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Old 28-05-2018, 10:33   #1
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6vdc Trojan T105 (225ah) Equalization

Trojan Deep Cycle Flooded Lead Acid Battery Equalization

I'd like to know how users of this battery are equalizing them, in particular, the routine necessary to equalize and any simple device needed and found effective.

Resources studied so far:
https://www.trojanbattery.com/product/t-105/
System Voltage 6V 12V
Bulk Charge 7.41 14.82
Float Charge 6.75 13.50
Equalize Charge 8.10 16.20
at 77 degree F

Besides all the routine maintenance items some suggest:
  • Equalize your batteries at least once per month for 2 to 4 hours, longer if your batteries have been consistently undercharged.
Trojan suggests:
Equalized periodically - range between monthly to once or twice a year. For Trojan, recommended equalizing takes place between (+/-.015), which are detected after the battery is fully charged.
  • Step-by-Step Equalizing:
    • Ensure that your charger has an equalization setting procedure.
    • Remove all loads from the batteries.
    • Connect the correct battery charger.
    • Set the charger for the equalizing voltage.
    • Start charging batteries.
    • Batteries will begin gassing and bubbling vigorously.
    • Take the specific gravity readings every hour.
    • Equalization is complete when specific gravity values no longer rises during the gassing stage.
I have referred to

https://marinehowto.com/installing-a...ttery-charger/

https://shop.marinehowto.com/product...ttery-chargers

and have read that Pulse equalizers like Battery Minder are not recommended or effective.

I am hoping to find a simple equalizer for a single 6vdc Trojan T105 and I will simply disconnect the two T105's and equalize them one after the other. --Or is that a bad idea for some reason.

I would rather not spend the $ for the Sterling Procharge. I do have an old $79 Guest Charger that I use in the winter, it is 12vdc and I connect the batteries in serial..

PS: I have a Balmar Alternator with an ARS5 regulator, but would prefer not using that for charging the last 10%, but use 120vac
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Old 28-05-2018, 10:51   #2
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Re: 6vdc Trojan T105 (225ah) Equalization

Wouldn't a single 24v solar panel through a Victron SmartSolar do it? With their software you can set any level for Eq that you desire. Just pick a sunny day.
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Old 28-05-2018, 10:59   #3
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Re: 6vdc Trojan T105 (225ah) Equalization

Use shore power.

An adjustable voltage power supply will do. Or any charger that puts out that voltage, just verify with your DMM.

You start with a 100% Full bank anyway, so don't need more than say 10A.

Use an ammeter for both parts so you know when to stop.
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Old 28-05-2018, 12:07   #4
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Re: 6vdc Trojan T105 (225ah) Equalization

Thank you. So am I looking for a
120vdc to 6vdc, 10amp adjustable voltage power supply?
or should it be 120vdc to 12vdc, 10 amp adjustable voltage power supply?

I don't understand the pros and cons of charging separately. I assume to better battery will "equalize" faster and then the additional time spent will be detrimental. Is that correct?


PS: I do have a 14 watt solar panel, which I was told by the idiot seller did not need a controller, thus fried some 5 yr old batteries at high voltages. I immediately got new batteries and a gensun controller, but this is not adequate to equalize I believe.
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Old 28-05-2018, 12:21   #5
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Re: 6vdc Trojan T105 (225ah) Equalization

No,

120vdc to adjustable vac 10amp voltage power supply?

I found
Details about ELENCO XP-15K VARIABLE VOLTAGE POWER SUPPLY KIT

but it is 0.3 amp
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Old 28-05-2018, 12:56   #6
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Re: 6vdc Trojan T105 (225ah) Equalization

Better https://www.ebay.com/itm/30V-5A-DC-P...5.c10#viTabs_0


Finally, here is one
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073TW8H2S...&pd_rd_w=dVdms


Need the amperage to get the acid up to temperature of 105 to desulfate the battery. 2 amps won't do it, and I think 5 amps might not be enough.


Its too bad my old black Guest 10amp 12vdc Battery Charger wouldn't do this, but it does not have anything adjustable!
https://www.hodgesmarine.com/GUEST-2...p/gue2612a.htm
3-Stage Switching Electronic Circuit, with Maintenance Mode protects batteries during storage
For Flooded, Gel and AGM batteries
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Old 28-05-2018, 16:50   #7
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Re: 6vdc Trojan T105 (225ah) Equalization

Separate is better but not essential.

Mean Well makes good power supplies, and eBay sometimes has good bargains, as long as you have the ammeter to test it - which you need anyway to do any of this stuff.

Amps is determined by what is accepted by the bank not what the charge source is rated at.

Once you've truly got the bank to 100% Full at the normal Absorb voltage, say accepting .5A per 100A

then increasing the volts to Equalize setpoint will result in a higher acceptance rate, but not by much, and it will decline pretty quickly.

