Batt voltage rises w/o charge [RE-wrenches]

[Drake Chamberlin]

<x-flowed>
Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Help us support US Troops – Just Register Here.
http://click.topica.com/caadlVxbz8Qcsbz9JC9a/Permission Data
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Wrenches,

We installed a bank of never used, 7 year old Concord 12 volt batteries in 
an entire system that had been in boxes for that time.  We decided to see 
what would happen.  Unbelievably, they seemed to have life left in them.

At first, they seemed to charge ok.  Then, the voltage went 
ballistic.  Yesterday, I watched the voltage level rise from the high 27s 
to the 29s in a matter of minutes.  We disconnected all charging sources, 
leaving the small DC load on.  The voltage shot up to 30.5 with no 
input.  At that point, I plugged in a 500 watt work light to get the 
voltage down.

A local company that rejuvenates batteries, with a machine that takes the 
batteries to high voltage and back down, says that is a sign of a highly 
sulfated battery, which these would have to be, given their history.  He 
says that leaving the load on is what caused the voltage to spike.

For a fee, the company will run these 12 volt gel cells up to 22 volts or 
even higher and then bring them back down.  This seems questionable to me, 
especially for gel batteries.

My questions are:

1. Has anyone else witnessed voltage spiking after charge is removed?

2. Is there any point in spending money on this rejuvenation process?

3. Should we cut our loses and get a bank of 6 volt batteries?


Thanks,

Drake 

Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Is your PC running at 100%? Check your PC's health in 2 minutes!
http://click.topica.com/caadlAsbz8Qcsbz9JC9f/PC Health Check
-------------------------------------------------------------------

- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read

List rules & etiquette: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit:
http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER
--^----------------------------------------------------------------



</x-flowed>