
Recommended Equipment | |||
Baking Soda | Distilled Water | Goggles & Gloves | Hydrometer |
Post Cleaner | Vaseline | Voltmeter | Wrench |
CAUTION: Always wear protective article of clothing, gloves and goggles, when handling batteries, electrolyte, and charging your battery.
Batteries should be advisedly inspected on a regular basis in order to notice and correct potential problems before they tin can do harm. It is a swell idea to start this routine when you lot starting time receive the batteries are offset received.
Inspection Guidelines
ane. Examine the outside appearance of the bombardment.
- Look for cracks in the container.
- The top of the bombardment, posts, and connections should exist clean, free of clay, fluids, and corrosion. If batteries are muddied, refer to the Cleaning section for the proper cleaning procedure.
- Repair or replace any damaged batteries.
2. Any fluids on or effectually the battery may be an indication that electrolyte is spilling, leaching, or leaking out.
- Leaking batteries must be repaired or replaced.
3. Check all bombardment cables and their connections.
- Await closely for loose or damaged parts.
- Battery cables should be intact; broken or frayed cables can exist extremely hazardous.
- Replace whatever cable that looks suspicious.
4. Tighten all wiring connections to the proper specification (see beneath). Make certain at that place is expert contact with the terminals.
Warning: Practise not overtighten terminals. Doing so can issue in mail service breakage, post meltdown, or burn.
Visual inspection alone is not sufficient to determine the overall health of the battery.
Both open up-circuit voltage and specific gravity readings can give a adept indication of the bombardment's charge level, age, and health. Routine voltage and gravity checks volition not only testify the state of charge but also help spot signs of improper care, such as undercharging and over-watering, and possibly even locate a bad or weak battery. The post-obit steps outline how to properly perform routine voltage and specific gravity testing on batteries.
I. Specific Gravity Test (Flooded batteries only)
- Do not add together water at this time.
- Fill and drain the hydrometer 2 to iv times before pulling out a sample.
- There should be enough sample electrolyte in the hydrometer to completely support the float.
- Take a reading, record it, and return the electrolyte back to the jail cell.
- To bank check some other cell, repeat the 3 steps above.
- Check all cells in the battery.
- Supplant the vent caps and wipe off whatsoever electrolyte that might have been spilled.
- Correct the readings to 80º F (26.6º C):
• Add 0.004 to readings for every 10º F (5.6º C) above 80º F (26.6º C)
• Subtract 0.004 for every 10º (5.6º C) below 80º F (26.6º C) - Compare the readings.
- Check the state of accuse using Table ane below.
The readings should be at or in a higher place the factory specification of 1.277 +/- 0.007. If any specific gravity readings register low, then follow the steps below.
- Check and record voltage level(s).
- Put battery(s) on a complete charge.
- Take specific gravity readings again.
If whatsoever specific gravity readings withal register low then follow the steps below.
- Bank check voltage level(due south).
- Perform equalization accuse. Refer to the Equalizing department for the proper process.
- Take specific gravity readings once more.
If any specific gravity reading still registers lower than the mill specification of 1.277+/- 0.007 then ane or more than of the following conditions may exist:
- The battery is old and approaching the terminate of its life.
- The battery was left in a state of discharge too long.
- Electrolyte was lost due to spillage or overflow.
- A weak or bad prison cell is developing.
- Bombardment was watered excessively previous to testing.
Batteries in conditions 1 – four should be taken to a specialist for farther evaluation or retired from service.
II. Open-Circuit Voltage Test
For accurate voltage readings, batteries must remain idle (no charging, no discharging) for at least 6 hrs, preferably 24 hrs.
- Disconnect all loads from the batteries.
- Measure the voltage using a DC voltmeter.
- Check the state of charge with Table 1 beneath.
- Charge the bombardment if it registers 0% to lxx% charged.
If battery registers below the Table 1 values, the post-obit conditions may exist:
- The battery was left in a state of discharge also long.
- The bombardment has a bad jail cell.
Batteries in these conditions should be taken to a specialist for further evaluation or retired from service.
