Hydrometer recommendation

[Ho jo]

What is a good name brand hydrometer? That's not to expensive

[Sunking]

OTC 4619 Professional Hydrometer for about $11, or DEKA. Either one just make sure it it has Temperature Compensation. Shop around, you can find them for less money.

[Ho jo]

Thanks

[Sunking]

You are welcome.

[Ho jo]

Just out of curiosity I see some have little round disc and some don't what's the difference

[Sunking]

Little round disc?

[Ho jo]

Screenshot_2018-05-15-13-35-56.png yes like this one

[Sunking]

OK I was afraid you meant colored beads. Stay away from them.

[Ho jo]

Sunking Got the otc hydrometer you recommended. Batteries show 1.275 on 1 and 1.260 on the other. All cells in each battery give the same sg? Bad battery or past due equilizaion?

[Sunking]

EQ needed. Instead of me retyping the procedure again here is a copy and paste from Trojan Battery. Set voltage to either manufacture recommended EQ voltage, or if not known or published use 2.6 vpc or 15.6 volts on a 12 volt battery. Actual voltage is not critical as it just needs to be above gassing voltage

FLOODED BATTERIES ONLY

FLOODED BATTERIES ONLY

Equalizing is an overcharge performed on flooded lead acid batteries after they have been fully charged.

It reverses the buildup of negative chemical effects like stratification, a condition where acid concentration is greater at the bottom of the battery than at the top. Equalizing also helps to remove sulfate crystals that might have built up on the plates. If left unchecked, this condition, called sulfation, will reduce the overall capacity of the battery.

Many experts recommend that batteries be equalized periodically, ranging anywhere from once a month to once or twice per year. However, Trojan only recommends equalizing when low or wide ranging specific gravity (>0.030) are detected after fully charging a battery.



Step-By-Step Equalizing

1. Verify the battery(s) are flooded type.
2. Remove all loads from the batteries.
3. Connect battery charger.
4. Set charger for the equalizing voltage (See Table 2 in the Charging section).
5. Start charging batteries.
6. Batteries will begin gassing and bubbling vigorously.
7. Take specific gravity readings every hour.
8. Equalization is complete when specific gravity values no longer rise during the gassing stage.

Note here keep them on EQ until specific gravity QUITS Rising for ONE HOUR. Also monitor the tempuratue, if you reach 120 degrees F terminate charge and let them cool down, then EQ until the SG stops rising.

Be patient this can take 12 to 24 hours and requires your attention.

Edit note:

Trojan left out an important step. Top off with water if needed before you give them a normal full charge. Once that is done go to Step 1 and start EQ.

[Ho jo]

Ok I've been using My 35 amp auto charger for bulk only on cloudy days cutting it off at 14.8 It is unregulated so I can't set voltage. I'm sure it would fry the batteries in 12 to 24 hrs. Any suggestions on a charger.?? 2 6 volt 208 amp hrs in series

[Mike90250]

Ok I've been using My 35 amp auto charger for bulk only on cloudy days cutting it off at 14.8 It is unregulated so I can't set voltage. I'm sure it would fry the batteries in 12 to 24 hrs. Any suggestions on a charger.?? 2 6 volt 208 amp hrs in series

Your chargers is fine, if it meets the battery voltage spec. The EQ charge is not timed or amp limit, it goes till the SG stops rising, then you turn the charger off.
There is NOTHING automatic about it. You have to monitor the batteries, you are doing a controlled overcharge to bring them back into balance.

[Ho jo]

Mike thanks for your reply the volts from my charger keep climbing past 16 volts my battery specs don't list eq voltage. Wouldn't the over voltage damage them?

[Mike90250]

Then you need to find specs for a battery much like your battery, and see how they manage EQ. Was the SG still rising ?

[Sunking]

Mike thanks for your reply the volts from my charger keep climbing past 16 volts my battery specs don't list eq voltage. Wouldn't the over voltage damage them?

It can. How much past 16 volts?