Can They Rise from the Dead ?

[mestrezat]

When we left San Carlos, Mexico in June, we turned off both switches(Start bank and House bank) to the off position. Unfortunately, I forgot the turn off the switch that the previous owner installed for the windlass that was set up to by pass the circuit panel and was a direct feed to the house batteries(go figure).
We just returned to San Carlos and when I checked the house battery bank, you guessed it--they were dead. Now here is the question--"Can they be raised from the dead to begin another happy life cycle? The bank consists of 6--6 volt lead acid batteries each just over two years old. So far, they have been champs as we sailed down the West coast and up into the Sea of Cortez.
If you don't think they will rise from the dead and keep a good charge, I've got a nice trip to Tucson I need to make.

[delmarrey]

It kind of depends on how long they've been draining. I'd charge them up slowly and give each one individually a load test. Any good garage or battery shop will have a load tester.

[Darryl]

I agree with delmarrey in that the best option is taking the batteries to a place that can charge/load test the batteries; which will give you an exact state of their health.

Cheers and good luck
Darryl

[MarkJ]

I'm a bit cheaper than most

I'd jump start the boat and go for a nice long motor - 6 to 8 hours to some nice bay (with palm tree and bar); drop pick; drink.
Next day see if the boat starts.
If it does drive boat to next island.
If it doesnt start, go to bar and ring Westmarine

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I'm a bit cheaper than most

I'd jump start the boat and go for a nice long motor - 6 to 8 hours to some nice bay (with palm tree and bar); drop pick; drink.
Next day see if the boat starts.
If it does drive boat to next island.
If it doesnt start, go to bar and ring Westmarine

Hi MarkJ...
Good to see your getting the hang of the singlehanded sailors lifestyle.....

[Johnathon123]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I'm a bit cheaper than most

I'd jump start the boat and go for a nice long motor - 6 to 8 hours to some nice bay (with palm tree and bar); drop pick; drink.
Next day see if the boat starts.
If it does drive boat to next island.
If it doesnt start, go to bar and ring Westmarine

I always have a problem getting my car close enough to the boat to jump start. Wish I still had a beetle

[mestrezat]

I'm in a yard so load testing is the only way to get them checked I guess. Better to find out now wether they will work than our a few hundred miles when I need them and they don't. No West Marine down here though lots of bars.

[capn_billl]

If you charge them back up right away sometimes a good battery will recover, (but you did just take a huge bite out of their life). Having done the same thing repeatedly, Sometimes I was able to bring them back, sometimes not. A lot depends on how old before draining, if any lead flakes off of the plates and shorts out a cell. Sulfation. Condition of electrolyte, etc. Charge them up and get the shop to test, check the electrolyte, good luck.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by mestrezat

I'm in a yard so load testing is the only way to get them checked I guess. .

You might be able to do that yourself, then, by charging them up and putting on a known amperage draw... like a fridge etc and see how it goes.

It can take a few cycles too.

The trouble with taking them to someone with a machine to test them is that its so easy for them to say: "Mate! STUFFED!!!!!! But I do happen to have a reliable supplier who can replace these for $2,000.... my brother...."

[foggysail]

Yes, charge them! I believe that charging with a fast charge is best and even better, equalize them after charging.

A slow charge will not do much to rid the plates of sulfates.

Foggy

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by foggysail

Yes, charge them! I believe that charging with a fast charge is best and even better, equalize them after charging.

A slow charge will not do much to rid the plates of sulfates.

Foggy

The problem with fast charges is they burn the plates down even faster or whatever's left. I have my own Christie tester (for load testing) that I used back in the old days when we rebuilt batteries, which I wouldn't recommend for boats. When they die they are GONE!



.

[foggysail]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

The problem with fast charges is they burn the plates down even faster or whatever's left. I have my own Christie tester (for load testing) that I used back in the old days when we rebuilt batteries, which I wouldn't recommend for boats. When they die they are GONE!


.

I don't have a reference to "burn the plates down even faster." We today live in a world of so called 3 step smart chargers that have high charge rates that can be controlled via temperature monitoring.

I spend a lot of time away from the dock as most others do. If I charged my batteries at a slow rate they would never recover until the boat was again parked at the dock for a few days or so.

Foggy