Tabular array 1 | ||||||||||||||
State of Accuse as Related to Specific Gravity and Open Excursion Voltage | ||||||||||||||
Percentage of Accuse | Specific Gravity Corrected To | Open up-Circuit Voltage | ||||||||||||
6v | 8v | 12v | 24v | 36v | 48v | |||||||||
100 | 1.277 | 6.37 | viii.49 | 12.73 | 25.46 | 38.20 | 50.93 | |||||||
90 | 1.258 | 6.31 | 8.41 | 12.62 | 25.24 | 37.85 | 50.47 | |||||||
80 | i.238 | 6.25 | 8.33 | 12.fifty | 25.00 | 37.49 | 49.99 | |||||||
70 | 1.217 | 6.19 | 8.25 | 12.37 | 24.74 | 37.12 | 49.49 | |||||||
lx | one.195 | half dozen.12 | viii.16 | 12.27 | 24.48 | 36.72 | 48.96 | |||||||
l | i.172 | 6.02 | 8.07 | 12.10 | 24.twenty | 36.31 | 48.41 | |||||||
40 | 1.148 | 5.98 | seven.97 | 11.89 | 23.92 | 35.87 | 47.83 | |||||||
30 | 1.124 | 5.91 | 7.88 | 11.81 | 23.63 | 35.44 | 47.26 | |||||||
twenty | one.098 | 5.83 | 7.77 | xi.66 | 23.32 | 34.97 | 46.63 | |||||||
x | 1.073 | 5.75 | seven.67 | 11.51 | 23.02 | 34.52 | 46.03 |
FLOODED BATTERIES But
Flooded batteries need water.
More than chiefly, watering must exist done at the right time and in the right amount or the battery'southward performance and longevity suffers.
H2o should always be added after fully charging the battery. Prior to charging, there should be enough water to cover the plates. If the bombardment has been discharged (partially or fully), the water level should also exist to a higher place the plates. Keeping the water at the right level later a full accuse will prevent having to worry about the h2o level at a different state of charge.
Depending on the local climate, charging methods, application, etc., Trojan recommends that batteries be checked once a month until yous become a feel for how oft your batteries are need watering.
Important Things to Remember
- Do not let the plates get exposed to air. This will damage (corrode) the plates.
- Practise not fill the water level in the filling well to the cap. This most probable will crusade the bombardment to overflow acid, consequently losing chapters and causing a corrosive mess.
- Do non utilize water with a high mineral content. Use distilled or deionized h2o only.
Circumspection: The electrolyte is a solution of acid and water and so skin contact should be avoided.
Stride-By-Step Watering Procedure
- Open the vent caps and expect inside the fill wells.
- Check electrolyte level; the minimum level is at the top of the plates.
- If necessary add just enough water to cover the plates at this time.
- Put batteries on a complete accuse before adding whatever additional water (refer to the Charging department).
- One time charging is completed, open up the vent caps and look inside the fill wells.
- Add water until the electrolyte level is 1/8″ below the bottom of the fill up well.
- A piece of condom can be used safely as a dipstick to aid make up one's mind this level.
- Clean, replace, and tighten all vent caps.
Alarm: Never add acid to a battery.
Batteries seem to attract grit, dirt, and crud. Keeping them clean volition assistance spot signs of trouble when they announced and avert problems associated with grime.
- Check that all vent caps are tightly in place.
- Make clean the battery pinnacle with a cloth or brush and a solution of blistering soda and water.
• When cleaning, do not let any cleaning solution or other foreign matter to get inside the bombardment. - Rinse with water and dry with a make clean textile.
- Make clean battery terminals and the inside of cable clamps using a mail and clamp cleaner.
• Clean terminals will accept a bright metal shine. - Reconnect the clamps to the terminals and thinly coat them with an anti-corrosive spray or silicon gel.
- Keep the surface area around batteries clean and dry out.
Periods of inactivity can be extremely harmful to lead acrid batteries. When placing a bombardment into storage, follow the recommendations below to ensure that the battery remains healthy and fix for use.
Annotation: Storing, charging or operating batteries on concrete is perfectly OK.
The Most Important Things to Avert
- Freezing. Avoid locations where freezing temperature are expected. Keeping a battery at a high country of accuse will also prevent freezing. Freezing results in irreparable damage to a battery's plates and container.
- Heat. Avert directly exposure to oestrus sources, such as radiators or infinite heaters. Temperatures above eighty° F (26.6º C) accelerate the battery'south self-discharge characteristics.
Step-Past-Step Storage Procedure
- Completely accuse the bombardment before storing.
