Equalizing My Batteries

[mestrezat]

I have 6--6 volt batteries(golf cart style) on my boat that are charged with a Heart Interface Freedom 20 charger controlled by a Xantrex Link 2000.

I started the "equalization" of my batteries(first time since they were installed in June of 2008)this morning at 0900. I hit the appropriate buttons on the Link 2000 and it launched into the process. It's now 1530 hours and the Link 2000 has never shown the voltage going above 14.7 volts. I had been lead to believe that the charge would grow to around the 16 volt range. I can hear the batteries bubbling so I know something is happening but not sure if it is actually doing the job.

Anyone have a clue as to what might be actually happening. Is it doing what it is supposed to? The manual says it could take up to 8 hours so I still have some time to go but is it doing the job right?

[S/V Illusion]

Were the batteries fully charged prior to starting equalization? If not, you have just identified the cause.

[Sailmonkey]

We've only got two golf cart batteries and equializing took over 5 hours.

[mestrezat]

The batteries were fully charged before I started.

[CharlieJ]

What was the temperature corrected specific gravity of each cell before you started the equalization and how did it change during equalization?

[mestrezat]

I didn't check the temp or the specific gravity of the cells when I was doing the equalization.

[Andina Marie]

Although Lead Acid batteries can be equalized at voltages up to about 15.6 those voltages can destroy Gel or AGM style batteries. Good quality chargers will have a switch setting to tell it what kind of batteries are installed. If this is set to AGM or Sealed batteries that will be limiting the voltage to a safe level. Equalizing has to be done slowly and gently on sealed batteries. So if all the batteries are lead-acid, look for a setting on the charger for battery type. Less sophisticated chargers may just use the safer setting by default.

[msulc]

I'd be interested to know what you find. I have a very similar setup on my boat but have not equalized the batteries since I bought it last summer.

[sarafina]

equality for batteries?

how about coloured battery boxes?

a pink one and a blue one and a red one and a brown one and a rainbow box too!

[msulc]

if that gives them a longer life and helps them stay charged longer i am all for it.

[CharlieJ]

Taking temperature corrected specific gravity readings of all cells in a bank being equalized is fundamental to the equalization process. Equalizing, if done correctly and with minimum plate damage, is simply not "plug and play".

My suggestion is to read the description of the battery equalization process in Nigel Calder's book and then perform a proper equalization of your battery bank using that process as your guidance.

Charlie