I never heard of that temp requirement, could you link to the source doc?
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Old 28-05-2018, 17:09   #8
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Re: 6vdc Trojan T105 (225ah) Equalization

this is what I use to equalize banks from 12 to 32 volt; works very well; harder to find now I gather... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000E14BNM
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Old 28-05-2018, 17:50   #9
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Re: 6vdc Trojan T105 (225ah) Equalization

I bought this to equalize my 12V batteries. The voltage can be set between 4V and 16V, so you could use it on individual 6V batteries.

MFJ Enterprises Inc.

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Old 28-05-2018, 18:17   #10
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Re: 6vdc Trojan T105 (225ah) Equalization

Once you figure out how many amps you need

**after** the bank has been fully charged as per endAmps above

Maybe 5A is enough for just the equalizing part

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ZBCLJSY

Other look for one at 10A, at least as popular and well-rated.

Mastech is a great maker as well as Mean Well.

Also Samlex.

It really does not need to be a fancy adjustable one, a cheap DC boost converter is fine

Just need the right voltage, and rated to run continuously at say double the amps you actually need.

That last is really the critical data point you need to be able to make do with something cheap.
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Old 29-05-2018, 11:01   #11
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Re: 6vdc Trojan T105 (225ah) Equalization

We have a house bank of 8- T105s wired to provide 900AH [nominal] of 12V DC.

If they have been in PSoC condition for several weeks, we equalize monthly. Otherwise biannually. We follow the same vendor guidelines you cited. [i.e., 16.2VDC @ 77°F with temperature compensation.]

We have an single point watering system so maintenance is easy... [Here is our blog post with more details if interested...]

We can either use our inverter/charger [shorepower or generator for a long- say 8 hour - cycle] or our solar panels [Victron Controllers] to run 2-4 hr cycle as needed [can also be programmed to do so automatically every 0-365 days...]

In case this is helpful.

Cheers! Bill
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Old 02-06-2018, 08:01   #12
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Re: 6vdc Trojan T105 (225ah) Equalization

I really appreciate all the help and advice. I guess I have not been doing things right the last two years, because one of the 6vdc is in bad shape.

I engine charged using Balmar 90-60 and Balmar ARS-5 set on lead acid batteris for about an hour while commissioning other stuff. I noticed that the bv varied with my RPM 1200-1500 between 12.7v-14.7 and generally stayed at c= 4.6 or 4.7 the amps going in dropped down to 4-5 amps.

I probably did not run it long enough, but then hooked up my Guest charger and in about another hour just the green light was on and it was floating at about 13.5 I think.

Then fully charged I checked the specific gravity of each cell
Battery #1 Good, Fair, Good
Battery #2 Bad, Fair, Bad
Then I filled each cell with distilled water up to within just 1/8" of the bottom of the cap well. Some water was needed. No plates exposed. I did it last year too. I am wondering if heeling makes a big difference, I have them oriented properly according to Trojan, fore and aft.


Is there any chance Battery #2 will come back with good Equalization?
This situation is one reason why I am thinking separate equalization is best. Am I wrong about that?

I will be getting one of the good adjustable chargers you guys have suggested, have to figure out the amps needed first.


John, the Trojan specs are here.
https://www.trojanbattery.com/tech-s...y-maintenance/
Equalization is down towards the bottom under Charging and Equalization just below that.


PS: The Link 10 showed standing voltage after charging with no charger attached at 12.78v and I will check it at the battery with an amp meter today. I may have reduced capacity I guess.


Today I hope to attach the 14w PV tied to the top of the dodger which goes to a Genasun GV10 for Pb which has some equalization on a 30 day schedule. I've always kept these batts above 50% and left them at least 90%, so I don't understand when Batt#2 is bad.
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Old 02-06-2018, 08:15   #13
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Re: 6vdc Trojan T105 (225ah) Equalization

Just make sure you don't leave a bad battery in your bank as you'll never be able to equalize properly plus it will slowly ruin the rest of the bank.
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Old 02-06-2018, 10:18   #14
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Re: 6vdc Trojan T105 (225ah) Equalization

Quote:
Originally Posted by rgleason View Post
John, the Trojan specs are here.
https://www.trojanbattery.com/tech-s...y-maintenance/
Equalization is down towards the bottom under Charging and Equalization just below that.
Yes all that I was familiar with.

I was asking where you came up with this:

Quote:
Originally Posted by rgleason View Post
Better [URL]Need the amperage to get the acid up to temperature of 105 to desulfate the battery. 2 amps won't do it, and I think 5 amps might not be enough.
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Old 02-06-2018, 16:42   #15
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Re: 6vdc Trojan T105 (225ah) Equalization

This morning the batteries were 12.8v. I decided to try a refrigeration rundown with them, with the 10amp Guest charger giving an assist. It took 4 hours to draw down the refrigerator from 19c to -3c. The Link10 voltage measured 13.7v most of the time with -4.7 amps and ending down -24.5 amphours (this is not the full amount of energy used because the Guest charger was assisting. The refrig needs a small charge of 134a and tomorrow I will charge the batteries up again.



Meanwhile I am going to order an equalizer.
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