- Shop the battery in a cool, dry location, protected from the elements.
- During storage, monitor the specific gravity (flooded) or voltage. Batteries in storage should exist given a boost charge when they evidence a seventy% charge or less. See Table 1 in the Testing Section.
- Completely charge the battery before re-activating.
- For optimum operation, equalize the batteries (flooded) before putting them dorsum into service. Refer to the Equalizing department for this procedure.
Most deep-bicycle applications have some sort of charging organisation already installed for bombardment charging (e.m. solar panels, inverter, golf game machine charger, alternator, etc.). Even so, in that location are nonetheless systems with deep-cycle batteries where an individual charger must be selected. The following volition aid in making a proper selection.
In that location are many types of chargers bachelor today. They are usually rated by their offset rate, the rate in amperes that the charger will supply at the beginning of the charge cycle. When selecting a charger, the charge charge per unit should exist between 10% and 13% of the battery's 20-hour AH capacity. For example, a bombardment with a 20-hour capacity rating of 225 AH volition use a charger rated betwixt approximately 23 and 30 amps (for multiple battery charging utilise the AH rating of the entire bank). Chargers with lower ratings can be used but the charging fourth dimension volition be increased.
Trojan recommends using a iii-stage charger. Besides called "automatic", "smart" or "IEI" chargers, which prolong bombardment life with their programmed charging profile. These chargers usually have three distinct charging stages: bulk, acceptance, and bladder.
Charging batteries properly requires administering the right amount of current at the right voltage. Near charging equipment automatically regulates these values. Some chargers permit the user to set these values. Both automatic and manual equipment can present difficulties in charging. Tables 2 & iii list most of the necessary voltage settings one might demand to program a charger. In either instance the original instructions for your charging equipment should as well exist referenced for proper charging. Here is list of helpful items to remember when charging.
- Become familiar with and follow the instructions issued by the charger manufacturer.
- Batteries should be charged after each period of use.
- Lead acid batteries practise not develop a retentiveness and do need non be fully discharged before recharging.
- Charge only in well-ventilated areas. Keep sparks or flames away from a charging battery.
- Verify charger voltage settings are correct (Table 2).
- Correct the charging voltage to compensate for temperatures above or beneath 77°F (25°C). Decrease 0.0028 volt per prison cell for every one°F (0.005 volt per cell for every 1°C) in a higher place 77°F (25°C) or add 0.0028 volt per cell for every 1°F (0.005 volt per cell for every 1°C) below 77°F (25°C).
- Check water level (run into the Watering section).
- Tighten all vent caps before charging.
- Prevent overcharging the batteries. Overcharging causes excessive gassing (h2o breakdown), estrus buildup, and battery aging.
- Prevent undercharging the batteries. Undercharging causes stratification which can lead to premature battery failure.
- Do not accuse a frozen bombardment.
- Avert charging at temperatures above 120° F (48.8° C).
Table 2 | |||||
Charger Voltage Settings for Flooded Batteries | Organization Voltage | ||||
Charger Voltage Setting | 6v | 12v | 24v | 36v | 48v |
Absorption/Bulk Charge | 7.35 | 14.7 | 29.4 | 44.1 | 58.eight |
Float Charge | vi.75 | 13.v | 27.0 | xl.five | 54.0 |
Equalize Charge | 8.one | 16.2 | 32.4 | 48.6 | 64.8 |
Boosted VRLA Charging Instructions:
- Become familiar with and follow the instructions issued by the charger manufacturer.
- Verify charger has necessary VRLA setting.
- Set charger to VRLA voltage settings (Table 3).
- Practise not overcharge VRLA batteries. Overcharging volition dry out out the electrolyte and damage battery.
Table 3 | ||||
Charger Voltage Settings for VRLA Batteries | System Voltage | |||
Charger Voltage Setting | 12v | 24v | 36v | 48v |
Absorption/Majority Charge | fourteen.4 | 28.8 | 43.two | 57.6 |
Float Accuse | 13.five | 27.0 | twoscore.5 | 54.0 |
FLOODED BATTERIES ONLY
Equalizing is an overcharge performed on flooded lead acrid batteries after they accept been fully charged.
