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Old 23-09-2018, 10:41   #1
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Equalizing Question

I have the standard 2 banks of flooded lead acid batteries with a Sterling charger. All charging goes to the house bank and I have a Echo-Charge maintaining the start battery. I also have an emergency parallel switch. I did an equalizing charge the other day and was later thinking that maybe I should have done the equalizing charge with the parallel switch engaged so as to equalize the starting battery also. Perhaps the starting battery does not need equalizing as it is never discharged very much and immediately recharged. Also I was wondering if I should disable the Echo-Charge when equalizing.
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Old 23-09-2018, 12:28   #2
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Re: Equalizing Question

Echo charger limits volts anyway.

Each unit should ideally be equalized independently.

Helps spot the weak link.
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Old 23-09-2018, 13:28   #3
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Re: Equalizing Question

Is the start battery same type as the house battles
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Old 23-09-2018, 14:38   #4
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Re: Equalizing Question

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Is the start battery same type as the house battles
The start battery is single 12 volt flooded, house bank 2, 6 volt flooded.
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Old 23-09-2018, 16:28   #5
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Re: Equalizing Question

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The start battery is single 12 volt flooded, house bank 2, 6 volt flooded.
Yes, but is the house battery open cells and the start a sealed battery
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Old 23-09-2018, 16:47   #6
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Re: Equalizing Question

FLA means open. And voltages won't be different enough to matter anyway.
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Old 23-09-2018, 16:50   #7
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Re: Equalizing Question

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FLA means open. And voltages won't be different enough to matter anyway.
True, but isn't he correct about little need for equalizing the start battery? It leads a pretty easy life!

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Old 23-09-2018, 17:26   #8
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Re: Equalizing Question

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True, but isn't he correct about little need for equalizing the start battery? It leads a pretty easy life!

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The start battery needs equalizing just as much as the battery that starts your automobile. Same service. In other words, not a bit to live a long and happy life.
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Old 23-09-2018, 17:28   #9
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Re: Equalizing Question

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FLA means open. And voltages won't be different enough to matter anyway.


I’ve got a sealed FLA start battery, so not open.
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Old 23-09-2018, 17:29   #10
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Re: Equalizing Question

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Yes, but is the house battery open cells and the start a sealed battery
Both open cell.
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Old 23-09-2018, 18:08   #11
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Re: Equalizing Question

Yes I agree I would not equalize a Starter, unless it was a very expensive one for some unusual reason.
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Old 23-09-2018, 22:43   #12
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Re: Equalizing Question

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FLA means open......
FLA does not mean open. Where on earth do you get this idea from?

Sealed FLA should therefore be called SFLA.

SLA were the first ‘sealed’ Lead Acid batteries that were called Gels - now called VRLA - Voltage Regulated Lead Acid batteries - Gels and AGMs.
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Old 26-09-2018, 09:05   #13
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Re: Equalizing Question

SLA includes both sealed liquid and the subset VLRA.

We are talking deep cycling batts here.

In practice, the three lead types are:

FLA, which inherently means have caps, gets watered

And the two VRLA, GEL and AGM.

The distinction between SLA and FLA is watering caps or not.

I've never seen non-VRLA sealed that are true deep cycling.
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Old 07-10-2018, 09:12   #14
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Re: Equalizing Question

Agree not deep cycle. I have seen starter batteries that are flooded lead acid but called "maintenance free" with no way to check or add water. I would not equalize the starter with the same settings as a deep cycle GC2.
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Old 07-10-2018, 09:57   #15
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Re: Equalizing Question

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.....The distinction between SLA and FLA is watering caps or not.....
Just show me a reference anywhere on Google that uses SLA to describe Sealed Marine Flooded Lead Acid Batteries!!! SLA is Gel and AGMs. Some people may just be mis-using the term, but we in the boating world do not use that term - anywhere that I have ever seen. So please supply examples where it is used for marine batteries.

By the way in our very large international marina in Greece most of the dead batteries in the bins are Sealed Flooded Lead Acid. It's all about convieniece, even amongst world cruising sailors.

I fear the more you post the more your credibility is questioned. And 50 posts a day leaves a lot of questions unanswered, especially since you won't identify yourself in your profile as to who you are and whether you even have a boat!

Get a life and stop spoiling threads with you shorthand and difficult to understand posts.

You do have a lot of useful points to make - but all the readers searching for answers will start believing everything you post - like your ideas on endAmps!!!! A very dangerous way to set up your chargers. I could go on and on and....
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