It reverses the buildup of negative chemical effects similar stratification, a status where acid concentration is greater at the bottom of the bombardment than at the top. Equalizing also helps to remove sulfate crystals that might have built upwards on the plates. If left unchecked, this condition, chosen sulfation, will reduce the overall capacity of the battery.
Many experts recommend that batteries exist equalized periodically, ranging anywhere from in one case a month to in one case or twice per year. Even so, Trojan simply recommends equalizing when low or broad ranging specific gravity (>0.030) are detected after fully charging a battery.
Step-By-Step Equalizing
- Verify the bombardment(s) are flooded blazon.
- Remove all loads from the batteries.
- Connect battery charger.
- Set charger for the equalizing voltage (See Table ii in the Charging department).If your charger doesn't have an equalization mode, you can unplug the charger and re-plug it back in. This likewise will carry the equalization accuse.
- Start charging batteries.
- Batteries will brainstorm gassing and bubbling vigorously.
- Take specific gravity readings every 60 minutes.
- Equalization is complete when specific gravity values no longer rise during the gassing stage.
Discharging batteries is entirely a part of your particular awarding.
Nonetheless, below is list of helpful items:
- Shallow discharges will result in a longer battery life.
- 50% (or less) discharges are recommended.
- 80% discharge is the maximum safe discharge.
- Practice not fully discharge flooded batteries (80% or more). This will damage (or kill) the bombardment.
- Many experts recommend operating batteries only between the l% to 85% of full charge range. A periodic equalization charge is a must when using this practice.
- Do not leave batteries securely discharged for whatever length of time.
- Lead acid batteries do non develop a memory and do not need to be fully discharged before recharging.
- Batteries should exist charged later on each period of utilise.
- Batteries that charge up but cannot support a load are most likely bad and should be tested. Refer to the Testing section for proper procedure.
% Discharged | |||||
100 | 80 | 60 | 40 | 20 | 0 |
0 | 20 | 40 | sixty | 80 | 100 |
Flooded batteries demand water.
Simply more importantly, watering must be done at the right time and in the right amount or the bombardment'southward functioning and longevity suffers.
General Watering Instructions:
- Add together water, never acid, to cells (distilled water recommended)
- Practise Not OVERWATER
- For fully charged standard deep-cycle batteries, add water to the level of 1/8 below bottom of vent well (see diagram A beneath)
- For fully charged Plus Series batteries, add water to the maximum h2o level indicator (see diagram B below)
- If the batteries are discharged, merely add water if the plates are exposed. Add just enough water to embrace the plates, then charge the batteries. Once fully charged, add water to the proper level indicated above
- Afterward watering, secure vent caps on batteries
FOR SOLAR APPLICATION
Store and operate your batteries in a cool, dry place.
For every 18° F (10° C) rising above room temperature (77° F or 25° C), bombardment life decreases by l%.
Charge your batteries fully after each period of apply.
Allowing your batteries to sit in a low state of charge for extended periods volition decrease their capacity and life.
If y'all store your batteries for an extended menstruation of fourth dimension, be sure to accuse them fully every three to 6 months. Lead acid batteries volition cocky-discharge v% to 15% per month, depending on the temperature of the storage weather.
Monitor bombardment voltage and specific gravity of the electrolyte regularly to verify total recharging. As a full general rule of thumb, the total amps from your PV panels should be sized between 10% and xx% of the total amp-hours (Ah) of the battery pack.
Many charge controllers take equalization settings that yous can set to help ensure the wellness of your batteries. Equalize your batteries at to the lowest degree once per month for 2 to 4 hours, longer if your batteries have been consistently undercharged.
Organization Voltage | |||||
Voltage Settings | 6V | 12V | 24V | 36V | 48V |
Daily Accuse | 7.4 | 14.8 | 29.6 | 44.5 | 59.iii |
Bladder Charge | vi.vii | 13.v | 27 | forty.5 | 54 |
Equalize Accuse | 8.1 | 16.2 | 32.4 | 48.vi | 64.eight |
Water your batteries regularly.
Flooded, or moisture jail cell batteries require watering periodically. Bank check your batteries once a month after installation to determine the proper watering schedule. Add water afterward fully charging the battery and use distilled water.
For procedures on watering, checking bombardment voltage and other maintenance instructions, refer to our battery maintenance section for more details.
Source: https://www.trojanbattery.com/tech-support/battery-maintenance/